HONOLULU – The tour company that made headlines for alleged trespass onto closed state lands during last year’s lava emergency in Puna faces a fine at a land board hearing today.
Ahiu Hawaii goes before the Board of Land and Natural Resources following a DLNR-documented series of events between 2013 and 2014, in which state officials served company owner Orion Enocencio numerous cease and desist notices for operating lava tours on the closed Kahauale’a Natural Area Reserve, where the active Pu’u O’o vent is erupting.
On July 23, 2014 a female hiker with the group had to be airlifted out of the forest when she sprained her ankle.
The item is on the June 26 agenda at the BLNR meeting:
Request the Issuance of Administrative and Civil Penalties of $9,100.75 Pursuant to Chapter 195, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to Ahiu Hawaii LLC for Violations of Chapter 13-209, Hawaii Administrative Rules, at Kahaualea Natural Area Reserve, Puna, Hawaii, Tax Map Key (3) 3-1-001:001. – BLNR agenda item
Following the July 2014 incident, Ahiu hawaii was involved in two other run-ins with law enforcement. Two lava tour guides working for Ahiu Hawaii LLC were arrested by DLNR officers in December 2014 and another was arrested in February 2015.
