Is nothing sacred?
Apparently not the stream-monitoring equipment that safeguards the public at Maui’s Seven Sacred Pools.
The batteries and transmitters that are a critical part of the Palikea Stream flood-warning system were stolen last week, prompting Haleakala National Park to close the famous pools at Oheo.
Palikea Stream and the pools in the Kipahulu District will remain off-limits for several weeks while new equipment is ordered, shipped and installed, said Polly Angelakis, Haleakala’s chief of interpretation and education.
According to the park’s safety policy, the stream must be closed to protect visitors whenever the equipment is not working, Angelakis said.
About 1,200 visitors each day drive the winding road to the remote East Maui district of the national park, where Palikea Stream descends through Kipahulu Valley to meet the sea in a picturesque string of pools at Oheo, also known as the Seven Sacred Pools.
The flood-warning system was installed about 10 years ago following several high-profile accidental deaths at the popular pools.
Flash flooding in Hawaii’s steep and narrow valleys can be extremely violent, and 10-foot water rises can occur in just a few minutes, even on sunny days without warning, Angelakis said.
“We close the stream pretty frequently due to flash floods and rockfalls, which is why the National Park Service does not recommend using the pools and streams to swim, wade or hike,” she said.
Authorities are investigating the theft, believed to have occurred during the night of Aug. 11. The estimated replacement cost is $8,400.
Anyone with information on the crime should contact the park and ask for Kristine Ell at 572-4433.
The stream-monitoring equipment includes sensors along several miles of the stream. The sensors track water levels and rainfall, and the system sounds an alarm in the Kipahulu Visitor Center when flash flooding may be imminent. The triggering of the alarm also results in the closing of the pools to visitors.
Prior to the installation of the alarm system, rangers would keep an eye on the mountain to see whether there were any threatening clouds. But that was far from a foolproof system, officials said, because the clouds aren’t always visible and it’s not unusual for it to be sunny at sea level and storming at the top of the valley 7 miles away without anyone knowing below.
Although the stream, including the pools at Oheo, is closed for now, the park remains open.
“We still have tour buses and private vehicles stopping at the Kipahulu District. People are still hiking the trails, attending programs and enjoying the ocean views,” Angelakis said.
