Nobody expected hikers to converge to Maunawili Falls Trail in massive numbers, back when the city first granted the conditional use permit for a golf course abutting it.

In the intervening two decades, however, something called “social media” appeared, and what was once a quiet, scenic path favored by local residents became known to any visitor around the world doing a simple internet search.

That has made a mess of the trail and a nuisance of the hikers, who often come close — and even cut through — the neighboring homes of Maunawili Estates.

Now the city Department of Planning and Permitting is pressing for what may be the only practical solution: a plan from the golf course owners to provide for off-street parking for hikers, and to ensure better upkeep of the trailhead area. DPP has set an October 2017 deadline to deliver the plan, calling for progress reports at regular intervals.

Lacking such a plan, DPP officials have told the owner, HRT Realty LLC, that it could lose its permit for the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club.

This demand is a departure from the norm — which may be why the company apparently hasn’t felt compelled to provide even an outline of what it intends to do, if anything. City Councilman Ikaika Anderson, who represents the area, said he’s tried unsuccessfully to elicit any proposals from HRT.

The trail itself is on state land, and nothing in the original permit conditions, issued for what was then called Luana Hills Golf and Country Club, mentioned responsibility for upkeep of the trailhead. It only required that access to the trail be provided.

Whatever the company’s legal responsibilities, it’s probably wiser and more practical for HRT to work with the city to come up with a mutually agreeable solution. The current situation — a battered, insufficient trailhead and major disruptions to a neighborhood — can’t be maintained. The city administration and Anderson have an obligation to seek an accommodation, which as a practical matter would seem to require relocating the trailhead access to a site within the course property.

Finding a suitable place for parking and adding portable toilets and trash receptacles would yield better community relations, and for a company operating a commercial business on agricultural land, a partnership with the city should be worth the investment.

City officials still hope this can happen. HRT, which operates the golf course and clubhouse, is authorized to close access to the trail until October while working on the improvements.

The lack of stewardship of the trail has been a long-standing complaint, residents say, but problems have grown far worse in recent years as the trail’s popularity among hikers has grown.

Chris Nakamatsu, president of the Maunawili Estates Community Association, said overuse has destroyed the trail, with human waste and trash washing down the mountain to Kawai Nui Marsh.

Furthermore, erosion has added to the hazards for hikers, opening up dead-end trails on which they can get lost. Helicopter rescues must happen at taxpayer expense, he added.

Some of the costs must be borne by taxpayers, but Anderson makes a strong case that HRT has a role to play as well.

Access to public lands is running into similar conflicts in suburban areas around crowded Oahu. Complaints arising from visitors to the off-limits Haiku Stairs as well as the Manoa Falls Trail provide other examples — the continued popularity of those sites demonstrates that this problem won’t go away by itself.

Cooperation among neighbors is essential, if enjoyment of nature as well as peaceful home life are both to survive. Maunawili must hope for such cooperation from both the city and HRT Realty.