TripAdvisor

[Carey]

I have done a bit of conservation research work in the summit area for the University.

If someone is using a MANAGEMENT PLAN and stating that it is not allowed/legal, that would be incorrect.

The Mauna Kea Management Plan is just a PART of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan, and is a TOOL that allows the combined agencies the ability to MANAGE the resource.
"In 1995, a joint revised management plan was adopted by the University of Hawai`i and
the DLNR. This plan clarifies and redefines the rights and responsibilities of the two organizations in the Science Reserve. The UH retained the following rights and responsibilities:
1. Mauna Kea Science Reserve Access:
• The right to control, maintain and manage access in the Science Reserve; including the Access Road and associated parking areas.
• The right to limit vehicle type or impose driving requirements.
• The right to restrict hours of access.
• The right to close the road for maintenance, hazards, snow removal or road repairs.
• The right to ask others to assist in crowd control (similar to deputizing).
• The right to require liability waivers.
• The right to comment on commercial permit applications.
• The right to control visitor activities around astronomy facilities"
from: Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan: Issues and Opportunities Page VIII - 7
http://www.hawaii.edu/maunakea/8_issues.pdf

In a management plan, permitted use is not restricted, unless a restriction of permitted use is put in place.

A restriction allows the managing agencies the ability to place a restriction of use, if needed, and in the MKMP; table 7-6, the hours restriction would ALLOW the University to restrict night time use IF NEEDED ("University may install gates or chains to prevent unauthorized
vehicles, after-hours access to the summit")

"Table 7-6. Permitted General Uses(14)
Permitted Uses/ Stated Restrictions on Use/ Conditions /Responsibility
Public Access During daylight hours (30 min before
sunrise and 30 min after sunset)/ University may install gates or chains to prevent unauthorized
vehicles, after-hours access to the summit/Barrier will be located in
such a way that visitors may safely turn around/
DLNR/University"

At this time, there are no "gates or chains" placed on the access to the summit, so the use is not restricted.