**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**
Monitor weather reports before your park visit!
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[KAUAʻI] – UPDATE 9/16/25: West Kauaʻi Park Units – State Parks is recruiting for a Park Maintenance Supervisor II for the West Kauaʻi Park units, including, Kokeʻe State Park, Na Pali Coast Wilderness Park, Paʻulaʻula State Historic Park, Polihale State Park, Waimea Canyon State Park, and Waimea State Recreational Pier. See position description here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaii/jobs/5060650-0/park-maintenance-supervisor-ii-kokee-kauai
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[OʻAHU] – UPDATE 9/11/25: Kaʻena Point State Parks - Mokuleʻia Section – Kaʻena Point Vehicle Access Permits Closed for 2025. Purple 2024 permits valid through 2025. Please create an account on Explore Outdoor Hawaiʻi at https://explore.ehawaii.gov/Web/. You will need an Explore Outdoor Hawaiʻi account to apply for a 2026 Kaʻena Vehicle Access Permit, please create an account. Continue to check the Kaʻena Point State Park website for 2026 permit application updates.
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[O’AHU] - UPDATE 9/10/25: Mālaekahana State Recreation Area-Kahuku Section - State Parks is issuing a Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposals for parties interested in developing campgrounds. More info: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/announcements/malaekahana-state-recreation-area-rfq-rfp-2026/
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[MOLOKA’I] - UPDATE 8/29/25: Pala’au State Park Pavilion: Due to continued renovation work, the pavilion and camping is CLOSED until further notice.
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[KAUA’I] - 7/11/25: VISITORS TO WAIMEA CANYON AND KŌKEʻE STATE PARKS CAUTIONED TO EXPECT DELAYS AND LIMITED PARKING.
Beginning July 14, 2025, Waimea Canyon Lookout with be closed for construction of safety improvements through early December, 2025. This closure, in addition to several overlapping roadwork projects by both DOT-Highways and DLNR-State Parks, will cause delays, impact traffic patterns, and restrict overall parking capacity in these two popular parks through the end of the year. DOT work is continuing on Waimea Canyon Drive, while work on portions of Kōkeʻe Road from the Kalalau Lookout to Puʻu o Kila lookout will be starting the same week. Visitors can drive as far as the Kalalau Lookout, where improvements will also be initiated on July 17, with limited parking available. We urge patience and driving with care as these various improvements are ongoing. Local visitors are encouraged to enjoy these parks and lookouts on weekends, when most work will be suspended. Waimea Canyon Lookout will be closed for the duration of the project including weekends.
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[KAUAʻI] - UPDATE 3/21/25: Pā‘ula‘ula State Historic Site - Due to construction improvements, the park closure will begin starting March 24 until further notice.
05/23/23 – KA‘ENA POINT STATE PARK HOURS TO BE STRICTLY ENFORCED MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Posted on May 24, 2023| JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR |
DAWN CHANG
CHAIRPERSON |
For Immediate Release: May 23, 2023
KA‘ENA POINT STATE PARK HOURS TO BE STRICTLY ENFORCED MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
To view video please click on photo or view at this link: https://vimeo.com/829541202
HONOLULU) – The DLNR will be enforcing existing park closure hours at Ka‘ena Point State Park for the upcoming three-day holiday weekend to protect sensitive species and habitats from illegal activity.
DLNR Chair Dawn Chang said, “We continue to receive reports, videos, and photographs showing people breaking the law and ignoring the park’s safe wildlife viewing rules. For the safety of Ka‘ena users and protected species, the park entrance gate near Dillingham Airfield will be closed between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
All vehicles need to be out of the park by 7:00 p.m. except for valid permit holders who will not be affected.
“While the majority of park users tread lightly, rules to protect the natural resources of this remote and wild coastline park are broken daily and bad behaviors seem to increase on holiday weekends,” said DLNR Division of State Parks (DSP) Assistant Administrator Alan Carpenter. “People drive on the beach, have pallet bonfires which leave nails in the sand, and leave behind all manner of rubbish that pollutes this landscape. Most of this illegal activity takes place after the park is closed.”
Ka‘ena Point State Park rules include:
- No motorized vehicles/ATVs off road
- No alcohol
- No smoking
- No animals/pets
- No camping
- No driving on the beach
- No open fires or bon fires
- No littering
Prior to the park entrance gate closing each night, officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) will sweep the area between the entrance gate and the permitted vehicle access gate. “We hope people will comply with officer instructions and exit the area,” said DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla. “This is being done to protect sea turtle nesting sites, resting monk seals (pups and adults), other endangered native plants and animals, and everyone’s safety.”
The gates at the Keawa‘ula Section of Ka‘ena Point State Park, on the west side of O‘ahu, will also close, as normal, at 7:00 p.m. and reopen at 6:00 a.m. The same rules are in place for both the north shore and west side sections of the park.
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(RESOURCES)
(All images/video courtesy: DLNR)
HD video – Ka‘ena Point State Park (various dates):
Photographs – Ka‘ena Point State Park (various dates):
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hc6anqkcxygd8aw/AAAsyF6JVJJKNNCVBGXidAD4a?dl=0
Marine wildlife safe viewing guidelines:
Media Contact:
Dan Dennison
Senior Communications Manager
