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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 3:02 p.m., Monday, April 16, 2007

Diamond Head to close Wednesday for repair work

Advertiser Staff

Diamond Head State Monument will be closed to the public Wednesday and Thursday for repair work along the entry road.

No public access, by foot or by motor vehicle will be allowed via the entry road, state Department of Land and Natural Resources officials said in a news release issued today.

DLNR enforcement officers will institute traffic control at Diamond Head Road.

"We appreciate the public's understanding and cooperation during this short, mid-week closure of Diamond Head State Monument so that we can make needed repairs to strengthen and repair this heavily trafficked road," DLNR chairman Peter Young said in the release.

About 700 visitor vehicles — cars, vans, commercial vehicles and others— enter and exit the park daily.

Hawaii National Guard and state Civil Defense employees, and other authorized entities will be able to enter the park road and the crater through the Kahala tunnel in regular vehicles. Area traffic delays may be expected during this work.

No large vehicles will be allowed to enter or exit the Kahala Tunnel (entrance to the crater) because the new road surface would be damaged.

Other state parks projects that are also scheduled in the crater while the road is closed will include:

  • a topographical survey for planned work to help stabilize and improve the trail for park users;

  • a survey of trailside vegetation that will be part of a rockfall mitigation project;

  • maintenance work on the summit trail — clearing back vegetation, trash pickup and painting over graffiti.

    The park will reopen to all public access on Friday. Park hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.