**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**
⚠️ Always monitor weather reports and ocean conditions before your park visit.
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[KAUA’I] UPDATED 5/13/26
Kalalau Trail will REOPEN today, as stream levels have dropped. The Ha’ena shuttle has resumed.
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[O’AHU] UPDATED 5/11/26
Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline -Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail: Will be CLOSED for three mornings for essential maintenance. The trail will be closed until 11 A.M. on the following Tuesdays: May 12, May 19, and May 26.
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Wahiawā Freshwater State Recreation Area: Portions of the park which access the reservoir (Also known as Lake Wilson) will be closed Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 1 a.m. the park will remain open to visitors for onshore activities, but lake access via the boat ramp, reservoir banks, and reservoir shores will not be allowed until further notice.
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Ka’ena Point State Park, Mākua Section has REOPENED to beach access. The Keawa’ula section remains CLOSED due to road repairs. The Mokule’ia vehicle access road remains CLOSED due to unsafe road conditions, this section remains open to pedestrian and bicycle access.
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Polihale State Parks has REOPENED.
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Koke’e State Park camping will be CLOSED for campground improvements. Construction to begin May 2026 and extend through Spring 2027.
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Pāʻulaʻula State Historic Site: CLOSED for construction.
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[MAUI] UPDATE 4/20/26
‘Iao Valley State Monument: Will be CLOSED until June 26, 2026 for safety improvements.
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Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area: Polipoli cabins and camping areas are CLOSED until further notice.
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[HAWAI’I] UPDATED 4/10/26
Notice to bidders for Mobile Food Truck Concessions opened today for certain Hawai’i Island parks. More information at: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/announcements/mobile-food-truck-concessions-hawaii/
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Akaka Falls State Park: Water and comfort station CLOSED, park open with portable toilets.
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[MOLOKAʻI] 3/23/26
Palaʻau State Wayside and camping areas CLOSED for renovations until May 4.
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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