State law enforcement officers issued citations to more than four dozen hikers for trespassing into the closed Kohala Forest Reserve on Saturday. Fourteen hikers under age 18 received written warnings for the same offense.

The forest reserve has been closed since a 2007 earthquake. However, many hikers still cross through the property en route to a water flume in the Kohala Ditch that drops 35 feet into a small, shallow pool. The so-called White Road hike has been popularized on hiking sites and social media in recent years.

Hunters and others with valid permits from the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife can legally enter the reserve as long as they are engaged in activity listed on their permits.

“People don’t realize this is a dangerous hike and if you get hurt there’s no cell service and help can be a long ways off,” Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement North Hawaii Supervisor Verl Nakama said in a statement.

Hikers following the White Road trail also pass through private land, over Department of Hawaiian Home Lands property and across infrastructure under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture.

Each of the hikers cited admitted to crawling over two locked gates and ignoring numerous “closed” and “no trespassing” signs.

DLNR officials said they plan to inform travel-oriented websites and blogs that promote the hike to inform their readers that they will be cited if they trespass into the Kohala Forest Reserve and the restricted Kohala watershed.

Maui

Trees’ removal in Makawao begins along Piiholo Road

County crews will remove 20 hazardous trees on Piiholo Road in Makawao beginning today.

The county said by email Saturday that the initial phase will involve eucalyptus trees above the Piiholo Zipline and will require intermittent road closures.

Work is scheduled to be done between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. and is expected to be completed by Aug. 9.

Subsequent phases will include the removal of additional trees within the county right of way along Piiholo Road. An estimated 112 trees will be removed due to hazards presented by falling branches and trees, the county said.

The departments of Public Works and Parks and Recreation, including the county arborist, are coordinating the project.