The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is investigating an incident early Wednesday evening in which an injured hiker on a lava tour was airlifted to safety along with seven others, according to an email received Saturday.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is investigating an incident early Wednesday evening in which an injured hiker on a lava tour was airlifted to safety along with seven others, according to an email received Saturday.
The Fire Department said in a written statement the incident occurred in Kahaualea Natural Area Reserve, which is closed to hikers because of volcanic activity and requires a permit for commercial activity.
Orion-Independence Enocencio, owner of the tour company Ahiu Hawaii, said the incident was not in the natural reserve area and instead occurred in Wao Kele o Puna Rainforest, which is owned by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs but managed by DLNR.
Commercial activity in a natural area reserve requires a permit, and Garett Kamemoto, a spokesman for OHA said in a Thursday email DLNR rules governing natural reserve areas also apply to Wao Kele o Puna.
In a phone call Friday, Enocencio said his company adheres to traditional Hawaiian practices and doesn’t need a permit to conduct lava tours in the rainforest. He said Thursday that he has applied for a permit to conduct commercial activity in the natural reserve area and is awaiting approval.
The hiker, a 36-year-old woman from Mexico, suffered a sprained ankle. She, five family members and two Ahiu Hawaii tour guides were airlifted to a landing zone in Fern Forest subdivision, according to the Fire Department. She was treated there by paramedics.