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County / In Brief

Tree removal to close part of park trail

The last mile of the Pipiwai Trail in Kipahulu will be closed for hazardous tree removal on Tuesday and Wednesday, Haleakala National Park officials have announced.

The closures will happen from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. The trail is in the park’s Kipahulu District.

Visitors will still have access to the first mile of the 2-mile trail to a footbridge below the Bamboo Forest. Visitors will not be able to reach the forest itself or the viewpoint for Waimoku Falls.

Hikers will still be able to get to Makahiku Falls, located a half-mile from the Pipiwai trailhead. Hikers will be able to access the entire half-mile Kuloa Point loop trail near the Pools of Oheo. The pools, however, remain closed because of the risk of landslides.

The hazardous trees are non-native African Tulip trees (Spathodea campanulata) with brilliant orange flowers and fruits that produce thousands of seeds. Brought to the state for landscaping, the trees have spread to Hawaiian forests and pose serious threats to native biodiversity.

The trees’ removal will improve visitor safety along the trail, park officials said.

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Meeting set to discuss West Maui land

A community open house will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 8 to provide input on the future of state lands at Honolua Bay and Lipoa Point in West Maui.

The open house will be hosted by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources at the West Maui Senior Center at 788 Pauoa St. in Lahaina.

Community members will be able to learn about the planning process, view informational exhibits and contribute ideas at their own pace.

There will be no formal presentation, but there will be several stations and information booths where participants can provide comments and speak individually to DLNR staff from different divisions, as well as Planning Consultants Hawai’i LLC staff.

The state acquired the lands in 2014, following an effort by the community, guided by the Save Honolua Coalition, the state’s political leaders and others to prevent development of the agricultural lands surrounding Honolua Bay, according to a news release.

For more information about the open-house event, call John Summers of Planning Consultants Hawai’i at 268-4059.

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