Tourist Sparks Outrage in Hawaii After Defying Park Closure

A tourist from North Carolina has drawn widespread criticism after deliberately disregarding closure warnings and entering Waiʻānapanapa State Park in Maui, Hawaii. The incident occurred on September 26, when the park was shut down due to severe weather conditions.

Nuri Abdullah, the tourist, posted a video on TikTok showing her brushing past a sign indicating the beach and hiking trails were off-limits. "You see this? Guess what. I don't care about it. I'mma go down anyway," she stated in the video before proceeding onto the black-sand beach. The footage captured her admiring the coastline and waves, describing the rocks as "beautiful black rocks" with "minerals and s***."

Officials from Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) stated that the park was closed due to potentially life-threatening hazards associated with the storm, including heavy rain, strong winds, flash flooding, falling debris, and dangerous surf. DLNR spokesman Andrew Laurence noted that Abdullah had trespassed, going beyond a locked gate and past closure signs. "The park was closed. That means the gate at the road was locked and then she went past the two signs that said that the area was closed," Laurence told Hawaii News Now. He warned that the conditions visible in Abdullah's own video could have led to a fatal accident before help could arrive.

The incident also caused anger within the local Hana community, where residents emphasized the disrespect shown not only to safety regulations but also to the cultural significance of Waiʻānapanapa. The park contains historic sites, cemeteries, and a heiau, a traditional Hawaiian place of worship. "There's a certain level of respect that anybody should have when visiting that space," said Hana resident Giselle Davidson. "And unfortunately, in this case, it was pretty clear that she was trying to get attention and she was breaking the law." Davidson added that while locals welcome respectful visitors, Abdullah's actions were not aligned with responsible tourism.

Online reactions to Abdullah's video mirrored this sentiment, with many commenters expressing frustration over tourists who disrespect local customs and regulations. Abdullah later posted an apology video on TikTok, acknowledging that she knew the beach was closed when she entered. "To all the Hawaiian natives, I do want to apologize to you guys for disrespecting your land and for ignoring the sign," she said.

Abdullah explained that this was her first trip to Hawaii, for which she had saved approximately $10,000, and that her intention was not to cause disrespect. "I didn't know I was disrespecting the land or its people. I just simply wanted to go," she stated. She conceded, "I knew that the beach was closed fully. And I do take responsibility for going behind that sign even though the beach was closed."

She has since used the controversy to caution other tourists, urging them to respect closure signs. "You never know what lands are sacred," she said. "So I would say to all the tourists, do not go on the beach if there's a closed sign. Respect the signs."

Violating Hawaii state park rules can result in penalties including fines ranging from $500 to $2,000 and up to 30 days in jail.