Crews began removing sacks of rock and debris by helicopter yesterday as part of the state's $384,000 monthlong maintenance project at the Diamond Head State Monument.

 

Crews Airlift Rocks Off Diamond Head

 

 

A helicopter and clean up crews removed 50 tons of rock, dirt and debris off of the Diamond Head trail.

 

[ Watch ]

 

 

 

 

  More than 100 sacks—50 tons—of scaled rocks and debris, made up mostly of compressed clay from the slopes and trail, are to be stockpiled on the crater floor for future parks use.

Since Oct. 20 the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has closed the summit trail to allow crew members to maintain the slopes and remove potential rockfall hazards along the trail.

From Monday through Thursday, workers will conduct rock scaling work above the Kahala entrance tunnel to the crater. The park and trail are scheduled to reopen at 6 a.m. Friday.

More than 600,000 residents and tourists visit the Diamond Head summit trail annually. Over the years, the trail has deteriorated due to an influx of visitors and natural erosion.

The state plans to improve other areas of the trail that have deteriorated due to foot traffic and weather. Improvements include installation of safer stairways and wider walkways to reduce hiker congestion and installation of slope stabilization and rockfall mitigation measures. Also planned is a loop trail connecting the summit lookout and the rest-stop landing at the top of the pedestrian tunnel.

The state also plans to make improvements on Diamond Head Road and Poka Place.