HILO, Hawai'i — Continuing rock slides at Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park prompted the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to close portions of the park yesterday until the state determines the areas are safe.

The order closes public access to the Pali and Ka'awaloa Flat land sections within the park.

The Oct. 15 earthquakes triggered a major landslide at Kealakekua Bay from the park cliffs and the pali "remains unstable," Peter Young, chairman of DLNR, said yesterday in a written statement.

"Rocks are continuing to fall, threatening lives and property not only in Kealakekua Bay but also at portions of the Keala-kekua Bay State Historical Park," Young said.

The closed ocean area includes everything land-side of an alignment on the bay from the Captain Cook Monument to the Hikiau Heiau.

The closed land area includes all of Pali o Manuahi above Hikiau, and Pali Kapu o Keoua above the bay to the north and over Ka'awaloa. It includes the face of the cliffs, up to 300 feet inland from the edge of the cliffs, and Ka'awaloa Flat.

Young said people and vessels can still enter the water at Napo'opo'o Landing and use most of the bay.

The Coast Guard had already established an ocean safety zone within Kealakekua Bay, temporarily closing portions of the bay. The Coast Guard order was amended to cover the same ocean areas as the DLNR order.