KE‘E — The Kalalau Trail from the Ke‘e Beach trailhead remains closed as the search continues for the suspect wanted for attempted murder.
Police reopened Kuhio Highway at Limahuli to vehicle access on Thursday. Access was limited to Ha‘ena State Park even after it reopened on Friday, said Deborah Ward, a spokesperson for the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources. The Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park and Kalalau trail remains closed to the public until further notice, she added.
Sunday made it a week since the parks were closed to the public. The closure allowed police and DLNR enforcement officers to begin searching for Justin Wynn Klein, the suspect who reportedly threw a hiker from a cliff near Kalalau Beach on Dec. 16. The investigation continues a week later.
The victim, a 31-year-old woman from Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, sustained multiple injuries from a roughly 15-foot drop. She has been upgraded from critical to stable condition at Wilcox Memorial Hospital, according to a county news release.
The woman was camping in Kalalau with a companion. According to the police there is a witness to the incident.
Klein is described as a Caucasian male, 6 feet 1 inch tall, with brown hair in a mohawk haircut. He may have a mustache and a beard, and has a tribal band tattoo on his left arm. Klein was last known to live in Kilauea. He is considered dangerous and should not be approached.
Kaua‘i Chief of Police Darryl Perry said Friday that the investigation is considered an attempted murder that occurred in the Kalalau Valley on the North Shore. He thanked the community for their understanding and patience during a critical time in the investigation and search.
KPD is following up on all leads including tips from the public. Anyone with information on Klein’s whereabouts is asked to call the Kaua‘i Police Department at 241-1711.
CrimeStoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to the arrest of Klein.
Campers holding permits for the Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park and Kalalau Beach, who are unable to camp due to the Kalalau trail being temporarily closed, may contact the Division of State Parks Kaua‘i office at 274-3444 or email dlnr@hawaii.gov regarding permit refunds or rescheduling dates.
The closure notice is posted on the state parks website at www.hawaiistateparks.org.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or by emailing tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
