Two separate events have combined to kill off dozens of naupaka bushes that once greened the mauka side of Diamond Head Road at the state's most visible landmark.

Between the rockslide of March 2006 and a traffic accident on the Kapi'olani Park side of Diamond Head Road several months ago, the naupaka along the entire stretch of road has been dying and the state is in the midst of removing it.

There is very little that can be saved, said Bob Loy, Outdoor Circle director of environmental programs.

"It's hard not to notice the dead plants," Loy said. "It's just too big to ignore. This is the state's most recognized landmark. It's a shame to have something turn into an eyesore."

Just last week The Outdoor Circle and a group of concerned citizens joined forces with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to determine what can be done to either replant or cut back the dead branches and fix the irrigation system, Loy said.

Besides the current removal of the dead brush, no decision has been made on how best to repair the broken sprinkler system and replant the area, Loy said.

Delaying work further is a rockfall mitigation project planned to start sometime in the next two years near the Kahala end of Diamond Head Road that will affect any plantings or irrigation system repairs, said Yara Lamadrid-Rose, Diamond Head Park coordinator, with the division of state parks.

The naupaka was planted by volunteers of the Friends of Diamond Head about 10 years ago along the mauka side of the road, Lamadrid-Rose said. The group has agreed to maintain the area in perpetuity, Lamadrid-Rose said. For some unknown reason, no one has been maintaining the area.

When the rockfall occurred in March 2006, much of the naupaka was crushed and the irrigation system was broken. However, by January the area was replanted and the sprinkler system repaired, she said.

This spring a car crashed into the irrigation system near the lighthouse. And with the dry spring and summer, the naupaka at the Kapi'olani Park end of the road also began to dry up.

State parks has one maintenance person to take care of the Diamond Head Monument and the nearby park facilities, Lamadrid-Rose said.

The Hawai'i Community Foundation has money available to help replant some of the areas, Loy said. The group of residents and organizations will meet soon to determine the best course of action.

"We've been asked to be the umbrella organization to reclaim that area to the beauty that it once was," Loy said. "The Outdoor Circle is concerned about keeping our island green and beautiful. We're going to do what we can."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.