Diamond Head Closed for Improvements to Parking Lot and Entry Wall Repairs
East Oahu Sun | Posted on May 8, 2012 Closed to public May 7 to 13, 2012
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will begin repaving the park parking lot through the Kahala Tunnel on Monday, May 7 through Sunday May 13, 2012. In addition, the damaged stone wall along the entry road will be rebuilt. Diamond Head State Monument will be closed to the public, and only official vehicles will be allowed entry during these 7 days. No public access, by foot or by motor vehicle will be allowed via the entry road. DLNR enforcement officers will institute traffic controls at Diamond Head Road.
"We appreciate the public's understanding and cooperation during this week-long closure of Diamond Head State Monument so that we can make needed repairs to a section of this heavily trafficked road," said William J. Aila, Jr., DLNR Chairperson. Approximately, 1000 visitor vehicles (including cars, vans, commercial vehicles, and others) enter and exit the park daily.
Hawaii National Guard and State Civil Defense employees, and other authorized entities will be able to enter the park road and the crater through the Kahala Tunnel in regular vehicles. Delays may be expected during this work.
On Monday thru Wednesday, the park parking lot and road leading to the Kahala Tunnel from the parking lot will be repaved.
On Thursday and Friday, the road through the Kahala Tunnel will be re-paved, and authorized traffic will be routed through the Kapahulu Tunnel.
The damaged stone wall along the entry road at Diamond Head Road, adjacent to the bus stop, will be reconstructed concurrently.
The contractor for both the road and wall repairs is Road Builders.
Future work will pave the entry road from the Kahala Tunnel exterior to Diamond Head Road. That work is expected to occur in November 2012.
The park will reopen to the public on Monday, May 14, 2012. Normal park hours are 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.
Diamond Head State Monument encompasses more than 475 acres, including the interior and outer slopes of the crater. It receives approximately 600,000 visitors annually and ranks among one of the top visitor destinations.