**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**
Monitor weather reports before your park visit.
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[STATE PARKS] — UPDATE 11/19/25: Upcoming Parking Fees at Select State Parks -Starting soon, Hawai'i State Parks will begin implementing parking fees for visitors at four high-use parks: [KAUA'I] Wailua River State Park, [O'AHU] Pu'u 'U'ala Ka'a State Wayside, [HAWAI'I] Kekaha Kai State Park, and Wailuku River State Park. These changes will support ongoing maintenance, cultural and natural resource protection, and improved visitor services. Additional details, including official start dates and rates, will be shared in the coming weeks.
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[KAUA'I] - 11/14/25: THE KALALAU TRAIL has REOPENED.
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[OʻAHU] – UPDATE 11/12/25: Kaʻena Point State Parks - Mokuleʻia Section – Kaʻena Point Vehicle Access Permits: We anticipate Ka’ena applications to open at the end of December 2025.
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[OʻAHU] – UPDATE 10/3/25: Sand Island State Recreation Area – Comfort stations are CLOSED until further notice due to a transformer issue impacting the pump. Portable toilets are available at each comfort station. Camping has continued to be CLOSED for construction from August 30th, 2025 to December 31, 2025.
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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.
Demolition on Diamond Head Summit Proceeding On Schedule
Posted on Nov 2, 2021Demolition workers have successfully removed the top portion of one of two structures that are being removed from the summit of Diamond Head Crater.
As of this morning, on the adjoining second structure, a pair of workers, using jack hammers have knocked more than half of the top down. Once the roofs are demolished, work will begin on their support columns.
The rectangular structures were built toward the end of WWII or in the early 1950’s. While visitors will miss the shade they provided, they were not part of the original complex of fire control stations constructed prior to the the first world war. The demolition this week will result in a more natural profile for the top of the crater in the Diamond Head State Monument.
The DLNR Division of State Parks is bringing the pair of structures down, during a park closure that started Monday and will last through Friday. Diamond Head State Monument will reopen on Saturday, but the very top of the summit platform will be closed periodically for the next two weeks. Visitors will still be able to enjoy picturesque coastal views from just below the summit while repair work continues.
On Thursday and Friday, a helicopter will be used to lift heavy bags of broken concrete and other materials down into the crater to be trucked out for disposal.
Repairs are also underway this week in the tunnel at the top of the 99 stairs. Both the tunnel and the structures being taken down at the top of the crater have experienced concrete spalling. That can pose a safety hazard.
Diamond Head Demolition Update, Nov. 2, 2021 from Hawaii DLNR on Vimeo.
