The beauty of the NāPali Coast State Wilderness Park is eclipsed by a health concern as the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has imposed closure of the Kalalau Trail due to a norovirus outbreak, as reported on September 6. The entire trail from Kē‘ē to Honopu is off-limits, and authorities are working tirelessly to disinfect the area and safeguard the wellbeing of visitors and the local environment.
According to the DLNR announcement, this contagious virus presents with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, at least 37 hikers and campers have reported illness but the true number could be higher; public health measures have been enacted in response to ensure visitor safety, with the closure recommended to remain in place until September 19. Enhanced cleaning operations are not only concentrated along the trail, but at the still-open Ha‘ena State Park and Kē‘ē Beach to negate the virus’s spread.
Measures include a rigorous cleaning protocol in affected areas and engagement with the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE), which will patrol the area and assist remaining tourists in vacating the premises; the Kalalau Trailhead is being closely monitored with law enforcement present to prevent entry.
As "Forrest Liss of Kaua‘i backpacked to Kalalau on Tuesday, prior to the park closure," and noted the departure of those afflicted by the malady, he discerned the severity of the situation when "they start going through the protocols of shutting down the park, actually this is something a little more serious," he told DLNR; this trail is not the first to encounter such an outbreak, similar incidents have been reported on the Appalachian Trail, at Havasu Falls, and in the Grand Canyon National Park as well as the Pacific Coast Trail within the past couple of years.
What was scheduled to be a routine maintenance day turned into a significant cleanup operation, with DLNR staff and DOCARE officers collecting trash and sterilizing facilities according to Department of Health (DOH) recommendations. Derrick Louis of DSP described the process on DLNR: "We swept the floor and bleached the whole bathroom, floors, railings, toilets, everything. Waited at least 7 to10 minutes, cleaned everything and did it again and then we wiped everything down with a disinfectant," illustrating the meticulousness of their task.
Boaters are advised against dropping visitors near the area in adherence to DOH guidelines, with warnings issued that violators can face citations or arrest during the closure period. The commitment to public health and safety continues to be the top priority for affected Hawaiian authorities and agencies.
