LIHUE — Trail specialist Charlie Cobb-Adams is convinced there is a simple way to reduce the number of people being stranded in Hanakapiai on Kauai’s Kalalau Trail during flash flooding.
He is pushing for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to reopen an old, overgrown trail that runs to Hanakapiai Falls on the near side of the stream.
“You never have to cross the stream,” Cobb-Adams said, pointing to the alternate route on a map. “To me, enough is enough.”
Although not well-known and no longer maintained by DLNR, the trail does exist. In fact, it is still on the Na Ala Hele Recreation Map of Western Kauai — the maps sold at the Kauai DLNR office.
Cobb-Adams, who reopened the trail around 1990 while working for DLNR, said the state should do its job, fix the trail and encourage those wanting to hike to the falls to use it.
“It boils down to management,” he said. “All this could have been prevented years ago.”
On Wednesday, Cobb-Adams emailed his concerns to a number of people, including Kauai County Council Vice Chair Mason Chock, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Chair Hermina Morita and Rep. Jimmy Tokioka.
“I believe this is the solution, though it’s not bulletproof because people will do what they want and get into trouble anyway,” he wrote. “It will at least minimize the rescue operations and not maximize it.”
Another potential solution, one the state is actively discussing, is constructing a bridge across the popular hiking spot.
“State Parks has pursued the possibility of constructing a stream crossing at Hanakapiai beach since a flash flood on Kauai on Feb. 21, 2013 when a woman was swept away and drowned as she tried to cross the swollen stream,” DLNR spokeswoman Deborah Ward wrote in an email.
Pending the required permits, state parks has some Capital Improvement Plan funding to do scoping, design and construction for priority parks improvements, according to Ward.
“Due to the remote location and lack of roads, any materials or prefabricated structures would need to be airlifted in, which is costly,” she wrote. “Environmental study/permit and public comment period would also be factored into a time frame for planning and construction which would probably take 2-3 years to complete.”
Ward did not respond to questions about why DLNR stopped maintaining the old trail, but indicated reopening it could be discussed.
“Both of these are possible solutions but we must also consider costs and manpower for maintenance,” she wrote.
But not everyone thinks a bridge is a great idea.
Thomas Andreas Schmidt, 32, of Denmark, hiked to Hanakapiai Falls Saturday on one of the last few days of a three-month trip that took him around the world.
He said a bridge would take away from the natural beauty and that an emergency zip line would be better.
“I think it’s best to leave it like this. It’s nature,” he said.
Barbara and Jim Penner of Helena, Mont., said if the state does put in a bridge it should be low impact and blend in with the natural environment.
“A basket zip line might work and it would not be intrusive,” said Barbara, sitting on the bank of the stream.
Both also said it is time for people to take some personal responsibility when out hiking.
“Our society is getting too wimpy,” Jim said.
On April 6, Hanakapiai stream swelled, leaving 121 people stranded on its far bank. County helicopter Air 1 spent more than seven hours hauling people out of the valley over the two-day effort, which county officials have described as the largest rescue in recent history.
Chock, one of two council members appointed last week to serve on a Special Committee Task Force to explore and address the issue in Hanakapiai, said several ideas have already surfaced since the incident. While he isn’t sold on building a bridge, he does believe there are some quick, innovative solutions that could help, including opening the trail.
“I totally agree,” he said of Cobb-Adams’ letter. “That’s half the battle right there. The less (people crossing) the better.”
Chock also said he liked ideas to put a monitor or stake in the river that would warn hikers when water reached hazardous levels.
The DLNR estimates 500,000 people hike the two miles of Kalalau Trail to Hanakapiai each year.
Ward said DLNR’s Division of State Parks has discussed solutions, including a bridge, with the Kauai County Fire Department.
County spokeswoman Sarah Blane said the county is aware that DLNR is considering modifications in the area and would continue reviewing the proposals in order to address questions and concerns.
“And it is the county’s hope that all stakeholders, including the public, will have an opportunity to provide feedback before any of the proposal modifications are implemented,” she wrote.
Cobb-Adams said he sent his email out Wednesday because years of watching rescue operations in the wake of flash flooding has left his frustrated.
“We need to address this situation immediately before something like this or worse will occur again!” he wrote.
