Photo Credit: Tim DelaVega
hawaii wave

**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**

⚠️ Always monitor weather reports and ocean conditions before your park visit. 

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[KAUA’I] UPDATED 5/8/26

Polihale State Parks has REOPENED.

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Koke’e State Park camping will be CLOSED for campground improvements. Construction to begin May 2026 and extend through Spring 2027.

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Pāʻulaʻula State Historic Site: CLOSED for construction.

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[O’AHU] UPDATED 5/1/26

Wahiawā Freshwater State Recreation Area: Portions of the park which access the reservoir (Also known as Lake Wilson) will be closed Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 1 a.m. the park will remain open to visitors for onshore activities, but lake access via the boat ramp, reservoir banks, and reservoir shores will not be allowed until further notice.

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Ka’ena Point State Park, Mākua Section has REOPENED to beach access. The Keawa’ula section remains CLOSED due to road repairs. The Mokule’ia vehicle access road remains CLOSED due to unsafe road conditions, this section remains open to pedestrian and bicycle access. 

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[MAUI] UPDATE 4/20/26

‘Iao Valley State Monument: Will be CLOSED until June 26, 2026 for safety improvements.

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Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area: Polipoli cabins and camping areas are CLOSED until further notice.

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[HAWAI’I] UPDATED 4/10/26

Notice to bidders for Mobile Food Truck Concessions opened today for certain Hawai’i Island parks. More information at: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/announcements/mobile-food-truck-concessions-hawaii/

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[HAWAI’I] UPDATE 3/25/26

Akaka Falls State Park: Water and comfort station CLOSED, park open with portable toilets.

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[MOLOKAʻI] 3/23/26

Palaʻau State Wayside and camping areas CLOSED for renovations until May 4.

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.