A tourist has faced widespread backlash in Hawaii after entering a closed Maui beach despite clear warnings, then issuing an apology when footage of the incident spread online.
North Carolina visitor Nuri Abdullah recorded herself entering Waiʻānapanapa State Park on September 26, even though the popular destination had been shut following severe weather across the islands.
The warning sign stated that the beach and hiking trails were closed, but Abdullah appeared to acknowledge the restriction before making clear that she intended to ignore it.
‘You see this? Guess what. I don’t care about it. I’mma go down anyway,’ she declared in the TikTok video as she ventured beyond the closed sign.
Her video showed the striking black-sand shoreline, jagged volcanic rocks and waves crashing along the coast.
“Black sand beach, we got some waves,” she said in the recording. “Look at these beautiful black rocks. Black sand that has minerals and s***.”
Authorities later warned that the scenic outing could easily have turned into a life-threatening emergency.
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said the park was closed because storm-related conditions had created several serious dangers, including intense rain, strong winds, flash flooding, falling debris and hazardous surf.
North Carolina tourist Nuri Abdullah drew outrage after recording herself entering Maui’s Waiʻānapanapa State Park while it was closed because of dangerous storm conditions
After acknowledging the closure notice, Abdullah reportedly said, “Guess what. I don’t care about it. I’mma go down anyway”
Officials said Abdullah crossed a locked gate and continued past multiple signs warning that the area was off-limits.
“When we look at the video here, clearly she’s trespassing,” DLNR spokesman Andrew Laurence told Hawaii News Now.
“The park was closed. That means the gate at the road was locked, and then she went past the two signs that said the area was closed.”
Laurence added that the powerful surf visible in Abdullah’s own footage demonstrated the reason officials had closed Waiʻānapanapa State Park.
“She could have died before anybody could get to her,” he warned.
The video sparked anger in the remote Hana community. Residents said Abdullah had ignored safety measures intended to protect visitors while also showing a lack of respect for a location of major cultural importance.
According to the DLNR, Waiʻānapanapa is home to significant cultural resources, including historic sites, burial grounds and a heiau, a traditional Hawaiian place of worship.
“There’s a certain level of respect that anybody should have when visiting that space,” Hana resident Giselle Davidson told Hawaii News Now.
In the video, Abdullah enthusiastically displayed the dramatic shoreline and pointed out the “beautiful black rocks”
She filmed the black-sand beach and turbulent waves after entering the restricted area, despite official warnings telling visitors to stay away
‘And unfortunately, in this case, it was pretty clear that she was trying to get attention and she was breaking the law.’
Davidson stressed that locals were not opposed to outsiders enjoying the spectacular scenery, but said visitors were expected to behave responsibly.
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‘We love for people to visit Hana in a respectful way. We want to share this beauty with people. We want people to love it as much as we do. But respect is key to that. And that goes for anywhere you travel,’ she said.
Anger also erupted in the comments on Abdullah’s video.
‘Then they wonder why Hawaii people don’t like tourists!’ one commenter wrote.
‘I don’t get why folks choose to visit a place then disrespect it,’ another said.
Abdullah returned to social media two days later with an apology, admitting that she knew the beach was closed when she entered.
‘I want to take time out to apologize for the recent video that’s been causing a lot of drama and it’s just been a lot,’ she said.
‘To all the Hawaiian natives, I do want to apologize to you guys for disrespecting your land and for ignoring the sign.’
But Abdullah also hit back at some of the more vicious reaction she said she had received.
‘To all the people who are being disrespectful, rude and sending me threats, you guys can go to hell,’ she said.
Abdullah admitted she knew the beach was completely closed but said she had saved around $10,000 for her first trip to Hawaii and desperately wanted to visit
The tourist later warned others not to repeat her mistake, telling visitors: ‘Do not go on the beach if there’s a closed sign. Respect the signs’
Abdullah explained that it had been her first visit to Hawaii and said she had saved around $10,000 for what she regarded as a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
She insisted that her decision to ignore the restrictions had not been intended as an insult to the local community.
‘When I seen the sign and acknowledged it, I wasn’t meaning any disrespect by crossing the lines,’ she told Hawaii News Now.
‘I didn’t know I was disrespecting the land or its people. I just simply wanted to go.’
She conceded there had been no confusion over whether the beach itself was supposed to be off-limits.
‘I knew that the beach was closed fully. And I do take responsibility for going behind that sign even though the beach was closed,’ Abdullah said.
Waiʻānapanapa State Park on the Hawaiian island of Maui is famed for its dramatic volcanic coastline, black-sand beach and striking natural scenery (file photo)
The TikTokker has now used the controversy to warn other tourists against repeating her mistake.
‘You never know what lands are sacred,’ she said in a later video. ‘So I would say to all the tourists, do not go on the beach if there’s a closed sign. Respect the signs.’
Entering a closed Hawaii state park can carry serious penalties.
Under state administrative rules, violators can face fines ranging from $500 to $2,000 and as many as 30 days behind bars.