Wailuku River State Park
Photo Credit: Sean Newsome

**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**

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

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[KAUA’I] UPDATE 6/23/26

The Puu Hina Hina Parking Lot remains closed due parking lot striping.

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[MAUI] UPDATE 6/22/26

‘Iao Valley State Monument: Will be CLOSED until July 17, 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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[O’AHU] UPDATED 6/18/26

There will be an early closure at 5PM HST on Saturday July 4, 2026 for Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside (ʻUalakaʻa Trail) due to \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Fireworks Prohibited in the State Parks\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"

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[HAWAI’I] UPDATE 6/17/26

There will be an early closure at 5PM HST on Saturday July 4, 2026 for the West Hawaii State Parks (Kekaha Kai (Manini Owali & Mahai’ula), Kiholo, Hapuna SRA (Hapuna & Waialea) due to \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Fireworks Prohibited in the State Parks\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"

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[KAUA’I] UPDATED 5/27/26

Kalalau Trail from mile marker 2-11 after Hanakapiai Valley, will be CLOSED for a feral animal control hunt from June 1-4. The 2 miles of the trail from Keʻe beach at Haʻena State Park to Hanakapiai falls will remain open during this time.

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Puʻu Hinahina parking lot will be CLOSED for road work from May 25-29 and again from June 15-19.

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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 6/10/26

Heʻeia State Park partial parking lot road closure due to landslide and upcoming stabilization work.

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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 and damage due to the recent Kona Low storms. The Mokule’ia vehicle access road has REOPENED to valid permit holders - note some roads previously accessible have been closed due to storm damage - heed all road signs. 

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[MOLOKAʻI] UPDATE 4/20/26

Pālāʻau State Park: Pālāʻau Wayside Pavilion and Campgrounds remain 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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Akaka Falls State Park: Water and comfort station CLOSED, park open with portable toilets.

Wailuku River State Park

[HAWAIʻI] UPDATED 1/16/26 – Wailuku River State Park: Parking/entry fee allows entrance to both Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots.
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Hawaii Residents are free with Hawaii ID or Hawaii Drivers License.

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    Hours

    Rainbow Falls: Daily 7:00am – 5:30pm

    Boiling Pots: Daily 7:00am – 5:30pm

    Gates lock at 6:00pm
    Parking & Entrance Fees

    Entry

    • *CREDIT CARD ONLY*
    • Hawaii Residents = Free w/Hawaii ID or DL
    • Non-Hawaii Residents = $5
    • Children 3 and under = Free

    Non-Commercial Vehicle Parking Fee:

    • Resident = No Charge with ID
    • Non-Resident = $10 Per Vehicle

    Commercial vehicles Parking Fees:

    • 1-7 Passenger Vehicles = $25
    • 8-25 Passenger Vehicles = $50
    • 26+ Passenger Vehicles = $90

    Description

    NOTE:  AS OF JANUARY 2026, PARKING AND ENTRANCE FEES WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER WAILUKU RIVER STATE PARK. Parking/entry fee allows entrance to both Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots. Hawaii Residents are free with a valid Hawaii ID or Hawaii Drivers License.

    Viewpoints of geologic and scenic interest along Wailuku River. There are two separate park areas.  Boiling Pots is a succession of big pools connected by underground flow or cascades and whose waters roll and bubble as if boiling. The exposed hexagonal columns that line the pools were formed by the slow cooling of basalt lava. The 80-foot Rainbow Falls is renowned for the rainbow formed from its mist many mornings. Legends say that the cave beneath the waterfall was the home of Hina, mother of the demigod Maui. (16.3 acres)

    Location

    Both park sections are accessed via Waiānuenue Avenue, downtown Hilo; Boiling Pots Area at the end of Peʻepeʻe Falls Drive; Rainbow Falls Area on Rainbow Drive.