The state has postponed until late August and early September the closure of Makapuu Lighthouse Trail for renovations, including paving the road and building new retaining walls.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks said Thursday it would close the trail from Aug. 24 to Sept. 9 instead of later this month.
The change will allow crews to chip away boulders on slopes above the trail before wrapping up other work on an improvement project that was originally expected to last six months.
DLNR spokeswoman Deborah Ward said officials decided to postpone the park closure so that the rockfall hazard would be gone before the road was paved.
A rockfall hazard assessment earlier this year found three boulders that posed a threat to hikers on the trail. Crews will break the boulders and remove pieces, according to a news release.
The rockfall mitigation project, which costs the state $68,800, is expected to take five days. During that time, no one will be allowed in the parking lot or on the trail.
“We are glad that we have been able to accommodate the public’s use of the trail during much of the construction work on the Makapu‘u Trail and appreciate the patience of our residents and visitors as we have made the much needed repairs to this 100-year old road,” Dan Quinn, state parks administrator, said in the release. “However, for everyone’s safety, it is imperative that we close the trail during the rockfall mitigation project and the road paving.”
The other days of closure are for road repaving.
Crews have finished the new retaining walls, and new lookouts are under construction, according to the release.
DLNR officials said the work will not affect the Makapuu Lookout along Kalanianaole Highway, and the Kaiwi shoreline will remain open during the project.
The improvement work is to preserve the lookout and keep it safe, according to the release. It’s estimated 400 people use the 1-mile trail each day to reach Makapuu’s scenic summit.
The monthslong construction project comes with an estimated cost of $2.7 million, covered by state and federal funds and by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Unstable retaining walls and erosion along road edges have been a concern for vehicles using the road for maintenance purposes.
Four lookouts with viewing scopes are planned for the makai side of the roadway.
Improvement work is also being done at two lookouts built in 1991. The uppermost will be expanded about 8 feet and new railings installed. Crews will build a new rock wall at the cliff’s edge.
Tentative schedule for the 12 days of trail closures:
» Monday-Friday, Aug. 24-28
» Monday-Friday, Aug. 31-Sept. 4
» Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 8-9
The trail will be open during regular park hours on weekends, 7 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., and on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7.
Information on Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline and Makapuu Lighthouse Trail can be found at dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/kaiwi-state-scenic-shoreline.
