Hikers lost in off-limits area given citations

Two hikers who got lost in the state Kahaualea Natural Area Reserve last week were cited for entering a restricted area after they were rescued by Hawaii County firefighters.

Alexander Corey, 24, of Pahoa, and Deven Schuster, 23, of Maryland, got lost Jan. 29 and had to spend the night after returning from Kilauea Volcano’s Puu Oo Crater. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources closed the Kahaualea Natural Area in July 2007 because of hazardous and unsafe conditions caused by volcanic activity.

The pair were issued the citations Monday. A District Court judge in Hilo will hear their case. The violations are misdemeanor offenses punishable by a fine and up to a year in jail.

"Entering into closed areas is a serious offense that unnecessarily risks lives and places rescuers in jeopardy," said Carty S. Chang, interim DLNR chairman. "DLNR will enforce these closures and take enforcement action on violators."

Established in 1987, the reserve consists of about 22,520 acres and is home to a federally endangered fern, Adeno­phorus periens.