State explores
closure of Maui road

WAILUKU >> The state will hold a meeting Tuesday about closing a road at night that leads to the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve and Keoneoio in South Maui because of complaints about rave parties after sundown.

The meeting before the state's Ahihi-Kinau/Keoneoio advisory group is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon at the Lokelani Intermediate School cafeteria in Kihei.

Dan Davidson, deputy director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, said there have been complaints about late-night partying on the state coastal land.

"There are concerns about inappropriate activities. ... The real question becomes, What is the best management response to that?" he said Thursday.

Davidson said his department is a "long way" away from making any kind of decision to close the road. He said the decision would require a public hearing and the approval of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources and also Maui County, which owns the road.

Similar nighttime closures have been made in the past to state property, including the road leading to the state park in Iao Valley.

The South Maui area, within a former lava flow with a bay and coastal ponds, has become a popular site, attracting about 1,000 visitors daily, according to the state.

Davidson said the department expects a ranger to be assigned to the reserve probably by mid- to late August.

The state received funds from the Hawaii Tourism Authority to pay for two rangers at the reserve for the next three years.

State officials have also completed a contract with the Hawaii Wildlife Fund to conduct a visitor outreach education program on Maui.

Davidson said the rangers are not expected to serve as enforcement officers and will mainly serve to provide information and observe activity on the state lands.

The state began enforcing a ban against commercial kayaking in the reserve after the state Natural Area Reserves System Commission voted in April against allowing the commercial activity.

The state had documented damage to historic sites and coral heads in the reserve, which has 1,238 acres of land and 807 acres of marine ecosystems.