Big Island Earthquake Update

Pololu Valley Trail Reopens, 11/21/06Update 11/21/06 - State officials have reopened the Pololu Trail in North Kohala, part of the Old Government Road that leads to an area called Awini where Kamehameha I was hidden from enemies in his early childhood.The trail, down a 420-foot cliff face, had been closed since the magnitude-6.7 and 6.0 earthquakes on Oct. 15. Following the quakes, sections of the trail were subject to continuing rockfalls, said Department of Land and Natural Resources Director Peter Young.

Due to the earthquake, there were sections of trail that were subject to continuing rockfall, that have now been scaled back and rebuilt in the areas that were unstable. Also, an approximately 20 foot section of the trail surface along a switchback was re-built to accommodate access. The trail surface had narrowed due to slippage. Various sections of the trail, which runs in a steep zigzag down the vegetated cliff face, have been rebuilt.