The rugged trail had been closed since last month when a tree fell across it. "We have removed the fallen tree and several others in the campground that were hazardous," said Peter Young, state Department of Land and Natural Resources chairperson.

"Our program staff also carried out general maintenance at Waimanu campground, including washing, painting and re-roofing the composting toilets, and removing ten 33-gallon size bags of trash by sling-loaded helicopter," he said. Camping permits will again be issued for Waimanu Valley Campground at the Hilo DLNR Forestry and Wildlife office at (808) 974-4221.

The trail head of the 18-mile Muliwai trail is reached through Waipi'o Valley, located at the end of Highway 240 near Honoka'a. The trail zigzags up the western wall of Waipi'o Valley on the Big Island, climbing about 1,200 feet to the plateau.

It then leads across the plateau area to Waimanu, crossing 12 gulches that are up to 500 feet deep, then descends another 1,200 feet into Waimanu Valley. It takes about seven hours to hike the 11 miles to and from Waimanu Valley.