Lava tube resident’s
charges dismissed

Answer: The three misdemeanor charges against Karen Mayfield, also known as Karen Rodriguez, were dismissed Tuesday by the Maui County Prosecutor's Office.

Her attorney David Cain had argued in the past that there were no signs posted in the area notifying her that she was in a state Natural Area Reserve.

Cain said his client did not know she was in the state reserve until law enforcement officers entered her cave on Dec. 10.

First Deputy Prosecutor Ben Acob warned if Rodriguez returns to the cave, his office would seek prosecution.

Ahihi-Kinau is a rocky and sparsely vegetated area that includes an old lava flow and anchialine pools.

Mayfield had lived off and on for about two years in the cave with furnishings, including a table, bed with canopy, butane camping stove, tiki torches, wall decorations, dishes, wind chimes and hanging crystals.

Outside the cave, she had a makeshift outhouse with a toilet seat.

Cain said he did not feel his client should have faced the charges of illegal camping, moving geological features and littering.

He said horses were being ridden nearby and leaving their manure on the path.

"How can you charge someone with littering when the horse dumps there all the time?" he said.

He said Mayfield was similar to a John Muir-type character. Muir, known as the father of the national park system, hiked across the United States.

"God knows he did not ask every landowner permission to go across their land," Cain said.

Cain said rather than charge her, law enforcement officials should have warned her.

"You get them to leave, but you don't charge them for a crime," he said.

Mayfield, who was recently married, now lives in Kahului in a house.

State conservation enforcement officials on Maui were unavailable for comment.