Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

DAVID Y. IGE GOVERNOR

SUZANNE D. CASE  CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release November 8, 2017

UPDATE ON CLOSURE SCHEDULE FOR DIAMOND HEAD STATE MONUMENT
ROCKFALL MITIGATION WORK – NOVEMBER INTO DECEMBER

HONOLULU — The DLNR Division of State Parks announces updated full closure days and half-day closure dates for a continuing project to remove rockfall hazards along the Diamond Head State Monument summit trail.  Anyone planning to hike the summit trail between late November and into mid-December, needs to carefully review the construction schedule that now includes some all-day weekday closures. See the Division of State Parks website at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/diamond-head-state-monument/

Prometheus Construction was contracted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to mitigate rockfall hazards on Diamond Head. This third and final phase of work began September 18, 2017 to stabilize summit trail slopes inside the crater. It involves rock scaling, placement of anchors, and constructing erosion-resistant (shotcrete) surfaces. It is expected to be completed by December 15, 2017

During this project, partial closures of the summit trail will be necessary for public safety, as workers loosen rocks on slopes above the trail. Here is the updated schedule of trail full, partial closure dates, and open dates:

FULL CLOSURE DATES

• The summit trail will be closed every weekday, Monday through Thursday. No hiking will be allowed Mondays through Thursdays of the following dates:
  November 6 – 9
  November 13 – 16
  November 27 – 30

PARTIAL CLOSURE DATES

• The summit trail will also be closed the following afternoons at 12 p.m. (all hikers must be off the summit trail by 2 p.m.):
  November 17
  Friday, December 1
  Monday – Friday, December 4 – 8
  Monday – Friday, December 11 – 15

OPEN DATES:  The summit trail will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and state holidays (November 10, Veterans’ Day).

The following Special Thanksgiving week hours, November 20 – 24 remain unchanged:

• Monday, Nov 20 – Wednesday, Nov 22, the summit trail will be closed at 12 p.m. (all hikers must be off the summit trail by 2 p.m.).
• The summit trail will be open regular hours, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov 23 – Sunday, November 26.

The DLNR Division of State Parks is asking for everyone’s attention and cooperation during these closures.

It’s anticipated that the “crater park” inside the crater floor (the parking lot, restroom, and visitor center and gift shop and lunch wagon) will remain open during most of the work.

Curt Cottrell, State Parks administrator, said, “The Diamond Head State Monument hike remains one of the top visitor experiences and a favorite of local school groups, summer program participants and resident hikers.”

“Over one million people per year hike the historic and former military service trail to marvel at the extensive interior construction of the stairs, tunnels and fire control stations. The summit of Diamond Head hosts the panoramic 360-degree view, which is why it is one of the most visited State Parks. However, the soft, crumbly rock (volcanic tuff) that Diamond Head crater is composed of is susceptible to deterioration from the natural effects of erosion.  This slope stabilization and hazard mitigation is necessary due to the soft composition of the slopes and this type of project, as with those in the past, is necessary to improve the safety of our park visitors and to reduce slope erosion from accreting onto the surface of the trail.”  

A first phase of work on the exterior ocean side of Diamond Head crater took place in late spring, above the area where Beach Road meets Diamond Head, over a total distance of less than 200 yards. Rock scaling work was done to retain the natural appearance of the slope while reducing the hazards.

In mid-April, a second phase of work was completed to remove rockfall hazards above the Kahala Tunnel entrance, while keeping the natural appearance of the slope. Most of this work was done in the evenings, after the crater was closed. Total project cost is $1.72 million.

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Media Contact:

Deborah Ward
DLNR Communications Specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320