Access to a beautiful, but deadly Kauai waterfall is being shut down by the landowner after other measures to stop tourists and locals from going there failed.
Grove Farm said starting Wednesday, Kipu Falls will be made even more off-limits, following five deaths there in as many years.
Many people find this spot on Kauai tempting and beautiful. Even though you have to cross private property to get there, many websites and travel books tell people exactly where to go.
"Typically they give you directions to trespass on ours, because that's the easiest path i guess you could say," said Grove Farm spokeswoman Marissa Sandblom.
It won't be easy anymore. Grove farm has locked down the area around kipu falls
"It wasn't an easy decision, and we can understand that a lot of people out there will be very disappointed at the loss of access to the area but we feel it's the right decision," Sandblom says.
The attraction became more of a menace as more people got hurt or killed -- the latest this summer when a 35-year old man drowned after jumping off the top off the falls into the pool below
A Kauai emergency room physician in support of the full closure said:
"Kipu Falls is no place for visitors, they don't have the background to recognize the dangers and risks and they have been getting killed or injured far too regularly."
Grove Farm says in addition to fencing off access, they're putting up boulders to block parking, towing anyone illegally parked there, adding more signage and security patrol. they say violators can be prosecuted or fined.
"We don't want it to get to that point. We want people to respect the rules and respect that the area is now closed," Sandblom says.
The landowners supported a bill at the legislature to stop guidebooks from encouraging trespassing. first amendment concerns killed that effort. Grove Farm even tried to convey the land to the county for a park.
"But due to liability issues unfortunately we understand why they were not able to accept that," Sandblom says.
Liability issues contributed to Grove Farm's own decision, facing several lawsuits even though trespassing was committed. They say safety was the ultimate deciding factor
"We're not benefiting from this closure. I wish there was an upside for someone in this situation and unfortunately that's not the case," Sandblom says.
Another nearby landowner, Rice Ranch, also has strict no-trespassing rules and says they are in support of Grove Farm's move.
