‘It’s just awful.’ Caretakers examine narrow shaft where boy fell at Koko Crater

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Koko Crater Tramway is famous for its WWII-era tramway and grueling thousand-plus steps to the top.

But on Saturday, an 8-year-old boy was critically injured after the city says he accessed an entry point Saturday to a bunker at the summit and fell 20-40 feet.

The city says the trail will remain closed until three access points to the former military bunkers are sealed off. For now, there’s caution tape and barriers.

Members of Kokonut Koalition hiked up to the bunker at the summit just off the city’s new metal platform to assess what happened.

The nonprofit has a city contract to maintain the trail while the city is responsible for the historic structure.

President Lena Haapala believes the boy crawled through a 1-foot high, 2-feet wide, above-ground rectangular hole which suddenly drops into a narrow shaft. That hole is now covered up.

“I saw where he entered and it’s just a little rectangular hole that you would have to crawl in, but it just drops off down into the darkness about 30-40 feet,” said Haapala.

Inside that concrete shaft is rusted and broken metal, a ladder, and rocks at the bottom.

“I felt emotional just imagining what he went through and what the parents felt and just falling into darkness,” she said.

Hikers retraced the steps firefighters took to save the boy. The shaft too tight to fit an adult, Kokonut Koalition members say first responders probably had to go through the dark main access tunnel which is filled with deteriorating parts of the structure.

“It’s just awful,” said Haapala.

Haapala says despite online backlash, the boy and his family need care and compassion.

“Kids are kids, and it takes one second and that’s it,” said Haapala.

“This is horrible. He’s not in a good state right now and you just need to look out for him and the family,” she added.

Mid-morning Tuesday, police warned hikers that the trail is closed and ticketed some cars.