**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**
⚠️ Always monitor weather reports and ocean conditions before your park visit.
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[KAUAʻI] UPDATE 3/18/26 - The Kalalau trail will be open tomorrow morning, 3-19-26. A 4 man crew checked the trail from Hanakoa to Kalalau. The trail did not get as much damage as anticipated with the recent storm. State Parks crew dug out the normal areas and deemed the trail to be in normal Kalalau trail conditions. 2 Docare officers accompanied State Parks crew and cited 10 individuals for being in a closed Area. None had valid permits.
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[O’AHU] UPDATE 3/18/26
Kaena Point – Mokuleia – Permitted gate area to remain CLOSED due to wet/muddy/unsafe conditions caused by storm.
Pu’u O’ Mahuka Heiau Historical Site: REOPENING TOMORROW, THURSDAY, MARCH 19TH.
Pu’u Ualaka’a State Wayside: REOPENED TODAY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18th. Still awaiting future trimming of more potentially hazardous trees when contractor comes available.
Sand Island Recreational Area: REOPENING TOMORROW, THURSDAY MARCH 19TH.
Wahiawa Freshwater Recreational Area: CLOSED – Tree and debris cleanup. Tentatively looking to reopen on MONDAY 3/23/26. Will confirm by end of day SUNDAY MARCH 22ND.
Malaekahana State Recreational Area: OPEN – CAMPING TO RESUME THIS FRIDAY MARCH 20TH
Ahupua’a O’ Kahana State Park: CLOSED - Tree and debris cleanup. NO CAMPING UNTIL FUTHER NOTICE.
Wa’ahila Ridge Recreational Area: CLOSED – TREE TRIMMING/REMOVAL IN PROCESS – Tentatively looking to reopen on FRIDAY 3/20/26. Will confirm by end of day tomorrow.
Keawaʻula Beach closed until further notice due to hazardous conditions, including water and sand flowing over road dips. Cleanup operations and concrete barrier relocations are currently in progress to manage the impact.
Nuuanu Pali Lookout - Both the Windward and Townbound access points are now cleared and fully open to the public.
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[HAWAI’I] UPDATE 3/18/26
East Hawaii – All parks open
West Hawaii:
Kealakekua State Historical Park – Open
Manuka Wayside – Open
Kekaha Kai (Manini Owali & mahai’ula Sections) – Park Open / Water Clear
Kiholo State Park Reserve – Camping Closed due to hazardous trees above campground *Waiting for Contractor to respond / Day Use is open to the public.
Hapuna/Waialea SRA – Park Open / Water clear
Lapakahi State Historical Park – Park Open to look out / Trails closed to debris and water bar damage.
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[MAU’I] UPDATE 3/17/26
Iao Valley State Monument : We will need to push back tentative opening to Monday March 30. Great possibility of a longer closure due to county damage. I will give updates as I receive them. I have not yet heard plans from county on moving forward. Entry gates remain locked.
Poli Poli State Park: closure to Poli Poli Cabins will need to be closed until further notice. Kula Forrest Reserve (DOFAW) has been closed due to catastrophic damages and they are not sure how long this will be, 95% of all culverts have been damaged and looks to be a FEMA issue now. I’ve asked DOFAW if it would be possible to fly drones to check cabin and camping areas, if not we will need to hike the 5 miles in on foot to check, which may happen anyway. Not sure of timeline on repairs for road.
Waianapanapa State Park : (Confirming) scheduled to open on Monday 3/23 to all visitors. This is granted electricity is restored (currently none), water pumps for area are restored and no longer on “conserve water” status. Currently, Hana Road for resident travel only.
Makena Beach State Park : Crews continue to clear debris from first entrance and Black Sand entrance, but second and third entrances are open to public. Complete opening is scheduled to open by Friday.
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[KAUAʻI] UPDATE 3/16/26 - Polihale State Park closed until further notice due to mud and debris removal. Pāʻulaʻula State Historic Site closed for construction. Kōkeʻe State Park, Waimea Canyon State Park, and Wailua River State Park is open. Hāʻena State Park - Day use and overnight campers allowed to enter for the day. Overnight campers not allowed to go past Hanakapiai Valley, only to Hanakapiai Falls. A sign will be posted on the trail after Hanakapiai beach heading to Kalalau. This will be until we survey the trail on Wednesday 3/18. Another notification will be sent after the assessment.
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[HAWAIʻI] UPDATE 3/5/26 – ʻAKAKA FALLS STATE PARK: Dept. of Water Supply shut off water in the area until further notice affecting the park.
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[O‘AHU] UPDATE 3/4/26 - KA‘ENA POINT STATE PARK, MOKULE‘IA SECTION, VEHICLE ACCESS GATE [UPDATE 3/12 - temporarily closed due to storm]. You need the 2026 Gold decal adhered to the rear of your vehicle to enter the park, the accompanying permit account provides access to the gate combination online. The 2024-2025 Purple decals are no longer valid. Apply for a 2026 Kaʻena Point Vehicle Access Permit here. All applicants must create a NEW account and apply as a new applicant. We are experiencing significant delays in processing, we appreciate your continued patience. Vehicle access dirt road repairs are occurring to stabilize severe erosion, and armor problem areas with aggregate to reduce erosion and puddling, and improve road stability.
