Hurricane Lala left Makawao State Forest Reserve — Maui’s most popular outdoor recreation area — with extensive trail and road damage, prompting an indefinite closure. State crews are prioritizing emergency access routes before addressing trail restoration, with no reopening date set.
- Makawao State Forest Reserve and Kula Forest Reserve remain closed to the public following last month’s Hurricane Lala, with no firm reopening date announced.
- DLNR says debris is blocking roads and trails at multiple locations; clearing wildfire-response access routes is the priority before trail restoration can begin.
- Damage is described as severe, with large eucalyptus trees and massive root balls downed throughout the trail system every 100 yards.
- Community members and the Sierra Club Maui are organizing volunteers to assist with cleanup once the state gives the go-ahead.
- The closure affects hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, hunters, and families who rely on the reserve as the island’s top local recreation destination.
Source: Hawaii Public Radio
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