DOCARE Issues 107 Citations, 304 Warning Amid Park Closures

DOCARE enforcement. PC: Hawai’i DLNR

As of last Friday, across the state, officers with the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement issued a total of 107 citations for various violations associated with emergency rules.

Many were for entering a closed state park, but other citations included alcohol possession and parking violations.

On Monday night, two, 21-year-old men from Honolulu were cited for entering the Diamond Head State Monument on Oʻahu, one of the many state parks that remain closed under the governor’s stay-at-home orders.

The latest citations come as DOCARE reportedly received numerous reports of people entering the park which is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

DOCARE officers continue to patrol closed State Parks and had given out 304 warnings as of last Friday.

A day earlier a DOCARE officer contacted a man walking his dog through Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline in East O‘ahu. Department officials say the man claimed he didn’t know the park was closed, despite “standing next to yellow police tape and directly beneath a park closed sign.”

Maui police reported 118 citations over a seven day period ending on Monday morning.