**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**
Monitor weather reports before your park visit!
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[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
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[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.
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[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/
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[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.
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[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.
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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.
Pu’u Olai at Makena State Park Reopens With Adjusted Weekend Hours
Posted on Mar 12, 2021Earlier Saturday-Sunday Closings Aimed at Stopping Large Gatherings
Pu‘u Ola‘i (Little) Beach, at Mākena State Park on Maui’s south shore, will reopen tomorrow (Saturday, March 13) after being closed for several months.
Officials from the DLNR Division of State Parks and Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) spent the closure time developing a plan for the popular beach section that focuses on enjoyment for all park users and enhanced management and protection of cultural resources.
DOCARE officers will enforce all laws, rules and ordinances and is legally obligated to respond to any reported or observed behavior or activities at Pu’u Ola’i that are contrary to, or violate state laws, administrative rules and county ordinances. New regulatory signs in the park detail prohibitions against drug and alcohol use, nudity, and fires.
New park hours for Pu’u Ola’i on Saturdays and Sundays, are now from 5:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Oneloa (Big) Beach and Oneuli (Black Sand) Beach also open at 5:00 a.m. and will close at 7:00 p.m. On weekday’s, all three beach areas within Mākena State Park will open at 5:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. Parking lot gates open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. daily.
“We appreciate the community’s patience as we grappled with both COVID-19 and resource management challenges for Pu‘u Ola‘i, said DLNR Division of State Parks Administrator Curt Cottrell.
During the temporary closure, State Parks, with support from the Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Program crew, performed deferred park maintenance, including cutting back kiawe and brush from behind the beach. Additional signs will be installed or posted to inform park users to respect archeological sites. A recent Cultural Impact Assessment for Mākena State Park recognized Pu‘u Ola‘i, its surrounding slopes and beach as significant cultural resources.
Future actions include making the informal access trail connecting Oneloa and Pu’u Ola’i safer for beach users and first responders.
The earlier weekend closing times support safety and regulatory concerns. The so-called drum circles after dark, with as many as 200-400 people, created issues for DOCARE trying to clear the park. Illegal substances, fire dancing, coupled with darkness and a challenging trail warranted the need to close early to prevent these activities
“It is unfortunate that certain people feel it is okay to violate the rules and engage in weekly “rave” like parties. These gatherings are promoted by social media and an in one case, by a company that advertises and provides transportation for out-of-state visitors to and from what they bill as “Maui’s biggest jam.”
Cottrell added, “These are events that would warrant special use permits which require conditions for protection of resources and participant’s safety. There are no restroom facilities at Pu’u Ola’i, so large groups contribute to the decay of what should be a cherished resource, not just a beautiful venue for a free party.”
State Parks officials will be working with area lawmakers, the visitor industry, lineal descendants of Mākena and interested Maui citizens on future plans for Pu’u Ola’i.
Larry Pacheco, Maui District State Parks Superintendent, said, “We hope people will respect this place, pay attention to all current local rules regarding COVID-19, and abide by all state laws and regulations. We’ve been forced to close Pu‘u Ola‘i twice, for extended periods of time over the past year, because of unlawful and inappropriate behavior – largely associated with pandemic safety protocols. We are cautiously optimistic that all park users will honor the rules and be respectful of DLNR staff who are tasked with enforcing them, and the resources that we should all be protecting. The Division of State Parks does not want to have to shut down access again due to the perception that reopening will enable these weekly gatherings to be re-established.”
