HONOLULU -- The state Board of Land and Natural Resources this morning approved a request to extend access restrictions to portions of the Ahihi Kina'u Natural Area Reserve in South Maui for another two years.
The restrictions will continue through July 31, 2014. The board cited a need for more time for state officials to complete its management plan for the area and for results of a study and survey done on possible ordnance at the reserve that was used as a live-fire training area from 1945 to 1946.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has said only munitions debris were found in its survey and no unexploded ordnance.
The restrictions will continue to affect sensitive environmental areas such as "Fishbowl" and "Aquarium," snorkel spots made popular by guidebooks.
Other larger snorkel and swim spots will remain open.
For more, see Saturday's edition of The Maui News.
