**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**
⚠️ Always monitor weather reports and ocean conditions before your park visit.
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[KAUAʻI] UPDATE 3/18/26 - The Kalalau trail will be open tomorrow morning, 3-19-26. A 4 man crew checked the trail from Hanakoa to Kalalau. The trail did not get as much damage as anticipated with the recent storm. State Parks crew dug out the normal areas and deemed the trail to be in normal Kalalau trail conditions. 2 Docare officers accompanied State Parks crew and cited 10 individuals for being in a closed Area. None had valid permits.
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[O’AHU] UPDATE 3/18/26
Kaena Point – Mokuleia – Permitted gate area to remain CLOSED due to wet/muddy/unsafe conditions caused by storm.
Pu’u O’ Mahuka Heiau Historical Site: REOPENING TOMORROW, THURSDAY, MARCH 19TH.
Pu’u Ualaka’a State Wayside: REOPENED TODAY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18th. Still awaiting future trimming of more potentially hazardous trees when contractor comes available.
Sand Island Recreational Area: REOPENING TOMORROW, THURSDAY MARCH 19TH.
Wahiawa Freshwater Recreational Area: CLOSED – Tree and debris cleanup. Tentatively looking to reopen on MONDAY 3/23/26. Will confirm by end of day SUNDAY MARCH 22ND.
Malaekahana State Recreational Area: OPEN – CAMPING TO RESUME THIS FRIDAY MARCH 20TH
Ahupua’a O’ Kahana State Park: CLOSED - Tree and debris cleanup. NO CAMPING UNTIL FUTHER NOTICE.
Wa’ahila Ridge Recreational Area: CLOSED – TREE TRIMMING/REMOVAL IN PROCESS – Tentatively looking to reopen on FRIDAY 3/20/26. Will confirm by end of day tomorrow.
Keawaʻula Beach closed until further notice due to hazardous conditions, including water and sand flowing over road dips. Cleanup operations and concrete barrier relocations are currently in progress to manage the impact.
Nuuanu Pali Lookout - Both the Windward and Townbound access points are now cleared and fully open to the public.
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[HAWAI’I] UPDATE 3/18/26
East Hawaii – All parks open
West Hawaii:
Kealakekua State Historical Park – Open
Manuka Wayside – Open
Kekaha Kai (Manini Owali & mahai’ula Sections) – Park Open / Water Clear
Kiholo State Park Reserve – Camping Closed due to hazardous trees above campground *Waiting for Contractor to respond / Day Use is open to the public.
Hapuna/Waialea SRA – Park Open / Water clear
Lapakahi State Historical Park – Park Open to look out / Trails closed to debris and water bar damage.
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[MAU’I] UPDATE 3/17/26
Iao Valley State Monument : We will need to push back tentative opening to Monday March 30. Great possibility of a longer closure due to county damage. I will give updates as I receive them. I have not yet heard plans from county on moving forward. Entry gates remain locked.
Poli Poli State Park: closure to Poli Poli Cabins will need to be closed until further notice. Kula Forrest Reserve (DOFAW) has been closed due to catastrophic damages and they are not sure how long this will be, 95% of all culverts have been damaged and looks to be a FEMA issue now. I’ve asked DOFAW if it would be possible to fly drones to check cabin and camping areas, if not we will need to hike the 5 miles in on foot to check, which may happen anyway. Not sure of timeline on repairs for road.
Waianapanapa State Park : (Confirming) scheduled to open on Monday 3/23 to all visitors. This is granted electricity is restored (currently none), water pumps for area are restored and no longer on “conserve water” status. Currently, Hana Road for resident travel only.
Makena Beach State Park : Crews continue to clear debris from first entrance and Black Sand entrance, but second and third entrances are open to public. Complete opening is scheduled to open by Friday.
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[KAUAʻI] UPDATE 3/16/26 - Polihale State Park closed until further notice due to mud and debris removal. Pāʻulaʻula State Historic Site closed for construction. Kōkeʻe State Park, Waimea Canyon State Park, and Wailua River State Park is open. Hāʻena State Park - Day use and overnight campers allowed to enter for the day. Overnight campers not allowed to go past Hanakapiai Valley, only to Hanakapiai Falls. A sign will be posted on the trail after Hanakapiai beach heading to Kalalau. This will be until we survey the trail on Wednesday 3/18. Another notification will be sent after the assessment.
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[HAWAIʻI] UPDATE 3/5/26 – ʻAKAKA FALLS STATE PARK: Dept. of Water Supply shut off water in the area until further notice affecting the park.
