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For Immediate Release
April 1, 2020

Board of Water Supply Reminds Public That Haiku Stairs is Closed and It is Illegal to Access and Hike

HONOLULU – During this time of pandemic crisis, the Board of Water Supply wants to re-emphasize that Haiku Stairs is closed to the public and to access or climb the stairs is illegal. Violators will be cited and can face fines up to $2,000 and time in jail.

“We want the public to honor the directives of the Governor and Mayor by staying at home until this crisis has passed,” stated Manager and Chief Engineer Ernest Lau. “Access to the stairs is already off limits but there are those in our community that continue to willfully ignore the stay at home order. This places not only the trespassers at risk, but also risks the safety and security of the surrounding community. This is not acceptable.”

While numbers for Q1 have dropped from a high in January of 337 warnings issued to 182 warning issued in March, the numbers are still too high according to Lau. BWS will be increasing security in the area and if anyone is cited, the agency plans on prosecuting to the full extent of the law. Lau continued by saying, “We are dealing with a serious health crisis and for anyone to place their own interests above those of the community is wrong and very selfish.”

For other questions regarding security at Haiku Stairs, please call Kathleen Pahinui at (808) 748-5319.

About the Board of Water Supply

The Board of Water Supply (BWS), a semi-autonomous agency of the City and County of Honolulu, manages Oahu’s municipal water resources and distribution system.  As the largest water utility in the State, the BWS serves approximately one million customers on Oahu.  The BWS embraces its mission of “Water for Life – Ka Wai Ola” – to provide a safe, dependable, and affordable water supply, now and into the future.  Uwē  ka lani, ola ka honua – “When the heavens weep, the earth lives.”  For more information, visit www.boardofwatersupply.com, follow @BWSHonolulu or like the BWS’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BWSHonolulu.

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Contact:

Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui
Information Officer
Honolulu Board of Water Supply
Phone: (808) 748-5319