The short-lived Mauna Loa eruption cost Hawaii County almost $400,000.
Between Nov. 27, when the eruption began, and Tuesday, various county departments including the Hawaii Police Department, Hawaii County Civil Defense and the county Department of Public Works spent approximately $392,000 responding to the eruption.
A county Department of Finance spokesperson said the majority of that total came from overtime costs related to police enforcement and security along the Daniel K. Inouye Highway and the Traffic Hazard Mitigation Route on Old Saddle Road.
The county closed that mitigation route Thursday night, citing declining usage now that the eruption has ceased. The county estimated Tuesday that nearly 30,000 vehicles traversed the road since it opened on Dec. 1 to reduce congestion on the highway caused by people trying to watch the lava.
Lt. Col. Kevin Cronin, garrison commander for the U.S. Army’s Pohakuloa Training Area — through which Old Saddle Road runs — said the road typically gets little use, with only occasional U.S. Army personnel using it to access remote parts of the training area.
Despite the closure of the mitigation route, the Department of Land and Natural Resources announced that its Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement will increase its presence in the area to ensure that people remain out of closed areas.
DOCARE’s Division Chief Jason Redulla said in a statement that the terrain on the Saddle area is dangerous, and people attempting to get a closer look at the hardened lava flow could be hurt.
“There are hidden dangers such as lava cooling, jagged and sharp rocks, and uneven surfaces, as well as potential unexploded ordnance that make trekking through the area extremely dangerous,” Redulla said. “Getting cited pales in comparison to getting hurt and having to be rescued from rugged backcountry areas.
“DOCARE officers will be monitoring closed areas frequently and will cite or arrest anyone violating the closure.”
Three people were cited for trespassing during the eruption. On Dec. 7, three Kazakhstani visitors — 31-year-old Adibayev Axamat, 23-year-old Daurem Sabit and 32-year-old Nurz Niyaz — were found in a closed area of the Mauna Loa Forest Reserve and face petty misdemeanor charges in Hilo District Court.
The three men, whose court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 20, could face penalties of up to a $500 fine or 30 days in jail if convicted.
Police spokeswoman Denise Laitinen said police issued 98 traffic citations to drivers on Daniel K. Inouye Highway during the eruption, although more than half of those were for speeding offenses.
Five traffic collisions also were reported during the police department’s heightened enforcement periods between 5:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. each day.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
