Photo Credit: Tim DelaVega
hawaii wave

**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**

Monitor weather reports before your park visit!

[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.

[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.

Waahila Ridge State Recreation Area Improvements Planned

Posted on Feb 25, 2021

UPDATE: 2/26/21

Starting 2/25-2/26 and 3/1-3/2 a security guard will posted at the park entrance to inform that the park is closed and turn away anyone entering the park from 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM on those days. This step is necessary as people are not heeding the park closed notice and traversing in construction areas that are hazardous to their safety, as well as our project workers.

ORIGINAL POST: Park improvements at Wa’ahila Ridge State Recreation Area, on O‘ahu begin next week. Improvements include the repaving and expansion of the parking area, walkway replacement and new pathways to the picnic area. New speed bumps will be added. The project includes repairs to the pavilion and comfort stations, as well as the removal of tree hazards.

People are asked to avoid construction areas for their own safety.  There will be constant construction traffic, moving equipment, site work, material and debris removal, and other construction related activities.

Wa’ahila Ridge State Recreation Area will be open with these exceptions:

PARK CLOSED: 2/17 to 3/2 – full park closure for tree removal in parking and day use areas.

ENTRY ROAD & PARKING LOT CLOSED: 4/05 to 4/28 – repaving, speed bump installation and finishing work

PARTIAL CLOSURE OF PARKING LOT SECTIONS: 2/17 to 3/24 – site work for expanded parking areas, limited parking available

The contractor for this project is Hawaii Works, Inc. and the overall estimated project cost is $1,120,627 with a completion expected in June.