Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

DAVID Y. IGE GOVERNOR

SUZANNE D. CASE CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release May 15, 2017

REPAIRS TO CLOSE MAIN PARKING LOT AT HA‘ENA STATE PARK ON MAY 19
Kalalau trail will be closed to day-hikers for safety reasons

(LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I)  —   The main parking lot at Ha‘ena State Park will be closed all day on Friday, May 19 to complete an ongoing maintenance project, as well as tree trimming and removal of ironwood trees adjacent to the parking lot.

For safety reasons, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks will also close the Kalalau Trail to day-hikers on Friday due to the construction work and the temporary loss of more than half of the park’s parking capacity. However, overnight campers with permits will be allowed on the trail that day.

Due to years of constant and high volume vehicular use and frequent precipitation, the main parking area at Ha‘ena State Park, is severely rutted. It contains protruding rocks and low spots where water ponds, and creates very poor access conditions for low clearance vehicles.

Maintenance work in the parking area consists of importing, spreading, and compacting gravel fill for the roughly 100-car capacity lot. The maintenance project is estimated to be completed by the end of this week.

Thus far, work has been done early in the morning to avoid conflicts with park visitors. However a one-day closure of the parking lot is needed to compact the parking lot fill. Signs will be posted in the park this week to warn that any cars found in the lot on Friday will be towed.

The project is being carried out by Hui Maka‘ainana o Makana, a non-profit State Park partner who has been actively restoring and maintaining cultural sites within Ha‘ena State Park under a curatorship agreement. This current project was funded by $75,000 in Hawai‘i Tourism Authority funds granted to the County of Kaua‘i. In-kind assistance is also being provided by Division of State Parks and Kaua‘i County.

Hui Maka‘ainana o Makana has also received HTA grant funding for other park improvements at Ha‘ena State Park that include clearing and restoration of Ke Ahu A Laka and the Allerton house site, additional lo‘i clearing and restoration, and construction of an educational hale. All of these proposed improvements support specific aspects of the draft Ha‘ena Master Plan.

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Media contact:
Deborah Ward
DLNR Communications specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320