Photo Credit: Tim DelaVega
hawaii wave

**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**

Monitor weather reports before your park visit!

[KAUAʻI] – UPDATE 9/16/25: West Kauaʻi Park Units – State Parks is recruiting for a Park Maintenance Supervisor II for the West Kauaʻi Park units, including, Kokeʻe State Park, Na Pali Coast Wilderness Park, Paʻulaʻula State Historic Park, Polihale State Park, Waimea Canyon State Park, and Waimea State Recreational Pier. See position description here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaii/jobs/5060650-0/park-maintenance-supervisor-ii-kokee-kauai

[OʻAHU] – UPDATE 9/11/25: Kaʻena Point State Parks - Mokuleʻia Section – Kaʻena Point Vehicle Access Permits Closed for 2025.  Purple 2024 permits valid through 2025. Please create an account on Explore Outdoor Hawaiʻi at https://explore.ehawaii.gov/Web/. You will need an Explore Outdoor Hawaiʻi account to apply for a 2026 Kaʻena Vehicle Access Permit, please create an account. Continue to check the Kaʻena Point State Park website for 2026 permit application updates.

[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.

Popular Nuuanu Pali State Wayside Reopens Wednesday

Posted on Nov 2, 2020

[HONOLULU] – Closed since nearly the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nuʻuanu Pali State Wayside on O‘ahu, reopens Wednesday, November 4, 2020.  The DLNR Division of State Parks had the park and scenic lookout closed due to crowding concerns (lack of physical distancing) and budgetary constraints. 

The Pali Lookout, for short,  is a popular stopover point along the Pali Highway, offering panoramic views of the windward side of the island. Typically, this park is among the most visited on Oʻahu, and visitors are reminded to adhere to social distancing rules and to wear face coverings when visiting the often-crowded overlook.  

Open hours for the wayside park are 6 a.m.-6 p.m., daily. Visitors are also reminded that there are no legal hikes beginning from the Pali lookout. Illegal hikers entering the adjacent closed areas in the State Forest Reserves has been a long-standing issue, and violators are subject to citation and fines.

Beginning Monday, newly approved parking fees for out-of-State residents and commercial vehicles will apply. Residents are not subject to parking and entry fees at any Hawaiʻi State Parks.   

New parking fees for Nuʻuanu Pali State Wayside: 

  • Nonresidents: $7.00 per vehicle 
  • Commercial PUC  vehicles: 
    1 to 7 passengers per vehicle $15.00 
    8 to 25 passengers per vehicle $30.00 
    26+ passengers per vehicle $50.00 

The gates along access roads leading into the Nu‘uanu Pali State Wayside will be unlocked daily and secured nightly by officers from the Honolulu Police Department. 

Nu’uana Pali State Wayside Reopening from Hawaii DLNR on Vimeo.