MEDIA RELEASE

Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) 185, the Land Fire Protection Law, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife is extending the closure of Mauna Kea Forest Reserve and Kaohe Game Management Area until February 28, 2011, due to continuing extreme fire hazard conditions. Though portions of the area have received some rainfall over the last few weeks, drought conditions still persist due to lack of rainfall over the past year and the vegetation is drier than normal. As of December 23, 2010, the U.S. Drought Monitor still considers much of the area as being categorized as drought intensity D-2 (severe) and D-3 (extreme). Vegetation surveys in the affected areas have confirmed that extreme fire hazard conditions persist. The closed area includes portions of the forest reserve, below 10,000 feet elevation, between Waikahalulu Gulch, west to the gate 1.1 miles past Kemole, all of the Kaohe Game Management Area, and all roads in the Ahumoa and Skyline area. No public access will be allowed until sufficient rainfall reduces the fire risk in the area. Pohakuloa Training Area will also be closed to public access until further notice by the Department of Defense.

Puu Anahulu GMA and Puu Waawaa Forest Reserve will remain closed until January 31, 2011.
Use of Mauna Kea State Recreation Area remains unchanged. All other state lands accessible to the public remain open at this time.

The following areas will be open for public use on January 1, 2011:
Kapapala Forest Reserve and Kapapala Ranch Cooperative GMA.

For further information on closures, contact the Hawaii District office of the Division of Forestry and Wildlife at 974-4221.