The state Department of Land and Natural Resources yesterday announced it will close Diamond Head State Monument Feb. 18-19 to do additional work to remove rocks that are at risk of falling at the Kahala entrance tunnel to the crater, a popular hiking site.

"Rains in December loosened materials above the entrance tunnel. The follow-up scaling work is needed due to the larger than expected number of loose rocks that are hidden within the vegetation on the hillside," Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairwoman, said in a statement. The park entrance at Diamond Head Road will be closed to all vehicle and foot traffic.

DLNR closed the summit trail at Diamond Head State Monument for a month last year to conduct maintenance of the slopes and rock scaling of potential rockfall hazards along the trail. The last part of the maintenance work was carried out above the entrance tunnel.

For more information, call 587-0300 or visit www.hawaiistateparks.org.