Waiʻānapanapa State Park was closed amid dangerous conditions tied to Tropical Storm Nolo when a TikTok video showed a visitor ducking past a locked gate and closure signs. Identified as Nuri Abdullah, she says on camera, “I’mma go down anyway,” then films the coastline and displays rocks from the park.
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources closed the park because of heavy rain, strong winds, possible flash flooding, falling debris and dangerous surf, according to the New York Post. The closure was part of broader shutdowns of state parks and forest lands across Maui, Molokaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island in late September 2026 because of extreme flash-flooding and tropical-storm hazards, the Office of the Governor of Hawaii said.
A Coastline Already Strained by Limited Emergency Resources
Residents voiced frustration in the Road to Hana Maui Community Group on Facebook over visitors entering closed areas during severe weather.
The storm conditions themselves were part of a much larger pattern. In late September 2026, swells associated with Hurricane Polo contributed to a bluff rockslide in Laguna Beach, Hoodline reported.
What the Park Protects — and What the Law Says
Waiʻānapanapa State Park spans 122 acres along East Maui’s coastline and was among the first state parks in Hawaii to require advance entry reservations for out-of-state visitors, a measure meant to manage tourist traffic and protect its fragile black sand deposits, according to America’s State Parks. Beyond the physical hazards of storm surf and falling debris, the park holds culturally significant resources.
Cultural Resources and Entry Rules
DLNR’s park description lists a heiau, or religious temple, alongside natural features including native hala forest, sea stacks, blow holes and a small black sand beach. The department says the park’s reservation system is part of a broader effort to better manage traffic into East Maui. The Waiʻānapanapa State Park reservation system says visitors without a reservation will be turned away. Hawaiʻi residents are exempt from the reservation and fee requirement with proof of residency.
Hawaii Administrative Rules § 13-146-4 is titled “Closing of areas.” Separately, Hawaii Revised Statutes § 708-814.7 classifies entering or remaining unlawfully on posted state property as criminal trespass onto state lands, also a petty misdemeanor, according to Justia Law.
Rocks Shown in the Video
The video also showed the tourist displaying rocks from the park.
Abdullah apologized two days after the video went viral, acknowledging she knew the beach was closed. She said she did not intend to disrespect Hawaii or its residents, and apologized specifically for disrespecting Hawaiian land and ignoring the sign, the New York Post reported. Whether state officials will pursue further action against her remains unclear.
Part of a Larger Pattern on Hawaii’s Beaches
The episode comes amid a broader state effort to encourage mindful travel. The Hawaii Tourism Authority’s destination management action plans, created in 2020, address visitor behavior and tourism impacts. Resident sentiment regarding tourism impacts reached a historic low in fall 2021, SFGATE reported, amid concerns about overcrowding and environmental degradation.
