State Parks

(Ka’iwi State Scenic Shoreline, O‘ahu) – Under a nearly full moon, with the temperature right around 70 degrees, clear skies, and the promise of a spectacular sunrise on the first day of 2018, hundreds of people made the relatively short walk to the Makapu‘u Overlook at the Ka‘iwi State Scenic Shoreline in East O‘ahu. This was the seventh First Day Hike put on by the DLNR Division of State Parks and is considered one of the largest and certainly most unique hikes that occur on New Year’s Day in state parks all across the country.

(Lihue, Kaua‘i) – People monitoring the ecosystem recovery on tiny Lehua Island report that - four months after the conclusion of a rat eradication project - there are still no signs of the invasive Pacific Rats.  For decades they’ve attacked native seabirds on Lehua, eating their eggs and chicks. Though Lehua Island Restoration Project partners won’t declare the eradication effort a complete success until next September, monitoring teams are tremendously encouraged by what they’re seeing.

(HONOLULU) - Make a New Year’s resolution to your health and happiness by kicking off 2018 with an invigorating First Day Hike at Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline. On January 1, all 50 states will participate in the seventh annual national event that encourages everyone to celebrate the New Year with a guided outdoor exploration. Of special note this year, the Ontario Provincial Parks have joined the movement in providing First Day Hikes uniting with America’s State Parks, and a number of staff from the National Park Service and local parks departments are also participating. 

HONOLULU -- A project to remove rockfall hazards along the Diamond Head State Monument summit trail has finished, a week ahead of schedule. The popular trail will reopen for normal day time use, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily tomorrow, Friday, December 8. 

(HONOLULU) –  Each time a team of officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) flies into the Kalalau section of the Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, they find fewer illegal camps and write fewer arrest citations to people in the area without required permits. As Hawai‘i’s largest and most remote state park, it is in the best shape in decades, due to the concentrated efforts of DOCARE and the DLNR Division of State Parks, which manages it.

WAILUKU, MAUI – ‘Iao Valley State Monument will reopen on Wednesday, November 22 following completion of a second phase of slope stabilization to the stream areas in the park that were damaged by a massive flood event in September 2016. The park was originally expected to reopen by December 16, 2017.

HILO, HAWAII -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks has completed repair work to the 0.4-mile loop trail at Akaka Falls State Park necessitated due to accidental damage caused by earlier removal of invasive albizia trees in February this year.

HONOLULU -- The DLNR Division of State Parks announces updated full closure days and half-day closure dates for a continuing project to remove rockfall hazards along the Diamond Head State Monument summit trail.  Anyone planning to hike the summit trail between late November and into mid-December, needs to carefully review the construction schedule that now includes some all-day weekday closures. See the Division of State Parks website at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/diamond-head-state-monument/

The first of three phases of capital improvement construction costing just over $4.2 million, that will last almost a year, is underway at Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area. These will affect the makai and mauka areas of the Hapuna Beach section and the park’s Waialea section. Work is being done by contractor Site Engineering, Inc.

‘Iao Valley State Monument will be closed beginning Monday, October 16, 2017 for an estimated two months. The Department of Land and Natural Resources will be completing the second phase of slope stabilization to the areas in the park that were damaged by a massive flood event in September 2016. Officials anticipate the park will reopen by December 16, 2017, or sooner if conditions permit.