The Puna Trail and Hā’ena Beach (Shipman’s Beach) in the Puna District on Hawai’i island will be closed at midnight today. The 2.5-mile-long trail leads to Hā’ena Beach, known locally as Shipman’s Beach, and has seen large group gatherings dating back to original COVID-19 related orders and closures back in April.

Mayor Harry Kim has also ordered all County beaches and parks closed.  All State and County closures are in effect at least through Sept. 18, 2020.

Surveys conducted in April by staff from the State’s Nā Ala Hele Trails and Access Program, showed an eight-fold increase of usage of the Puna Trail, compared to data from 2019. At that time an average of 16 people a day used the trail, while the COVID-19 survey period showed an average of 140 users each day.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources supports all county and state rules in an effort to reduce the chances of coronavirus infection on Hawai’i island, which recently, like O’ahu, has experienced a surge in cases. Closed signs were put up at the trailhead this afternoon.   The WH Shipman Estate, which co-manages the trailhead parking lot with the State, supports the closures, as enforcement is difficult at the remote Hā’ena beach. County and State law enforcement officers will be patrolling all closed areas this weekend to ensure compliance with all emergency rules.

As of this afternoon, there are at least 255 active cases of COVID-19 on the Big Island.  Mayor Harry Kim has said he does not want to order a complete island shutdown, as was done before, but since so many cases have resulted from gatherings at beaches and parks, he felt this was a way to help control the spread.  He has reinforced that everybody really needs to do their part.  Right now, there are 11 people suffering from COVID-19 in Hilo Medical Center and 6 people on the island have died.  There is one person in Kona Community Hospital.