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Diamond Head, Ala Wai Harbor closure details announced

The state announced today details of closures and restrictions in Diamond Head crater and Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor during the Asia-Pacific Economic Coperation conference next month.

Access to Diamond Head crater, including the summit trail, will be closed to the public from 6 p.m. Nov. 11 to 6 a.m. Nov. 14, the Hawaii National Guard announced.

The National Guard will be using portions of the interior of Diamond Head for training and staging equipment in support of the APEC summit.

“We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause those who had planned to hike the Diamond Head trail during that weekend. However, the Hawaii National Guard requires a secure area near Waikiki in order to prepare for its missions in support of civil authorities,” Maj. Gen. Darryll D.M. Wong, state adjutant general, said in a news release.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources announced restrictions to the grounds of the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor and adjacent old helipad parking lot from 6 p.m. Nov. 6 to an undetermined time on Nov. 14.

>> Parking and vehicular access: Paid public and free public parking spaces of the Ala Wai Harbor will be closed. This includes all the free public parking at the helipad area, along the Hilton lagoon and along the 600/700 rows within the facility.

Vehicles left in any public parking stall during the closure period will be towed from the harbor at the owner’s expense.

Only vehicles owned and operated by legitimate harbor tenants, and bearing a valid harbor decal, will be allowed to enter the harbor via Holomoana Street and park in permit stalls that are not signed for closure. Vehicles may exit only through Kahanamoku Street.

There will be no access to or from the harbor via Ala Moana Boulevard, Kalia Road or Paoa Place.

>> Boat operations: The Ala Wai Yacht Harbor and Canal Security Zone consists of the first two boat rows at Ala Wai Harbor (Front Row, Work Dock, Loading Dock, Docks G, F, northeast face of D dock, the cross dock, Row 400) and the Ala Wai Canal from the Ala Wai Harbor to the McCully Street Bridge. There will be no movement of vessel traffic in these areas.

All other vessel traffic will be permitted to move in and out of the remaining unrestricted zone. Should a vessel normally moored in the restricted zone return to Ala Wai from a sea voyage during the closure period, the operator of the vessel should contact the US Coast Guard, Captain of the Port for permission to enter.

Boat trailer parking stalls and the harbor boat launch ramp will also be closed during this event.

>> Pedestrians: Pedestrian traffic inside the restricted areas will be limited to residents and owners/employees of local businesses that fall within the secure area. Government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license, non-driver photo identification or passport will be required to gain access.

The public will be able to access public beach areas near the Outrigger Reef Hotel by using Public Beach Path 141A on Kalia Road and Hilton Hawaiian Village via Kahanamoku Street.

>> Ocean areas off-limits: The Coast Guard will be implementing ocean security zones. These areas are located seaward of the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Hale Koa Hotel, Fort DeRussy Park and the Sheraton Waikiki for a distance of about 2,000 yards offshore. For more information, contact the Coast Guard 24-hour Sector Command Center line at 842-2600.

>> Harbor tenants seeking clarification on access procedures may contact the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor Office at 973-9727 during regular business hours to speak to a harbor agent.

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