Niu Valley Boulder to be Broken Up

By Wendy Osher

DLNR Chair William J. Aila Jr. Photo by Wendy Osher.

State crews successfully moved a seven to 10-ton boulder from a ledge above a residential neighborhood in Niu Valley on O’ahu.

Now, work resumes to break up the boulder into smaller pieces and address a rock slab outcropping that remains in place.

The state was able to mitigate the situation Under Act 76, which gives the governor the discretion to direct state employees to enter private property to address situations deemed hazardous.

“With careful consideration and in partnership with state and county agencies, we will be completing the safe removal of the boulder, broken into smaller pieces and bagged, and doing everything we can to ensure the public’s safety,” said Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairperson, William J. Aila, Jr.

The unstable boulder was removed under the coordination of DLNR, State Civil Defense and the City and County of Honolulu.  The agencies will continue work to also address a 4- to 6-ton rock outcropping, but do not anticipate the need for evacuations during the remaining work.

“The Department appreciates the homeowners’ and public’s cooperation in mitigating this hazardous situation,” said Aila.

The boulder will now be broken up into smaller pieces, bagged and removed by contractor, Janod Inc. today (Monday, Sept. 26) through Friday, Sept. 30.

Later this week, workers will install a fence, anchors, and ring nets at the second rock outcrop and begin breaking up the slab.

By the end of the week, the smaller pieces from the boulder and slab will be removed by commercial helicopter for disposal off-site.