**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**
Monitor local surf and weather reports before your park
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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.
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[OʻAHU] - UPDATE 3/18/25: Mauna ʻAla, Royal Mausoleum State Monument will be undergoing improvements that may temporarily prevent vehicular access. Please check the Royal Mausoleum State Monument website for updates.
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[OʻAHU] UPDATED 3/18/25 – Diamond Head State Monument (DHSM): Full Park Closures will occur Tuesdays through Fridays beginning April 1 to April 11 and also Monday through Thursday April 14 to April 17. Partial Park Closures Hours with operating hours from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM will occur on Monday April 7 during this time, and will resume from April 21 onwards Monday through Friday, (except weekends and holidays). Normal Park Hours from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM will resume during Spring Break March 17 to March 28, Good Friday Holiday on April 18, and Weekends. During Partial Park Closures Hours from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM, the last reservation time slot for Parking and Entry and Entry Only will be 12:00 p.m. If you reserved at 12:00 p.m., you must enter the Park no later than 12:30 p.m. or you will be denied entry. The project began January 6, 2025, and will run to July 25, 2025, or upon completion of the rock fall mitigation construction project at the Kahala Tunnel. Please check back for updates.
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[MAUI] UPDATE 3/4/25 - Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area: Beginning April 1, 2025 through April 30, 2025 the park, cabin campgrounds and access road to Polipoli Forest Reserve will be closed due to tree mitigation work.
KAIWI SCENIC COASTLINE FIRST DAY HIKE RETURNS AFTER COVID HIATUS
Posted on Dec 21, 2022DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
JOSH GREEN M.D. GOVERNOR
SUZANNE D. CASE CHAIRPERSON
NEWS RELEASE
KAIWI SCENIC COASTLINE FIRST DAY HIKE RETURNS AFTER COVID HIATUS (HONOLULU) – As one of the best attended First Day Hike events in the country, the trek to the
Makapu‘u Overlook for the first sunrise of 2023 is back!
2012, was the kick-off of Hawai‘i participating in and celebrating the nationwide First Day Hike. This is the 10th anniversary of the Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline hike, though COVID caused the cancellation of events the past two years.
46 states are hosting a multitude of hikes in 2023. The Hawai‘i First Day Hike…a walk really… is along the paved roadway to the summit of Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline and provides incredible views mauka to makai and has attracted as many as 700 people on previous New Year’s Days.
“It is a unique and moving experience and spiritual way to usher in a new year. Watching the first sunrise of the year peak over the Kaiwi Channel and Moloka‘i, synchronized with the blowing of a pu in the 4 cardinal directions by Gabriel Spencer of Ke Leo O Laka I ka Hikina O Ka La, followed with an oli by Dr. Sam Gon of Halau Mele, is a chicken skin experience that exemplifies Hawai‘i’s unique culture” said Curt Cottrell, Administrator of the DLNR Division of State Parks.
Sunrise is followed a rousing taiko performance of the Taiko Center of the Pacific by students of Sensei Kenny Endo. In previous years, Scottish bagpipes have been part of the mix – providing a trilogy of sound and meaning that is an audible representation Hawaii’s cultural influences.
The DLNR Division of State Parks (DSP) is very grateful for this community partnership for an event that adds cultural elements to the striking natural landscape.
The summit viewing platform will be closed before and during sunrise to provide space for the pu, oli and the taiko drummers. It reopens for after the performance.
FIRST DAY HIKE AT KAIWI STATE SCENIC SHORLINE
Gates to the park open at 5:30 a.m. to give provide ample time to get to the top and in position along the route for the 7:10 a.m. sunrise.
Staff will arrive in advance to drive up to the summit with drums and performers before hikers start to ascend.
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The paved footpath is one mile each way.
Flashlights, blanket and warm clothes are encouraged – in addition to darkness Kaiwi can be windy along the route and especially at the summit.
Parking is limited at the trailhead so overflow vehicles must park along the highway. Carpooling is encouraged.
Exercise extreme caution when crossing the highway.
There are no restroom facilities at Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline, but for this event State Parks will provide portable toilets at the trailhead.
Please carry out all rubbish and bring poop bags and leashes are required for dogs
“Hawaii’s First Day Hike ‘ohana and DSP are excited to bring this stirring event back to Kaiwi after the pandemic hiatus. While many other states have more challenging (and colder) hikes to offer on New Year’s Day, few can match Kaiwi for stunning scenery, possibly catching a glimpse of a humpback whale, and participating in a cross-cultural celebration, with the pu heralding the sunrise, a mele oli to shepherd in the new year, and powerful taiko to stir the heart and galvanize our intent for the upcoming year.” Cottrell added.
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RESOURCES
(All images/video courtesy: DLNR)
HD video – First Day Hike feature, Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline (Jan. 1, 2020):
HD video – First Day Hike media clips, Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline (Jan. 1, 2020): https://vimeo.com/382313796
Photographs – First Day Hike media clips, Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline (Jan. 1, 2020): https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9w2q7mo5z44klek/AABYrSQbfClvISoOAT4gOw5sa?dl=0
Media Contact:
Dan Dennison
Senior Communications Manager (808) 587-0396 [email protected]
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