Hiking trails need closer oversight

There’s a lot to love about Hawaii’s hiking trails. They wind into micro-climates ranging from lushly verdant rainforest to cactus-studded dry lands, with some paths leading to waterfalls and others ascending to beautiful panoramic views.

Na Ala Hele, our state trail and access program, includes 128 trails and roadway features. But for various reasons hikers sometimes stray from the program’s authorized paths or venture onto trails that are either closed to the public or unmarked. Sadly, dangers tied to that were underscored last week when a 29-year-old man fell 300 feet to his death from the closed Castle Trail. While at the Punaluu Valley scene, Honolulu Fire Department received another distress call about two hikers trying to find their way to the closed Haiku Stairs, also known as Stairway to Heaven.

Over the past decade — spurred on by adventure websites and social media — our trails have seen a surge in foot traffic. Failing to keep pace: state funding for trail maintenance and safety-focused outreach efforts.

A review of HFD rescue data shows an increase in mountain rescues from 2006 to 2016, with 350 recorded last year, according to Na Ala Hele’s operator, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). The agency worries that if the trend continues, we could be contending with the equivalent of two rescues a day within the next decade. That’s troubling.

So how to halt the trend? Earlier this year, DLNR asked state lawmakers to designate funding for a proposed hiking safety/preparedness campaign (House Bill 479) and to allocate inflation-corrected funds sorely needed to step up trail maintenance (Senate Bill 709). Both bills stalled. Next year, state lawmakers must find a way to provide adequate funding.

Statewide, a total of 10 Na Ala Hele staffers are tasked with clearing vegetation and downed trees, fixing washouts and unstable areas. At times, they must hike in for miles, carrying supplies, before even starting the work. Considering that the program encompasses 855 miles of fast-growing terrain across the islands, the crew is woefully understaffed.

The proposed safety/preparedness campaign would build upon strides made in ongoing efforts, including one that features an easy-to-access video titled “Sacred Falls — Don’t Risk Your Life, a Fine, or Jail.” It depicts dangers, cultural sensitivity issues and penalties for trespass. (The Sacred Falls state park was permanently shut down in 1999, after eight people were killed and several dozen others injured in a rockfall accident.)

When posted in February 2015, the video countered online sites and blogs that had continued to encourage visits to the closed hiking area. Dan Dennison, a DLNR senior communications coordinator, said the agency also contacted websites that provided explicit directions to the park. “In virtually every case (including the popular Exploration Hawaii and Hawaii Revealed sites) directions were voluntarily removed.”

In addition, a QRC (quick response code) on park closure signs can be scanned like a bar code with a smart phone, linking to the video, which has been viewed more than 15,000 times.

The envisioned DLNR campaign would address hiker etiquette issues, too. Some trails situated in residential neighborhoods, such Maunawili Falls, have soared in popularity in recent years, resulting in a dramatic rise in problems such as littering, illegal parking and after-hours noise at the trail head. (Maunawili is not maintained by Na Ala Hele.)

This summer, we could see even more hikers as the state’s arrivals count is forecasting another record-breaking year, with a total of 9.1 million visitors expected and related spending likely to exceed $16 billion. Since visitors are typically most in need of trail-related education, state lawmakers should tap Hawaii Tourism Authority funds for the proposed DLNR campaign.

It’s well worth the investment. Consider: The typical operational cost for a search-and-rescue response including the HFD helicopter is about $1,500 an hour. For continued enjoyment of Hawaii’s ever-inviting trails, lawmakers must make it possible for DLNR to put in place a far-reaching safety/preparedness campaign and secure sufficient funding for trail maintenance.