New York Post
· collected 2026-10-03 · by Ross O'Keefe, Erica Andrews
Nuri Abdullah, a tourist from North Carolina, defied safety warnings by entering Waianapanapa State Park in Maui on her birthday despite clear closure signs due to dangerous conditions caused by Hurricane Polo. In a TikTok video, she ignored multiple “BEACH AND HIKING TRAILS CLOSED” signs and expressed disregard for the park’s closure. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources criticized Abdullah's actions as trespassing that endangered her life and showed disrespect to culturally significant sites within the park.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 26, Nuri Abdullah, a tourist from North Carolina, disregarded warnings and entered Waianapanapa State Park in Maui, Hawaii, despite signs declaring it closed due to dangerous conditions from Hurricane Polo. In a TikTok video, she defiantly stated, "I don’t care about it. I’mma go down anyway," while ignoring the closure sign. The park was shut because of heavy rain, strong winds, and potential flash flooding, among other hazards. Two days after her video went viral, Abdullah issued an apology on another TikTok post, expressing regret for causing controversy and acknowledging that she knew the beach was off-limits. This incident highlights tensions between tourists who disregard safety measures and local authorities trying to protect public welfare during natural disasters.
Written for “Hawaii Coastline Restrictions Defiance” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
This entitled mainlander wasn’t going to take no for an answer on her birthday.
asserted
mainlander → go → birthday
A TikTok video posted by North Carolinian Nuri Abdullah on Sept. 26 shows the woman blatantly ignoring a closure sign on a Hawaii beach, proudly proclaiming she wasn’t going to let it spoil her trip.
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it → post → trip
“You see this?
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You → see → this
I don’t care about it.
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I → care → it
I’mma go down anyway,” she said after shuffling behind a “BEACH AND HIKING TRAILS CLOSED” sign at Waianapanapa State Park in Maui.
asserted
TRAILS → go → Maui
The popular destination was closed amid dangerous conditions from Hurricane Polo, but that clearly didn’t stop Abdullah.
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that → close → Abdullah
Once inside, the tourist filmed the dramatic coastline and showed off rocks from the park.
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tourist → film → park
“Black sand beach, we got some waves,” she said in the clip.
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she → get → clip
Black sand that has minerals and s–t.”
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that → have → minerals
But state officials said the picturesque scene came with potentially deadly risks.
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scene → say → risks
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources explained that the park had been closed because of heavy rain, strong winds, possible flash flooding, falling debris and dangerous surf.
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park → explain → rain
Officials said Abdullah went beyond a locked gate and multiple closure signs before reaching the beach.
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Abdullah → say → beach
“When we look at the video here, clearly she’s trespassing,” DLNR spokesperson Andrew Laurence told Hawaii News Now.
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Laurence → look → News
“The park was closed.
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park → close → ?
That means the gate at the road was locked and then she went past the two signs that said that the area was closed.”
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area → mean → signs
Laurence said the rough surf captured in Abdullah’s own footage showed just how serious the danger was.
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danger → say → footage
“She could have died before anybody could get to her,” he said.
uncertain
he → die → her
The stunt also struck a nerve with Hana residents, who said the issue went beyond ignoring safety warnings.
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issue → strike → warnings
Waiʻānapanapa contains culturally significant resources, including historic sites, cemeteries and a heiau, according to DLNR.
uncertain
Waiʻānapanapa → contain → DLNR
“There’s a certain level of respect that anybody should have when visiting that space,” resident Giselle Davidson told the outlet.
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Davidson → ’ → outlet
“And unfortunately, in this case, it was pretty clear that she was trying to get attention and she was breaking the law.”
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she → try → law
“Then they wonder why Hawaii people don’t like tourists!” one commenter wrote.
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commenter → wonder → tourists
“I don’t get why folks choose to visit a place then disrespect it,” another added.
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another → get → it
Abdullah apologized two days after the video went viral, acknowledging she knew the beach was closed and saying she never intended to disrespect Hawaii or its residents.
“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 in a followup TikTok.
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she → apologize → TikTok
“To all the Hawaiian natives, I do want to apologize to you guys for disrespecting your land and for ignoring the sign.
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I → want → sign
“To all the people who are being disrespectful, rude and sending me threats, you guys can go to hell,” Abdullah added.
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Abdullah → send → hell
Under Hawaii administrative rules, entering a closed state park can carry a fine ranging from $500 to $2,000 and up to 30 days behind bars.
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entering → enter → bars
It remains unclear whether state officials will pursue further action against her.
uncertain
officials → remain → her
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