Awaʻawapuhi Trail
Hawaii hikers

Covid-19 Protocols: Please wear a mask when in groups, maintain social distancing, and be respectful of others. Aloha, Hawaii State Parks

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PARK UPDATES: 10/15/21 - [HAWAII] - Water services at Hapuna Beach State Recreation area have been restored.

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10/12/21 - [KAUAI] - Sections of the Waimea Canyon Lookout are currently CLOSED while repairs are done to the middle viewing deck. This project does not affect other lookouts in Waimea Canyon State Park and Kokee State Park.

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10/1/21 - [OAHU] - The gates at the Keawaula Section of Kaena Point State Park will remain CLOSED until further notice due to lack of staffing and available contracted services.

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4/19/21 - [ALL ISLANDS] - Entrance AND parking fees are now required for non-residents at several parks across the islands including: [KAUAI] Haena, Kokee, Waimea Canyon, [OAHU] Diamond Head, Nuuanu Pali, [MAUI] Iao Valley, Makena, Waianapanapa, and [HAWAII] Akaka Falls, Hapuna Beach.  Non-resident visitors will be required to pay for both entry and parking.

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3/29/21 - [KAUAI] - The Kalalau Trail reservation system is open again. Reservations are available 30-days in-advance. Park Entry and Parking reservations for morning and midday are available. Sunset-time reservations are currently not available.

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3/1/21 - [MAUI] - Waianapanapa State Park - Entry and Parking Reservations are now required for all non-residents. For reservations go to www.gowaianapanapa.com

Awaʻawapuhi Trail

4/17/20 - COVID-19 rules: The Awa'awapuhi Trail is open for hiking, so long as social distancing requirements are adhered to. The trail may be accessed by transiting Koke'e State Park, which remains closed. No lingering allowed within park areas.

Group hiking on State trails is not allowed, unless all participants are part of a single residential or family unit sharing the same address. People who want to hike alone, but who want to have another person nearby for safety reasons, are required to maintain a distance of not less than 20-feet from each other.

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    DANGER: Do not venture beyond the safety railing at the end of the trail! Footing is extremely unstable, and the drop to the valley floor below is over 2,000 feet.
    Trail Length 3.1 miles (one way)
    Activity Pedestrian
    Difficulty Difficult
    Elevation Gain 1,180 ft
    Park Name Kōkeʻe State Park

    Route

    The trail starts at a parking area near the highway 17 mile marker. This forest reserve area is managed as wilderness because of the rich variety of native dryland plant species thriving in it (a plant guide is available). The trail ends abruptly on the ridge top, at 2,500 ft. elevation, affording spectacular views down sheer palis (cliffs) into Awaʻawapuhi and Nualolo Valleys overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The grassy area at the end of the trail provides an excellent place to picnic.

    As of March 11, 2014, the Kauai recreational trail map is temporarily unavailable for distribution or purchase.

    Do not use any trail or access road that is not delineated by name and color and that may also be displayed on these maps. The marked features are managed for public recreational use. Other trails or roads that branch off from the public features may be on private property, and are not managed for any public recreational use. Access is subject to adjacent landowner approval, and if used without authorization, you will be trespassing and possibly putting yourself at risk.