09/29/15 – Rockfall Closes Aiea Loop Trail Today

Posted on Sep 29, 2015 in News Releases, slider, State Parks

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

DAVID Y. IGE
GOVERNOR
SUZANNE D. CASE
CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release September 29, 2015  

Aiea-Trail-Loop-Rockfall ROCKFALL CLOSES AIEA LOOP TRAIL TODAY
Keaiwa Heiau State Recreational Area remains open

HONOLULU — A rock fall today has resulted in closure of the ‘Aiea Loop Trail in Keaiwa Heiau State Recreational Area. No one was hurt.

DLNR’s Division of State Parks has posted trail closed signs at both ends of the popular loop trail.

The location of the land slide and rock fall is approximately one mile from the trail head at the upper most point in Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area.

The park is OPEN, only the trail is closed. Division of State Parks will seek a geologist’s assessment of this area. It is too early to tell how long it this location may need to be closed or what further action should be taken. Future updates on trail status will be posted on the State Parks website https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/ under “Announcements”.

The ‘Aiea Loop Trail is 4.8-mile trail that begins and ends in the park. This trail runs along the ridge on the west side of Halawa Valley and offers views of the southern coastline of O‘ahu from Pearl Harbor (Pu‘uloa) and the Wai‘anae Range to Honolulu and Diamond Head (Le‘ahi).

Much of this area was replanted by foresters in the late 1920s. The lemon eucalyptus trees give the air a light citrus fragrance. Stands of Norfolk Island pine trees mark the lower end of the trail. Look for the native koa and ohi‘a trees as you reach Pu‘u Uau, the high point about midway along the length of the trail. You might also see remnants of a B-24 bomber that crashed in 1944.

For more information about the trail go to https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/hiking/oahu/aiea-loop-trail/

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Media Contact:
Deborah Ward
DLNR Communications specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320