|
DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES News Release LINDA LINGLE GOVERNOR _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LAURA H. THIELEN, CHAIRPERSON
Phone: (808) 587-0401
Fax: (808) 587-0390
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
|
For Immediate Release:
|
HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will close the Diamond Head State Monument and the Ala Wai Small Boat harbor on Thursday, September 13, and Saturday, September 15, 2007, in the interest of public safety associated with the Thunderbirds exhibition show. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will be performing over the Waikiki area on Saturday, September 15, 2007. They will be practicing on Thursday, September 13, 2007. The airspace over the Waikiki area will be deemed a no-fly zone (closed) during both the practice and the show times. "The Department anticipates a larger number of park visitors would hike to the summit of Diamond Head State Monument to view the Thunderbirds practice/show, adding to the already heavy visitor traffic at the park," said DLNR Chairperson, Laura H. Thielen. "Such a large number of visitors would increase the possibility of an incident occurring, especially in the limited space available at the summit viewing area. At the request of the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) DLNR is closing the park on these two days,” Thielen said. The Honolulu Fire Department has responded to 41 incidents at Diamond Head State Monument so far this year. In most of the incidents, the HFD helicopter, as well as ground rescue companies were required. The HFD helicopter will not be able to respond to any incidents at Diamond Head during the Thunderbird practice/show times due to the no-fly zone. The park will be open to the public for regular hours (6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) on Friday, September 14, and on Sunday, September 16, 2007. For more information call the Parks office at 587-0300. An ocean area in front of Waikiki will also be closed to all ocean users and vessel traffic, which will also require closing the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor channel. The Thunderbird flight demonstration will take place over a designated "Show Box" 12,000 feet long and 2,500 feet wide centered 1,500 feet offshore of DeRussy Beach. The show box is restricted, with no entry allowed during the closure times shown below. The Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, Honolulu Fire Department, and DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) officers will patrol the closed ocean area and Ala Wai harbor entrance. The Harbor Master of the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor has declared a channel closure between the hours of 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 13, 2007 and Saturday, September 15, 2007 between 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. All vessels are commanded to refrain from entering and remaining in the Ala Wai Boat Harbor channel by special rule under Chapter 200 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes and Title 13, Chapter 230 of the Hawaii Administrative Rule. # # #
For more information, contact: |
