Division of State Parks

Photo Credit: Tim DelaVega

**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**

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

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[KAUAʻI] UPDATED 6/17/24 – Polihale State Park: Queen's Pond access Road is CLOSED June 17-21 (m-f) for rock placement. Pedestrian traffic should be aware of heavy equipment traversing through the area. The park remains open - visitors should access via Cane Top access road and points beyond.

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[HAWAI’I] UPDATED 6/10/24 –'Akaka Falls State Park is now fully open. There will be a brief closure later this month (June 24-28, m-f), for additional repair work.

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[KAUAʻI] UPDATED 6/18/24 –Kalalau Trail, Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park: Camping permits held back for local residents during summer, see Kalalau Trail site for more information.

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[KAUAʻI] UPDATED 6/18/24 – Kōkeʻe State Park: The gate to Puʻu O Kila Lookout will be closed to vehicular traffic due to road repairs beginning 3/19/24. The lookout will still be accessible by pedestrians, parking is available at Kalalau lookout.

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[HAWAI'I] UPDATED 6/18/24 - West Hawaii State Parks to close early on the 4th of July at 5 PM. Parks effected are: Kekaha Kai SP—Mahai’ula section and Manini’owali (Kua Bay) section, Kiholo SPR, Hapuna Beach SRA and Waialea section

Waianapanapa State Park Online Reservations System Beginning – Reservations Required Beginning March 1, 2021

Posted on Feb 14, 2021

All visitors and commercial operators will need to make reservations to enter the popular Waiʻānapana State Park on Maui, beginning on March 1. Before the COVID-19 pandemic the popular park, located near the end of the famous Hana Highway in East Maui, had seen increased crowding and a glut of commercial tours. This impacted the adjacent rural community and overall visitor experiences. New fees for entry and parking will also be in effect when the reservation system is launched. Entry and parking for Hawaiʻi residents will still be free.

Wai’ānapanapa, which means glistening waters, with Pa‘iola, its famous black sand beach and stunning coastal views, will be the second state park in Hawaiʻi to require reservations. It is the first to integrate commercial tours into its reservation system. This follows the successful implementation of the Hāʻena State Park reservation system, which was implemented after the 2018 flood. It is largely credited with bringing serenity back to one of the most impacted regions of the state by implementing a reservation and shuttle system and establishing limits on the number of daily visitors. At Wai’ānapanapa, like at Hāʻena on Kaua‘i, parking spaces will be held back to accommodate Hawai‘i residents.

“This balances State Park’s critical need for revenue with the commercial tours paying a fair rate for their use of the park. It enables us to adjust patronage numbers to reduce crowding and impacts on the sensitive resources of the park,” said DLNR Division of State Parks Administrator Curt Cottrell. Also, and just as important, we can reduce the impact on our neighbors. As a former resident of Hana, living right next to Wai’ānapanapa, it feels good to support a process that will help my former neighbors. Quality over quantity is our new target in management,” Cottrell added.

Initially, reservations will be taken 2 weeks in advance due to continuing uncertainties about COVID-19 rules and restrictions. This window will be extended over time. Reservations must be made in advance and no same-day reservations there will be available.

“This new reservation system for Waiʻānapanapa State Park is critical to a larger effort to better manage traffic flow coming into East Maui,” said Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English, whose district encompasses the area around Waiʻānapanapa . “This is a new way to better manage the impacts of tourism on our local communities and I look forward to working with DLNR to implement these types of systems in other areas of my district.”

Waiʻānapanapa State Park fees effective March 1, 2021:

Out-of-State visitors

· Parking: $10.00

· Walk-in, bike-in or drop-off entry: $5.00 per person

· Visitors making parking reservations will be required to select a time slot, to spread out visitation across the day.

Commercial (PUC) vehicle parking slots:

· 1-7 Passenger Vehicle: $25

· 8-25 Passenger vehicle: $50

Beginning Monday, Feb. 15 reservations available at:

www.gowaianapanapa.com

More information on DLNR Division of State Parks:

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/maui/waianapanapa-state-park/