**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**

Monitor local surf and weather reports prior to your park visit. 

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[OʻAHU] UPDATED 11/4/24 – Kaʻena Point State Park, Mokuleʻia Section: The 2024 Kaʻena Point permit and decal is being extended through 2025. You do not need to apply for a new permit now, you will be notified when applications open next year. Take good care of your decal, we cannot replace decals. Please remember to take rubbish bags home, do not leave it a the trash bins. 

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[KAUAʻI] UPDATED 11/4/24 – Waimea Canyon State Park/Kōkeʻe State Park: Paving will take place on Waimea Canyon Road leading into Puʻu Hinahina Lookout on Wednesday, November 6 limiting vehicle access into and out of the lookout parking lot from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Pedestrian access will remain open, and vehicles can access the lookout before and after the closure.

More Bad Behavior in a State Park as Vandals Cut Through Fence & Gate – Put Up for Closure of Beach at Makena State Park

Posted on Jan 27, 2021

(HONOLULU/Maui) – Authorities are searching for the person or people who cut through metal gate poles and fencing at the “entrance” to Pu‘u Ola‘i (Little Beach) at Makena State Park on Maui. The beach section was closed on Jan. 5 in an effort to stop Sunday evening large gatherings (drum circles) attended by hundreds of people. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One such gathering last fall was a so-called “super spreader” event for COVID-19, and the  parties continued, nonetheless. The vandalism was discovered today and has been reported to the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) for investigation.

DLNR Division of State Parks Administrator Curt Cottrell said, “This behavior is not only  destruction of government property, but whomever did this misses several important points. First, the barrier was put up because many people were simply ignoring current COVID-19 mandates at their own risk. Secondly, this kind of senseless vandalism is an assault on everyone who pays taxes in Hawai‘i. These materials and the labor to install these barriers are not cheap and now we’ll have to spend limited staff resources on putting the gate up again.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vandals likely used power tools to cut through the steel support posts. They discarded signs, poles and fencing into the ocean. Today, State Parks workers were able to retrieve most everything and believe they can weld the fencing and gate back together. “Even so, it’s maddening, frustrating, and disappointing, that individuals who feel entitled to enter a closed area make it hard on everyone,” Cottrell added.

Select state parks have been closed as a last option to help stop the spread of  coronavirus in big gatherings. Last fall Polihale State Park on Kaua‘i was closed for several months after an estimated 1,000 people gathered there over the Labor Day holiday weekend. It has since re-opened.  

 

 

 

 

 

Managers are exploring options for re-opening Pu‘u Ola‘i, but Cottrell says today’s vandalism is certainly going to delay this. “We understand many folks on Maui want Little Beach  reopened, but in good conscience we cannot do so as long as some people continue to  misbehave, break the law, and endanger the health and safety of those around them. These actions reduce our confidence that once we do re-open we’ll see compliant and responsible behavior.” 

Anyone who has information on this crime can report it anonymously to DOCARE by calling 643-DLNR or via the free DLNRTip app.