Photo Credit: Tim DelaVega
hawaii wave

**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**

Monitor weather reports before your park visit!

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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 on weekdays from 7am-3:30pm.   The project is expected to last four approximately 4 months.  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 near the meadow, and 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 on weekends, when most work will be suspended.

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[MOLOKA’I] - UPDATE 6/16/25: Pala’au State Park Pavilion: Due to continued renovation work, the pavilion closure has been extended from June 1 to July 31. The Pala’au Camping Area has been CLOSED from June 1 to July 31, 2025.

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[MAUI] UPDATED 5/23/25 – Mākena State Park - State Parks is issuing an Invitation for Bids (“IFB”) to qualified parties interested in a Mobile Food Truck Concession Agreement to operate a Mobile Food Truck (“MFT”) Concession at Mākena State Park. More information may be obtained on the following link: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/announcements/invitation-for-bid-for-sealed-bid-proposal-to-provide-a-mobile-food-truck-concession-at-makena-state-park-on-maui/.

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[OʻAHU] UPDATED 5/21/25 – Diamond Head State Monument (DHSM): Updated June Operating Hours - The rockfall mitigation project began January 6, 2025 and will run until September 5, 2025 or upon completion of the construction project at the Kahala Tunnel. Please check the Diamond Head State Monument website for updated park operation hours during this time.

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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.

Big Island Coastal & Beach Parks CLOSED Starting 9/4/20

Posted on Sep 3, 2020

At the request of Mayor Harry Kim and to mirror the County of Hawaiʻiʻs latest Emergency Order closing all County Beach Parks, the DLNR Division of State Parks is CLOSING all Hawaii Island Coastal and Beach Park Areas effective this Friday, September 4 continuing through September 18 (see details below). This effort is aimed at preventing large unauthorized gatherings and suppressing the increasing spread of COVID-19, particularly during the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend. At all affected parks, gates will remain locked and parking lots will be closed.

*Transiting through the Closed Parks to access allowable ocean activities is permitted.*

PARKS CLOSED: 

September 4, 2020 – September 18, 2020

· Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area

· Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park (Land areas closed, bay waters open for boating and ocean recreation under COVID restrictions)

· Kekaha Kai State Park

· Kiholo State Park Reserve

· Lapakahi State Historical Park

· MacKenzie State Recreation Area

 

Click the link below to view a digital copy of the signed Amendment to the Mayor’s COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 11

Amendment to Mayor’s COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 11

 

“Amendment to Mayor’s COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 11

Post Date:09/02/2020 5:00 PM

The County of Hawaiʻi has experienced a sustained increase in community associated COVID-19 cases and three COVID-19 deaths. Several clusters have been linked to social gatherings. The following are amendments to Exhibit 2 of Mayor’s Covid-19 Emergency Rule No. 11 temporarily closing County beach and shoreline parks in order to stop large social gatherings. The County continues to promote outdoor exercise. Additions are underlined and bolded, deletions are [bracketed] and stricken as follows:

  1. Camping is permitted in accordance with the following conditions and with modified rules as established by the Director:
    1. The following campsite[s] remains open:
      1. Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area
      2. Hoʻokena Beach Park
      3. Kapaʻa Beach Park
      4. Kohanaiki Beach Park
      5. Laupahoehoe Pt. Beach Park
      6. Mahukona Beach Park
      7. PUnaluʻu Beach Park
      8. Spencer Park at ʻOhaiʻula Beach
      9. Whittington Beach Park
    1. All County beach parks and shoreline parks are closed and the following terms and conditions apply:
      1. Beach parks and coastal parks may only be used for direct access to and from the ocean or shoreline in order to engage in exercise, fishing and gathering food, and use of restroom and shower facilities during the hours of 7 a.m. through 7 p.m. daily.
      2. Use of pavilions, barbecues, temporary canopies, pop-up tents, tarps, similar shade devices, etc. are not allowed.
      3. Tables, hibachis, coolers, and other items commonly associated with picnicking and gatherings are not allowed.
      4. Camping at all beach parks and shoreline parks is prohibited. All existing camping permits are hereby cancelled.
      5. All commercial operations and activities are prohibited.
      6. For the purposes of this Rule, the following clarifications are provided:
        1. Kailua Park: the terms of this section only apply to the area makai of the runway;
        2. Liliʻuokalani Gardens: The park remains open, however, the prohibitions in section 9b and 9c apply.

  1. All other State or County restrictions related to COVID-19 must be followed, including, but not limited to, applicable quarantine restrictions.

This amendment is effective from 12:01 a.m. September 4, 2020 to 7:00 a.m. September 19, 2020, or until extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended by my subsequent order, or as otherwise provided by law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the County of Hawaiʻi to be affixed. Done this 1st day of September 2020 in Hilo, Hawaiʻi.

Harry Kim
Mayor
County of Hawaiʻi

CONCURRENCE:
Governor David Y. Ige”

(Per HawaiiCounty.gov, Official Link: Click Here)