State land officials have posted signs and two law enforcement officials near the trail head into a Mokuleia hiking area to try to turn people back from where a young girl was critically injured by a rock falling on her head Monday morning.
The girl, 12, was identified as Mackenzie Mitchell by a source who declined to be identified. She remained in critical condition Tuesday at the Queen’s Medical Center where she was taken by helicopter from YMCA Camp Erdman shortly after the 10:30 a.m. incident Monday.
The girl was part of a group originating from Erdman that had hiked about 300 yards mauka toward Kaena Point into an undeveloped but known hiking trail and had made its way to what many call "the Mokuleia Climbing Wall." The girl was struck on the head and rendered unconscious by a rock that had been dislodged and fell on her, the Honolulu Fire Department said. The group was getting a safety briefing by counselors under the rock face of the cliff, and the girl had not yet put on any equipment nor her helmet, officials said.
An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing, said Randy Awo, acting chief of law enforcement for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
"We have officers on scene now to enforce the closure," he said, and they will be stationed there during daylight hours indefinitely.
The accident happened on state land but in an area that’s "unencumbered," or not developed by the state, Awo said. He said DLNR officials today will re-evaluate whether to reopen the trail.
DLNR Deputy Director Guy Kaulukukui said rock climbing by individuals in unencumbered state land is not a violation of state law. However, rock climbing as a commercial activity would require a permit from the department, he said.
Kaulukukui said he knew of no company that has such a permit on Oahu.Awo said any company conducting such activities without a permitcould face a fine of up to $500 each day of violation, he said.
"It’s an area that’s been known where individuals have gone to climb." he said. "We were unaware that there was a commercial activity in the area."
There are makeshift steps along the face of the wall. DLNR officials said they do not know how they got there. "That’s part of the investigation," Awo said.
YMCA officials would not answer questions about the accident on Tuesday. "At this time we do not have any further information to provide," said Susan Nakamura, YMCA director of marketing and public relations. The child’s family has asked for privacy and is declining interviews, she said.
