Announcements
Photo Credit: Tim DelaVega
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**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**

Monitor weather reports before your park visit.


[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.

[KAUA'I] - 11/14/25: THE KALALAU TRAIL has REOPENED.

[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.

[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. 

[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/

[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. 

[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.

[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.

Announcements

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JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR DAWN CHANG CHAIRPERSON For Immediate Release:  January 30, 2023 PORTIONS OF MĀKENA STATE PARK TO BE CLOSED INTERMITTENTLY FOR HAZARDOUS TREE WORK To view video please click on photo or view… Read More »

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR DAWN CHANG CHAIRPERSON For Immediate Release:  January 20, 2023 STRANDED ELDERY COUPLE SINGLES OUT VETERAN STATE PARKS CARETAKER FOR EXTRAORDINARY HELP To view video please click on photo or view at… Read More »

Kaiwi First Day Hike Returns on New Year’s Day, PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 21, 2022 DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES JOSH GREEN M.D.
 GOVERNOR SUZANNE D. CASE
 CHAIRPERSON NEWS RELEASE   KAIWI… Read More »

State Parks Seeks Qualified Mobile Food Truck Providers for Multiple Parks Statewide On August 12, 2022, the Board of Land and Natural Resources authorized the Division of State Parks to solicit for Mobile Food Truck… Read More »

(KAUAʻI) – Over two years after closing, due to COVID concerns and overuse and abuse issues, Polihale State Park will reopen to overnight camping beginning August 14, 2022. Reservations will be available online starting August… Read More »

Wailoa Center Exhibitions

Posted on Jun 28, 2022

(HAWAIʻI) – Hilo’s popular Wailoa Center was designed by Oda McCarty Architects Ltd. and was completed in 1967. Wailoa Center helped to breathe new life into the green-zone created by the devastating 1960 tsunami along… Read More »

Kaʻena Talk Story Series

Posted on May 17, 2022

Join DLNR State Parks every Last Friday for our Kaʻena Talk Story Series at Farm to Barn Haleʻiwa from 6 pm-7 pm. Bring friends and family and enjoy the sunset with interactive games and activities… Read More »

Park Improvements We want to know your thoughts. The Division of State Parks and the planning team from HHF Planners will be at the Wahiawā Freshwater State Recreation Area for a casual in-person, drop-in event… Read More »

State Parks is pleased to announce the return of the local resident holdback rule for Kalalau Trail camping Beginning May 3, 2022, State Parks will issue a limited number of overnight permits for camping in Kalalau,… Read More »

NEW State Park Reservation System

Posted on Apr 27, 2022

Reservation systems implemented on Kaua‘i, at Hā‘ena State Park and on Maui at Waiʻānapanapa State Park, have improved the quality of visitor experiences and have reduced impacts on adjacent communities and park resources. Diamond Head… Read More »