Posted on: Saturday, February 23, 2002

Manoa Falls trail may partly reopen

Advertiser Staff

Limited public access to the Manoa Falls hiking trail could resume in two to four weeks, even though tons of heavy debris remain precariously perched above the area, state land use officials say.

The plan would allow hikers to walk to a viewing area set back from the falls, Curt Cottrell, state trails manager, said.

But no final decision has been made, Gil Coloma-Agaran, chairman of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, said yesterday.

A state geologist planned to hike to the area yesterday to assess the danger.

"In the best of all worlds, we could reopen, but I'm still looking at it and will not make any kind of decision and announce anything until I have all the information in front of me," Coloma-Agaran said.

Earlier this week, the state's O'ahu trails specialist said the trail would likely remain closed for months.

The trail was closed Feb. 1 after a storm sent tons of rocks and plants crashing 600 feet to the base of the falls and its pool.

A number of people have hiked the trail recently and said they found it safe, but officials warn that it is dangerous and that trespassers are subject to a fine of up to $500 and 30 days in jail.

Some hikers have feared that the trail will be closed for a long time, possibly permanently, because the state is worried about more lawsuits like the ones that followed the Mother's Day 1999 rock slide at Sacred Falls State Park that killed eight people. The Sacred Falls trail remains closed.