Public safety concerns lead to proposed trail maintenance project at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

The trail between the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge and Daniel K. Inouye Kilauea Point Lighthouse needs maintenance to be safe for the public. The trail has experienced erosion, undermining, and settling. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is asking the public to review and provide comment on the proposed project to stabilize and repair the trail. The Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) describes the proposed alternatives for the project, which include: Trail Stabilization with East Slope Discharge and Trail Stabilization with West Ravine Discharge. The Draft EA is available for review from October 14-November 12, 2015.

Some project alternatives would require heavy equipment to work along the pedestrian pathways, blocking access to the Visitor Center, Lighthouse and Point. The existing parking lot would need to be utilized for storage of equipment, materials and supplies. Visitation would not be safe for the public, and the Refuge and Lighthouse would be closed during that time, from approximately January 1 through April 31, 2016.

The Service will do its best to reduce the length of the closure to the absolute minimum, but addressing issues that are quickly escalating along the pathway to the Point is critical for the future of public safety and visitation at the Refuge.

During a possible closure, the Kilauea Overlook will still be accessible; staff and docents will provide information to visitors Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm (except on Federal holidays). The Refuge Friends group, Kilauea Point Natural History Association (KPNHA), would establish a temporary Nature Store at the Kong Lung Center in Kilauea Town.

The public is invited to attend an open house, during which time Refuge staff will describe the alternatives analyzed and the potential impacts to the environment for the project. Interested parties may voice their comments, ideas, and concerns during this meeting or during the public comment period. The open house will take place on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Kilauea Elementary School Cafeteria, 2440 Kolo Road, Kilauea, Kauaʻi, HI, 96754.

An electronic copy of the Draft EA is available online at http://www.fws.gov/kilaueapoint. Hard copies of the

Draft EA are available for public review at:

 Lihuʻe Public Library, 4344 Hardy Street, Lihuʻe, HI 96766

 Princeville Public Library, 4343 Emmalani Drive, Princeville, HI 96722

 Koloa Public and School Library, 3451 Poʻipu Road, Koloa, HI 96756

 Hanapepe Public Library, 4490 Kona Road, Hanapepe, HI 96716

 Kapaʻa Public Library, 4-1464 Kuhio Highway, Kapaʻa, HI 96746

 Waimea Public Library, 9750 Kaumualiʻi Highway, Waimea, HI 96796

 KPNWR, 3500 Kilauea Road, Kilauea, HI 96754

Please email or fax your comments to kpnwrtrail@mcmjac.com or 208-342-4216. You may also submit comments by mail to: Kauaʻi National Wildlife Refuge Complex, ATTN: Michael Mitchell, Acting Project Leader, P.O. Box 1128 Kilauea, HI, 96754.

The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge was established to preserve and enhance seabird nesting colonies and is home to some of the largest populations of nesting seabirds in the main Hawaiian Islands. Visitors also have a chance to view spinner dolphins, Hawaiian monk seals, native Hawaiian coastal plants, and Hawai‘i’s state bird and endangered Hawaiian goose, the nene. The Refuge is also home to the historic Daniel K. Inouye Kilauea Point Lighthouse. The Refuge is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and closed on major holidays. To learn more about the Refuge, please visit http://www.fws.gov/refuge/kilauea_point/. and friend us on Facebook. To learn more about KPNHA, visit www.kilaueapoint.org