HAWAI'I KAI — The city is trying to determine if the Koko Crater trail and a nearby shooting range can safely coexist, Parks Director Lester Chang told a crowd of about 300 people last night.

Until then, the city won't keep people out of the popular hiking path up Koko Crater.

"There's lots of interest in trying to keep both of them open and that's our challenge moving forward," Chang said after the meeting at Haha'ione Elementary School. "We need to figure out in what possible way can we permit both activities to happen."

The Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board last night voted unanimously in favor of public access to the trail, and most in attendance seemed to agree.

Trail users were galvanized to keep it open when, on Feb. 15, city workers erected "Keep Out" signs at the base of the trail. The signs were removed that afternoon after public outcry, but fears remain that the city may close it again.

Chang last night said the matter will be discussed further in his department. He could not say when a decision will be reached.

"It comes down to safety first and then it comes down to resources," he said, referring to the chance of a stray bullet from the Koko Head Shooting Complex and to the money it would take to keep the trail in a safe condition.

Chang said one option the city may be to seek a partnership with a community group to adopt the trail and maintain it. Installing a fence to keep hikers out of the shooting area or posting warning sings were also discussed.

"I sincerely apologize for not discussing the issue with the community (earlier)," he said.

The trail, also known as the Koko Crater stairs, follows an abandoned World War II-era railroad track straight up the side of Koko Crater. Hundreds of people scale the path each week for the panoramic views from the 1,208-foot summit.

There have been no reports of hikers being hit by bullets from the shooting range, and many trail users and shooting range users last night said they do not believe there is a danger.

"We don't want to go head-to-head with the firing range," said Hawai'i Kai resident Nathan Kurosawa, who hikes the trail frequently with his son.

Those in attendance tried to not make the issue about choosing one activity over another.

Koko Head Shooting Complex, which is operated by the Department of Parks and Recreation, is the only public shooting range on O'ahu and is used to train city, state and federal law enforcement officers. The range is usually in use from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and may be used by hundreds of people on weekends.

For Manoa resident Ed Masaki, 75, the range is the only place he can practice for national shooting competitions.

Masaki said he believes the shooting range and the trail can coexist if hikers "stay on their side."

But he and about a dozen others who are concerned about the future of the shooting range appeared at the meeting last night to listen to the discussion.

"If they say we have no right shooting over there, we're gonna say something," he said. "There's only one range but lots of hiking trails."

Some residents had asked whether the range's hours could be adjusted when HPD opens its $6.2 million indoor shooting facility in Waipahu at the end of the year. But HPD has said it will continue to use the complex for long-range shooting practice.

The city has mentioned the railway track's condition as a safety issue. Many of the ties are deteriorating and some have rotted away almost completely.

The track crosses a trestle about halfway up the trail. Climbers hop on the ties to get across, sometimes over gaps large enough for a person to fall though. Others crawl over on their hands and knees.

"I just think it shouldn't be closed," Hawai'i Kai resident Danica Ho, 22, said before the meeting. Ho hiked the trail on Sunday.

"I don't think it's going to be the end of them trying to shut it down," she said.

The Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board hopes to start a dialogue soon with the Parks Department, board chairman Greg Knudsen said.

"We've opened up some doors, now we need to make sure we follow through," he said.

Tom Mendes, president of the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club, attended last night's meeting. "Hiking is a very important activity for the community, and one way to teach people how to enjoy (nature)," he said. "If we keep closing down trails, I'm not sure how you can tell people what to appreciate."

Reach Kim Fassler at fassler@honoluluadvertiser.com.