Wahiawā Freshwater State Recreation Area
Photo Credit: DUDEK

**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.

Wahiawā Freshwater State Recreation Area

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    Hours

    Summer: 7:00am to 7:45pm

     

    Winter: 7:00am to 6:45pm

     

    Summer Hours Begin on April 1st

    Winter Hours Begin the Day After Labor Day
    Entrance Fee None

    Description

    Enjoy picnicking along the wooded shore of Wahiawa Reservoir (a.k.a. Lake Wilson). Year-round shore and boat fishing.  Check with the State DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources for applicable fishing restrictions. No swimming or water skiing. Boating is only for fishing purposes. Boat ramp at the park.

    History of Past Planning Efforts

    The Wahiawa Freshwater Park Master Plan, which laid out the building blocks for development of the current park, was prepared in 1975. Construction of the park was completed in 1978.

    To view the master plan report, Click Here —> Wahiawa Fresh Water Park Master Plan

    To view images of the current park, Click Here —> Wahiawa FWSRA Images and Overview

    In 2019, the University of Hawai‘i Community Design Center (UHCDC) completed the Lake Wilson: Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreation Area Study and Proof‐of‐Concept Design Report. UHCDC has played an instrumental role in informing preliminary discussions about the park’s future and increasing community awareness about the potential for Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreation Area. Innovative ideas for the redesign of the park envisioned comprehensive redevelopment across the property, with a fishing lodge for overnight accommodations, 750-seat outdoor amphitheater, disc golf course, piers, and boardwalks for shoreline fishing access, and wetland restoration and drainage improvements to support water quality. Although this report does not represent State Parks’ authorized plans for future park developments, it provides a good framework for community involvement and awareness of the potential for innovations in park improvements.

    We would like to acknowledge that UHCDC was the recipient of a 2021 Honor Award in the Research and Communication category from the Hawaii Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects for the work represented by their 2019 report. A link to view the report is below.

    To view the report, Click Here —> UHCDC Conceptual Plan Page