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[O‘AHU] UPDATE 3/4/26 - KA‘ENA POINT STATE PARK, MOKULE‘IA SECTION, VEHICLE ACCESS GATE [UPDATE 3/12 - temporarily closed due to storm]. You need the 2026 Gold decal adhered to the rear of your vehicle to enter the park, the accompanying permit account provides access to the gate combination online. The 2024-2025 Purple decals are no longer valid. Apply for a 2026 Kaʻena Point Vehicle Access Permit here. All applicants must create a NEW account and apply as a new applicant. We are experiencing significant delays in processing, we appreciate your continued patience. Vehicle access dirt road repairs are occurring to stabilize severe erosion, and armor problem areas with aggregate to reduce erosion and puddling, and improve road stability.
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[KAUAʻI, OʻAHU, HAWAIʻI] 2/10/26 – Wailua River State Park (Kauaʻi), Ahupuaʻa ʻO Kahana State Park (Oʻahu), Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park (Hawaiʻi): All commercial kayak operators must apply for a Rental Vessel Special Use Permit – Commercial Application, each kayak vessel requires a registered decal. Visit State Parks Permits page here and download and mail in the Rental Vessel Special Use Permit – Commercial Application.
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[ALL ISLANDS] UPDATE – 12/12/25: Camping - Reservations for February 1, 2026 and beyond available at https://explore.ehawaii.gov, please create an account on Explore Outdoor Hawaiʻi to make a camping reservation.
2021 SCORP Update
2021 SCORP Update: Summary and Final (released 2022)
The 2021 update of the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) offers a timely opportunity to re-evaluate Hawaiʻi’s recreational needs and trends of statewide importance. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, increased participation in outdoor recreation, and local climate impacts, many of our outdoor recreation places and resources are undergoing significant changes. The SCORP seeks to align Hawaiʻi’s recreational priorities with actions to preserve and provide high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities in Hawaiʻi.
Below are the PDF’s to the final results of the draft 2021 SCORP:
What is the SCORP?
Preparation of the SCORP every five years maintains Hawaiʻi’s eligibility to receive funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The LWCF is a federal grant program administered by the National Park Service that assists states and local governments with the acquisition of recreational lands and the development and renovation of recreation facilities. The program is intended to create and maintain a nationwide legacy of high-quality recreation areas and facilities and to stimulate non-federal investments in the protection and maintenance of recreation resources across the country.
2021 Draft SCORP Report Review
The Division of State Parks invited the public to review the draft of the 2021 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).
The comprehensive recreation plan is updated every 5 years to assess Hawaiʻi’s outdoor recreation trends, needs, and priorities. The plan also provides direction for the State’s recreational future and allows Hawaiʻi to remain eligible to receive funds for outdoor recreation projects through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a federal grants program administered by the National Park Service.
The 5-year strategic plan for outdoor recreation as presented in the draft 2021 SCORP is based on comments received from recreation agencies and the public through online surveys and public meetings held between April and June 2021. More than 2,600 people participated in the process.
Both the public and recreation providers identified the protection of natural and wildlife resources and wilderness areas as a top priority for investment in outdoor recreation for the next five years. The operation and maintenance of existing infrastructure and facilities and protection of cultural and/or historic resources were found to be other top priorities for investment by recreation agencies and public participants. Concerns regarding inadequate and poor conditions of facilities were also shared.
Continuing a theme from the 2015 SCORP, that intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, the public and recreation providers both recognize an increasing demand for outdoor recreation spaces and associated facilities. Enforcement was rated as the most serious challenge in managing and providing outdoor recreation facilities by recreation providers. Recreation providers also expressed a need for sufficient funding to adequately manage these spaces.
Recognizing the demands, priorities, and challenges shared by the public, agencies, and recreation providers, a strategic plan has been developed which outlines goals and objectives for public outdoor recreation in Hawai‘i over the next 5 years. This plan will assist in selecting projects for LWCF funding assistance in the future to address these demands and priorities.
Recent LWCF grants were awarded to renovate tennis and basketball courts at Kalawai Park on Kauaʻi and install new playgrounds at Kaimukī Community Park, Ala Pu‘umalu Community Park, and Kahalu‘u Community Park on O‘ahu. Other recent LWCF grant awards funded construction of the Hilo Bayfront Trail on Hawaii Island, coastal trail improvements at Waiʻānapanapa State Park, Hāna, Maui, and repaving of the Makapuʻu Trail with new lookouts and viewing scopes at Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline on Oʻahu.