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[KAUAʻI, OʻAHU, HAWAIʻI] 2/10/26 – Wailua River State Park (Kauaʻi), Ahupuaʻa ʻO Kahana State Park (Oʻahu), Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park (Hawaiʻi): All commercial kayak operators must apply for a Rental Vessel Special Use Permit – Commercial Application, each kayak vessel requires a registered decal. Visit State Parks Permits page here and download and mail in the Rental Vessel Special Use Permit – Commercial Application.
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[ALL ISLANDS] UPDATE – 12/12/25: Camping - Reservations for February 1, 2026 and beyond available at https://explore.ehawaii.gov, please create an account on Explore Outdoor Hawaiʻi to make a camping reservation.
Waiʻānapanapa State Park
UPDATE – 12/12/25: Camping - Reservations for February 1, 2026 and beyond available at https://explore.ehawaii.gov, please create an account on Explore Outdoor Hawaiʻi to make a camping reservation.
| Parking and Entry Reservations |
Click Here
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED |
| Hours | Daily 7:00am – 6:00pm |
| Entrance Fee |
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| Parking Fees |
Non-Commercial Vehicles
Commercial PUC Vehicles
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| State Parks Reservation System | Diamond Head, Waianapanapa, Haʻena State Park Reservations |
| Trail Name | |
| Camping |
By Permit Only
CABINS
NOTE: Online CABIN reservations must be made at least 7-days prior to check-in date. |
| FAQs | Click Here |
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CAMPING RESERVATION REQUIRED Please create an account on Explore Outdoor Hawaiʻi to make a camping reservation. |
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Reserve NowDescription
Remote, wild, volcanic coastline offering solitude and respite from urban life. Lodging, camping, picnicking, shore fishing and hardy family hiking along an ancient Hawaiian coastal trail which leads to Hana. Excellent opportunity to view a seabird colony and natural stone arch. Other features include native hala forest, heiau (religious temple), sea stacks, blow holes and small black sand beach.
Reservation System
All visitors and commercial operators will need to make reservations to enter the popular Waiʻānapana State Park on Maui, beginning on March 1. Before the COVID-19 pandemic the popular park, located near the end of the famous Hana Highway in East Maui, had seen increased crowding and a glut of commercial tours. This impacted the adjacent rural community and overall visitor experiences. New fees for entry and parking will also be in effect when the reservation system is launched. Entry and parking for Hawaiʻi residents will still be free.
Wai’ānapanapa, which means glistening waters, with Pailoa, its famous black sand beach and stunning coastal views, will be the second state park in Hawaiʻi to require reservations. It is the first to integrate commercial tours into its reservation system. This follows the successful implementation of the Hāʻena State Park reservation system, which was implemented after the 2018 flood. It is largely credited with bringing serenity back to one of the most impacted regions of the state by implementing a reservation and shuttle system and establishing limits on the number of daily visitors. At Wai’ānapanapa, like at Hāʻena on Kaua‘i, parking spaces will be held back to accommodate Hawai‘i residents.
“This balances State Park’s critical need for revenue with the commercial tours paying a fair rate for their use of the park. It enables us to adjust patronage numbers to reduce crowding and impacts on the sensitive resources of the park,” said DLNR Division of State Parks Administrator Curt Cottrell. Also, and just as important, we can reduce the impact on our neighbors. As a former resident of Hāna, living right next to Wai’ānapanapa, it feels good to support a process that will help my former neighbors. Quality over quantity is our new target in management,” Cottrell added.
“This new reservation system for Waiʻānapanapa State Park is critical to a larger effort to better manage traffic flow coming into East Maui,” said Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English, whose district encompasses the area around Waiʻānapanapa . “This is a new way to better manage the impacts of tourism on our local communities and I look forward to working with DLNR to implement these types of systems in other areas of my district.”
Waiʻānapanapa State Park fees effective March 1, 2021:
Out-of-State visitors
- Parking: $10.00
- Visitors making parking reservations will be required to select a time slot, to spread out visitation across the day.
Commercial (PUC) vehicle parking slots:
- 1-7 Passenger Vehicle: $25
- 8-25 Passenger vehicle: $50
- All PUC Parking Tickets must have Entry Tickets purchased for each passenger starting Aug. 1, 2021.
Reservations available at:
https://gostateparks.hawaii.gov/waianapanapa
Camper Vehicles
Camper vehicles also referred to as Campervans are allowed at Waianapanapa State Park with a valid Campervan Permit. Vehicles that have been modified and equipped for camping/sleeping are approved for use in the Camper Vehicle Sections. Vehicles that have not been modified for camping/sleeping are prohibited within the Camper Vehicle areas.
Permits titled “Undesignated Campground” do not allow you to camp in your vehicle, you must purchase a Campervan Permit. Undesignated Campground permits are intended for use by on-the-ground tent campers.
Please see the link below for more information and examples.
Examples of Approved Camper Vehicles
Frequently Asked Questions
Please click the following link for more information:
Additional Information
Inquires regarding cabin rentals, tent camping, and campervan camping or general park information, please call (808)-984-8109.
https://gostateparks.hawaii.gov/waianapanapa
Activities
Facilities
Hazards
Prohibited
Area Weather Forecast
