April 12, 2016
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They’re back! ‘Love locks’ reappear on Oahu trail
The state and volunteers are trying to stop couples from leaving ‘love locks’ at a scenic spot in East Oahu.
The tokens of affection are starting to make a comeback at the summit lookout on the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail.
Department of Land and Natural Resources are disappointed that people are simply using larger locks.
“Placing love locks on fences, bridges and public structures is a serious littering problem that promotes rusting and the decay of metal infrastructure which will weaken the new safety fencing at the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail at Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline,” said state parks administrator Curt Cottrell, in a statement.
Workers from the state and volunteers with 808 Cleanups plan to resume regular outings to end the unwanted display of unbreakable love.
“The locks not only add nothing of value to the site, but they also damage it through rust. The salt air interacts with the lock and that makes the fence rust faster. So that’s actually taxpayer money on this new fence that went in,” Loftin said.
