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COURTESY OLIVIER KONING
Mike "Bugman" Richardson scales Jungle Sport Wall on the North Shore of Oahu. "If you're not in ideal physical condition, rock climbing is an excellent way to get there," he said.
The Senate Committee on Ways and Means has pushed forward a bill to make it easier for people to climb mountains in Hawaii.
The bill would limit the state’s liability for people involved in rock climbing, mountain climbing and rappelling on government land.
Many Hawaii residents support the proposal and say the state’s concern about getting sued interferes with their ability to enjoy scaling Hawaii’s mountains. They say the state closed a popular rock climbing spot on the North Shore last year after a young girl was injured.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the state attorney general support the bill. The attorney general says currently the state is vulnerable to lawsuits.
