State and federal officials plan an inspection tour tomorrow of the earthquake-damaged cliffs above historic Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island, where efforts to make the area safe could cost as much as $6 million, a top state official said yesterday.

Boulders and smaller rocks continue to fall from the pali above the bay, prompting officials to keep the area closed to drivers, hikers, swimmers and boaters, said Peter Young, chairman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

"We're going out with engineers and federal officials to see the site and try to determine what to do," Young said.

Options include putting a protective scaling over the dangerous area, creating a man-made landslide that would reduce future danger, and keeping the area closed indefinitely to "let nature take its course," Young said.

The area has been off-limits since two earthquakes Oct. 15 generated a large landslide into the bay. Despite the nearly full-time presence of state law enforcement officials, people continue to swim, snorkel and kayak near the base of the pali, Young said.

"It's a very serious safety hazard and very clearly marked with buoys, yet they continue to try to get a little closer," Young said.

Young said he hopes the state eventually will receive money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help pay for whatever safety work is needed at Kealakekua Bay, the place where British explorer Capt. James Cook was killed.

State and private engineers have already identified more than $1.6 million in other earthquake-related damage to park lands. And at least a half-dozen other trails in remote mountain areas that were hit by landslides during the earthquakes have yet to be fully evaluated, Young said.

"Entire slopes that were once green with vegetation are now bare, and all you can see are debris piles at the bottom of the slopes," Young said. "In addition to trail damage, there could be a significant erosion problem."

Among other sites damaged are Hulihe'e Palace and the wharf in Kailua-Kona. The wharf has extensive cracking in many areas. Rock walls at King Kamehameha's birthplace in N. Kohala, Lapakahi State Historical Park and Makena State Beach Park on Maui also suffered varying degrees of damage, Young said.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.