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Tour restrictions
‘not a complete fix’
for Manoa Falls Trail

By Treena Shapiro
Star-Bulletin

Commercial activity on the Manoa Falls Trail has slowed since new restrictions were imposed last month, but not as much as the state or legal tour vendors would like.

Since June 1, the state began citing nonpermitted commercial tour vendors and issuing one permit a month to noncommercial groups of 12 to 30 people. While some nonprofits are still trying to get around the permit process, at least two no longer come to the trail, and there has been a definite decrease in commercial activity, said Aaron Lowe, Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Program specialist.

Enforcement officers have issued two citations, to different leaders from the same tour company. The first citation resulted in a $50 fine, which didn't deter the company from returning to the trail. The arraignment for the second citation is set for the end of this month.

John Alford, owner of Bike Hawaii, one of two permitted tour vendors, said enforcement has helped curb some unauthorized commercial activity, but hasn't made much of an impact on nonprofit activities.

"It is not a complete fix," he said. "I think what the nonprofits have done is that they don't attack the trail with 50 people anymore, they just do multiple tours. I still have seen nonprofits exceeding the limit."

He added that all groups larger than 12 are required to have permits.

Alford said nonprofits are hurting his business, both by undercutting his rates and by commercializing the natural resource with "trail-side vending" -- offering T-shirts and certificates for donation at the trailhead.

"People just find it to be an inappropriate place," he said. "They're going up into the trails to get away, to get into Mother Nature and see the beauty."

That's what the trail is for, Lowe said, who emphasized that the state's efforts weren't meant to deter individuals from visiting the park but are meant to protect the resource and perhaps gain a little revenue for the trail's upkeep.

Permit fees for commercial tour groups are put into a special fund used for state parks. Late last month, the Manoa Falls Trail was closed for major improvements, such as new gravel, new steps and improved stream crossing.

"We have to modify our improvements on a more regular basis than we had expected because of increased foot traffic," Lowe said.

Lowe said an estimated 200 people visit the trail daily.

Before the trail became a popular tour site, it didn't need to be closed to make improvements.

"Now we have to close the trail to get a good amount of work done," he said.

Coming off the trail today, Dennis Pierce, 44, of Kaneohe, said the improvements made a dramatic difference. "It's awesome now. It's really cool."

But he said the trail has been so improved with barriers and signs that there doesn't seem to be a reason to limit tour groups.

"The way that they've got it laid out now, I don't see why they should limit the number of people on it," he said.

But Makiki resident Ruz Rusden, 35, said the restrictions are a good idea and that the trail has periods of overuse.

"You want people to see it," he said, "but a lot of people hike up here to get away from crowds."