Posted on: Friday, November 8, 2002

Access to hiking, camping to reopen at Ka'ena Point

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hikers and campers will be able to access the Ka'ena Point Satellite Tracking Station starting today as the military continues to gradually relax security on its installations in Hawai'i.

Hunting will resume tomorrow.

Access to the Kuaokala Game management area and Mokule'ia Public Hunting Area had been closed since the Sept. 11 attacks, when the U.S. Air Force closed off the point to the public.

"These things can change in a matter of days," said Lt. Paradon Silpasornprasit, Air Force spokesperson. "Security of our military installations are always paramount, but we don't want to shut out the public."

People will still have to provide photo identification to enter the area, and all vehicles will be subject to search.

A representative from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources will be at Ka'ena Point this weekend to hand out informational fliers and answer questions about accessing the area.

The opening of Ka'ena Point comes about four months after the Navy opened access to the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kaua'i, also closed after Sept. 11 last year.

The base fronts 7 1/2 miles of a continuous white-sand beach that residents use for fishing, swimming and surfing.unters accessing the areas around Ka'ena Point will require a valid state hunting license and photo ID. Hikers and campers will need a permit issued by the DLNR's Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

For more hunting information, call the DLNR at 973-9789. For hiking and camping information, call 587-0166.