**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**
Monitor weather reports before your park visit!
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[KAUAʻI] – UPDATE 9/16/25: West Kauaʻi Park Units – State Parks is recruiting for a Park Maintenance Supervisor II for the West Kauaʻi Park units, including, Kokeʻe State Park, Na Pali Coast Wilderness Park, Paʻulaʻula State Historic Park, Polihale State Park, Waimea Canyon State Park, and Waimea State Recreational Pier. See position description here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaii/jobs/5060650-0/park-maintenance-supervisor-ii-kokee-kauai
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[OʻAHU] – UPDATE 9/11/25: Kaʻena Point State Parks - Mokuleʻia Section – Kaʻena Point Vehicle Access Permits Closed for 2025. Purple 2024 permits valid through 2025. Please create an account on Explore Outdoor Hawaiʻi at https://explore.ehawaii.gov/Web/. You will need an Explore Outdoor Hawaiʻi account to apply for a 2026 Kaʻena Vehicle Access Permit, please create an account. Continue to check the Kaʻena Point State Park website for 2026 permit application updates.
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[O’AHU] - UPDATE 9/10/25: Mālaekahana State Recreation Area-Kahuku Section - State Parks is issuing a Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposals for parties interested in developing campgrounds. More info: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/announcements/malaekahana-state-recreation-area-rfq-rfp-2026/
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[MOLOKA’I] - UPDATE 8/29/25: Pala’au State Park Pavilion: Due to continued renovation work, the pavilion and camping is CLOSED until further notice.
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[KAUA’I] - 7/11/25: VISITORS TO WAIMEA CANYON AND KŌKEʻE STATE PARKS CAUTIONED TO EXPECT DELAYS AND LIMITED PARKING.
Beginning July 14, 2025, Waimea Canyon Lookout with be closed for construction of safety improvements through early December, 2025. This closure, in addition to several overlapping roadwork projects by both DOT-Highways and DLNR-State Parks, will cause delays, impact traffic patterns, and restrict overall parking capacity in these two popular parks through the end of the year. DOT work is continuing on Waimea Canyon Drive, while work on portions of Kōkeʻe Road from the Kalalau Lookout to Puʻu o Kila lookout will be starting the same week. Visitors can drive as far as the Kalalau Lookout, where improvements will also be initiated on July 17, with limited parking available. We urge patience and driving with care as these various improvements are ongoing. Local visitors are encouraged to enjoy these parks and lookouts on weekends, when most work will be suspended. Waimea Canyon Lookout will be closed for the duration of the project including weekends.
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[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.
Partners
The State Parks Division oversees a curator program, where interested groups help to maintain a specific park or site (often a cultural or archaeological site) with State Parks guidance. This program is integral to our ability to properly care for the resources under our care, and also provides willing people with an opportunity to volunteer and assist with special park projects. Below is a list of the current groups who have official curator agreements with State Parks, a summary of their activities, and contact information. We urge you to join them!
Hawaiʻi (Big Island)
| Location | Group | Activities | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kukuipahu Heiau, Kohala Historical Sites State Monument | Luhiau ‘Ohana | Site maintenance. | Valerie Luhiau, (808) 889-5309 |
| Kiholo State Park Reserve | Hui Aloha Kiholo | Environmental stewardship, education, resource protection. | https://www.huialohakiholo.org/contact |
Kauaʻi
| Location | Group | Activities | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waimea Canyon & Koke'e State Parks | Hui o Laka - Koke'e Natural History Museum | Operates Koke'e Museum as park visitor center; the "Kokua Koke'e" program involves groups and individuals in park stewardship, from trail maintenance to historic building preservation. | Chris Faye, (808) 335-9975, Ext. 0, [email protected] |
| Wailua Complex of Heiau, Wailua River State Park | Na Kahu Hikina A Ka La | Involves about 12 regular members for monthly workdays at the 4 heiau within the park. | Sabra Kauka, (808) 246-8899, [email protected] |
| Lo‘i Kalo at Ha‘ena Coast State Park | Hui Maka‘ainana o Makana | Opened up and planted a number of lo‘i (irrigated taro patches) as an interpretive feature of the park and restoration of the cultural landscape. | Ualani Hashimoto, (808) 826-0330 |
| Nu‘alolo Kai, Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park | Na Pali Coast ‘Ohana | Two to five work trips each summer, involving camping out for five days. Vegetation clearing at archaeological sites, detailed archaeological mapping, stabilization and restoration of features. | Sabra Kauka, (808) 241-PALI (7254), [email protected], or [email protected] |
Maui
| Location | Group | Activities | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iao Valley State Park | Na Kanaka Maoli O Hawai‘i Nei | Restoration of cultural/botanical garden in the park. | c/o Phil Ohta, (808) 984-8102 |
| North Pu‘u o La‘i Wetland, Makena State Park | North Pu‘u o La‘i Wetland Association | Initiating restoration of wetland and waterbird habitat, interpretation, and site management. | Fred Hollenbeck, (808) 874-5263, (808) 268-8150, [email protected] |
Oʻahu
| Location | Group | Activities | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Na Pohaku, Kawai Nui State Park Reserve | ‘Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi | Workdays for site maintenance, tours, educational groups, restoration of the cultural landscape and native forest. | Chuck Burrows, (808) 263-8008, [email protected] |
| Ka'ena State Park | Friends of Ka'ena | Volunteer activities such as trash cleanups, vegetation restoration, cultural site protection, interpretation, and education. | Josh Heimowitz, (808) 637-4615, [email protected] |
| Keaiwa Heiau, Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area | Pa‘i Foundation | Workdays for site maintenance, educational groups, special cultural events, plans for restoration of the cultural landscape. | Lahela Perry |
| Kukaniloko Birthstones State Historical Site | Hawaiian Civic Club of Wahiawa and Friends of Kukaniloko | Monthly workdays for site maintenance, tours, educational groups, special cultural events. | Tom Lenchanko, (808) 349-9949 |
| Makiki Lo‘i, Makiki State Recreation Area | Joslyn Ka‘awa | Site maintenance and landscaping with native vegetation, plans for interpretive programs in the future. | Joslyn Ka‘awa, (808) 941-1041 |
| Pu‘u o Mahuka Heiau State Historical Site | Na Hoa o Pu‘u o Mahuka | Weekly site maintenance and group visits by special arrangement. | Butch Helemano, (808) 292-4292 |
| Ulupo Heiau State Historical Park | Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club and Ahahui Malama i ka Lokahi | Monthly workdays for site maintenance, tours, educational groups, special cultural events, restoration of the cultural landscape. | Chuck Burrows, (808) 263-8008, [email protected] |
