Photo Credit: Tim DelaVega
hawaii wave

**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**

Monitor weather reports before your park visit!

•

[MAUI] - UPDATE 4/17/25: Puaʻa kaʻa Wayside and Restrooms will be CLOSED for renovations April 21 thru May 12.

•

[MOLOKA’I] - UPDATE 3/24/25: Pala’au State Park Pavilion: Due to demolition and renovation work, the pavilion will be closed from March 25 to May 31.

•

[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.

•

[OʻAHU] UPDATED 3/18/25 – Diamond Head State Monument (DHSM): Partial Park Closures Hours with operating hours from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM will occur from April 21 onwards Monday through Friday, (except holidays).  Normal Park Hours from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM will resume on Weekends and Holidays. During Partial Park Closures Hours from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM, the last reservation time slot for Parking and Entry and Entry Only will be 12:00 p.m. If you reserved at 12:00 p.m., you must enter the Park no later than 12:30 p.m. or you will be denied entry. The project began January 6, 2025, and will run until July 25, 2025, upon completion of the rock fall mitigation construction project at the Kahala Tunnel. Please check back for updates.

When is the best time for whale watching and off of which island?

Posted on Oct 15, 2021

Humpback Whales begin arriving at the main Hawaiian Islands as early as September and stay as late as May with the peak season occurring in the months of January and February. The highest concentrations of sightings are in the shallow waters between the islands of Maui, Lanai and Molokai, on the north coast of Kauai and off the Kohala coast on the island of Hawaii. Humpback Whale sightings are also common on the island of Oahu but not as frequent as the other locations. Whale watching boat tours are available through vendors on all main islands. Please check the website of the Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary for more information:
www.hihwnms.nos.noaa.gov

Please practice responsible wildlife viewing by keeping a safe distance – 100 yards from whales, and do not approach or harass them.