Well, at least no one fell off a cliff. Yet.

A Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks employee reported that two people searching for Pokemon in the augmented reality game walked into “a sensitive heiau on Kauai where a cultural protocol was underway.”

That’s according to a press release Friday.

Chair Suzanne Case said in a statement: “Unfortunately, we are quickly seeing unintended consequences of this new application by Google, in the outdoor issues that the hunt for Pokémon characters via digital devices can create, for both cultural and natural resources here in Hawa’i and elsewhere.”

Pokemon Go App Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

Curt Cottrell, DLNR’s Division of State Parks administrator, advises the following for folks heading into the great wide open:

  • Be safe. Use electronic devices responsibly and in emergencies to call for help. Distracted hiking, like distracted driving, can lead to accidents.
  • Stay on designated trails. Follow all signs and closures. Do not trespass, or enter natural or cultural areas where access is prohibited.
  • Carry out what you carry in. Leave no trace.

DLNR did not offer this advice, but it might be helpful as well: Put down the smartphone and enjoy the world as it really is.

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