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Waiʻānapanapa State Park tourist ignores hurricane-related closure
A tourist from North Carolina, Nuri Abdullah, filmed herself trespassing at Waiʻānapanapa State Park in Maui on September 26, despite official closures due to Hurricane Polo.
Abdullah posted a TikTok video in which she explicitly stated she would ignore the closure signs to continue her trip. According to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, the park was shut down to protect visitors from heavy rain, high winds, potential flash flooding, falling debris, and dangerous surf. Officials noted that Abdullah bypassed a locked gate and two separate warning signs to reach the black sand beach.
Andrew Laurence, a spokesperson for the DLNR, characterized the act as trespassing and noted that the rough surf visible in the footage posed life-threatening risks. The incident has also drawn criticism from Hana residents, as the park contains culturally significant sites, including burial grounds and a traditional Hawaiian place of worship (heiau).
Entities
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources · Hurricane Polo · Maui · Nuri Abdullah · Waiʻānapanapa State Park
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Nuri Abdullah trespassed by passing a locked gate and two closure signs. offthepress.com · internewscast.com · nypost.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Nuri Abdullah posted a TikTok video on September 26 showing her entering the closed park. offthepress.com · internewscast.com · nypost.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Abdullah filmed the coastline and collected rocks from the state park during the closure. offthepress.com · internewscast.com · nypost.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Waiʻānapanapa State Park was closed due to heavy rain, strong winds, potential flash flooding, falling debris, and dangerous surf. offthepress.com · internewscast.com · nypost.com