PUNALU'U — Nine years after a deadly rockslide resulted in the closure of Sacred Falls State Park, a state consultant has advised moderate use for the area with highly restricted access to its waterfalls.

But residents want more.

An informational meeting last night at the Queen Lili-'uokalani Children's Center for the Kaluanui (Sacred Falls) Draft Master Plan outlined options for the 1,374-acre park. It has remained closed since Mother's Day 1999, when tons of boulders and debris rained down on unsuspecting hikers at the falls, killing eight and injuring 50.

Since then, the community has called for the reopening of the area — including the falls. And the state responded by hiring a consultant to evaluate the potentials in the Kaluanui ahupua'a that includes the falls, named Kaliuwa'a by early Hawaiians.

At last night's meeting, which drew about two dozen, people spoke passionately about the sacred nature of the area and the need to protect that. But they also pressed for access to the falls for Hawaiian cultural practices.

"By doing this (closing the falls to cultural practices), little by little they cutting down our culture," area resident Peter Mainaaupa said.

"Sooner or later nobody can go up to Kaliuwa'a," he said. "We won't know our culture. My kids won't know about Kaliuwa'a."

Prior to being closed, the park attracted about 55,000 people a year, who would hike a 2.2-mile trail through a narrow canyon to get to the falls.

Many of those people were Island residents and families that have ties to Kaluanui, said Cathleen Mattoon, who sat on the Kaluanui Advisory Group that worked with the planning consultant, Oceanit.

As a member of the Ko'olauloa Hawaiian Civic Club, Mattoon said she is concerned that the state had not done anything to assure Native Hawaiians of their cultural rights to the valley and the falls.

Mattoon, who grew up in the area, said she used to take her children and grandchildren to the falls to learn about the Hawaiian culture and carry on family practices, but hasn't been able to go there for nine years.

"We believe that it is our legal right to access for these purposes," she said before the meeting. "We have been patient and we have been trying (to work with the state about access), and we're hoping that now that they have a plan that they can focus more on when we will have access."

Jim Anthony, an environmentalist, said the report failed to identify the sacredness of the area. He suggested that Kaluanui offered new opportunities for Hawaiians.

"It can become the first place that is liberated for Hawaiians. ... We want to explore the possibility of the community running and controlling this area," Anthony said.

MORE WARNINGS URGED

David Mikonczyk, a Ka'a'awa resident and one-time president of the Punalu'u Community Association, said before the meeting that he supports opening the park and the falls for visitors but feels the state can do more to warn about the dangers there.

The state lost a lawsuit as a result of the Mother's Day tragedy because even though signs were posted, the state failed to adequately warn people of the potential dangers there, a judge ruled.

The plan offers four alternatives including full access; moderate use; passive opportunities; and no change, or park to remain closed. The consultant recommended moderate use, saying it would be less expensive to implement because it had fewer visitor attractions. The park boundaries also would be redrawn to place most hazardous zones off limits.

Oceanit was hired in 2003 for $235,000 to conduct a risk assessment and create a master plan. Comments are being sought until Aug. 15.

At least one person thought the state should not open the park with just limited use and perhaps should wait a total of 50 years in deference to the people who died there in 1999.

"The valley really needs to heal itself," said Dawn Wasson, a La'ie resident and member of the Ko'olauloa Neighborhood Board.

Wasson said it would be unfair to invite people to the valley without having access to the falls. "I think we're doing a disservice to them saying you can come in but you really can't go up to the falls."