DLNR, Division of State Parks
P.O. Box 621
Honolulu, HI 96809
(808)587-0300
DIAMOND HEAD SUMMIT TRAIL PHASE 3 WORK CONTINUES Afternoon trail closure set Monday, December 5 for trail work HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will close the Diamond Head summit trail in the afternoon on Monday, December 5, to perform summit trail improvements.
The Division of State Parks is closing the trail Monday afternoon and escorting visitors from the summit starting at 1 p.m. so that all hikers will be off the trail when the contractor will connect the new loop trail and the just reconstructed narrow ledge area outside the Fire Control Station at the summit. These repairs will improve hiker flow and overall safety.
Currently, hikers on their way to the summit are being diverted onto a new trail section to avoid the area needing repairs. Once all the work is completed, there will be a one-way flow of hiker traffic that will decrease the congestion in this narrow section of the summit trail.
Hikers will be allowed to begin their trek to the summit until 12:00 noon but the department will prohibit entry after that time. DLNR State Parks personnel will be stationed at the summit and escort people down starting at 1:00 p.m.
The trail will remain closed for the rest of that day but is expected to reopen Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 6:00 a.m. as normal.
To prevent damage to the Ka‘awaloa shoreline and coral reef and accidental destruction of significant historic and cultural sites by large numbers of visitors, DLNR is now requiring visitors to Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park to receive information and guidance regarding sensitive sites and how to assist in preserving the area during their visit. Information will be provided through a simple permit system for people seeking to land vessels along the Ka‘awaloa shoreline or moor at the wharf adjacent to the Captain Cook Monument in the bay. For information on how to obtain a permit, download the application (above, or contact the State Parks office in Hilo at (808) 974-6200.
NEW NON-RESIDENT ENTRY FEES IMPLEMENTED AT ‘AKAKA FALLS STATE PARK, HAWAII ISLAND
12/15/10 - The Division of State Parks today began charging entry fees for non-residents and commercial tour vehicles going to ‘Akaka Falls State Park. The fee is $5 per car and an attendant will be on duty. Hawai‘i residents who show a local ID will not have to pay a parking fee.
Fees paid by commercial and out-of-state visitors to high traffic parks will help offset the shortfalls currently facing the state parks budget and the need to generate new sources of income to help our park system become more self-sufficient.
Diamond Parking will collect fees for the Division of State Parks. Fees for commercial tour vehicles are as follows: Public Utilities Commission- (PUC) regulated commercial vehicles will pay: 1-7 passenger vehicles: $10.00 per trip; 8-25 passenger vehicles: $20.00 per trip; 26 + passenger vehicles: $40.00 per trip.
STATE PARKS ANNOUNCES NEW POLICY FOR KALALAU TRAIL CAMPING PERMITS WITHIN NAPALI COAST STATE WILDERNESS PARK, KAUAI
5/18/10 - In response to public demand and to promote improved public safety, beginning May 19, 2010, permits for Napali Coast will be issued for Kalalau only, the preferred destination at the end of the 11-mile Kalalau Trail. However, permits for Kalalau will also be valid for camping at Hanakoa, which is located a little beyond the halfway point of the trail, roughly 6 miles in from the trailhead. Permits specifically for Hanakoa will no longer be issued, but hikers are encouraged to stopover and camp at Hanakoa if they possess a valid permit for Kalalau and they feel the need to break up their trek due to such factors as fatigue, inclement weather, or impending darkness.
"We want visitors to be able to enjoy the premiere destination of Kalalau, but offer everyone the option of stopping at Hanakoa if they feel physically unable to make the entire trail in one day, or if conditions may make the full 11-mile trip too hazardous", said Dan Quinn, State Parks Administrator.
This new policy will also take the mystery out of the trip planning process for visitors who are unsure whether they can make the full trail in one clip. This provides the flexibility to stop at Hanakoa or continue on to Kalalau without apprehension regarding the legality of a permit. State Parks recently made permits accessible to the public via the internet, and demand for Kalalau permits has been very high.
Permitted campers are cautioned that the new policy is not a license to camp anywhere along the trail. Hanakoa and Kalalau, which contain facilities to support camping activities, remain the only two authorized areas for camping along the trail. The total number of nights that are allowed for camping in the park is still 5 - so a stopover at Hanakoa, going either direction along the trail, counts as on e of the authorized nights, and therefore reduces the total number of nights permitted at Kalalau.
Previously issued Hanakoa permits remain valid for Hanakoa only, as allowing them to be valid for Kalalau would result in overcrowding.
INVITATION FOR BIDS: PARKING CONCESSION CONTRACT FOR PARKING LOT CONCESSION AT THE IAO VALLEY STATE MONUMENT
IFB No. SP2011IVSM01
The State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, is issuing an Invitation for Bids ("IFB") to qualified parties interested in a Parking Lot Concession of state-owned lands within the IAO VALLEY STATE MONUMENT situated at lao Valley, Maui, Hawaii, pursuant to Chapter 102, Hawaii Revised Statutes. For more information about the IFB, click here.
MALAEKAHANA STATE RECREATION AREA RENOVATIONS TO CAMPING AREAS TO BEGIN OCTOBER 2011
9/9/11 - State Parks will conduct major renovations of the two camping area restrooms at Malaekahana State Recreation Area, Oahu beginning October 2011. The1 0 campsites in camp area B will be closed beginning October 10, 2011.The B side restrooms will be closed for approximately 3 months during the construction. All 27 campsites in Camp Area A will remain open and available for camping during the renovations.
Upon completion of the Area B renovations, the restroom in area A will be renovated, which will result in a partial closure of campsites in Area A. The second phase of renovations is expected to begin in early 2012.
All renovations are expected to be completed prior to the peak Summer season in 2012. We regret any inconvenience this causes to park visitors.
DLNR PREPARING INTERIM MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR KIHOLO STATE PARK RESERVE
Vehicular access restricted during 6-week cleanup of coastal area
9/9/11 - NORTH KONA, HAWAI‘I: The Division of State Parks will conduct an extensive coastal area clean-up of Kiholo State Park Reserve, starting Saturday, October 1, as it prepares for managed vehicular access and camping by permit.
From October 1 to approximately November 17, 2011, the makai gate along Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway (near mile-marker 83) will be closed to vehicular access. Pedestrian access from the highway will be allowed for day use only during this time. By mid-November, 2011, permits for camping at Kiholo State Park Reserve will be available.
The Division of State Parks, in close collaboration and with considerable support from the community non-profit organization Hui Aloha Kiholo, will remove discarded debris and rubbish, install camping area signs at designated campsites, construct and install new gates, install barriers to vehicular access to the beach, and clarify existing footpaths to beach and camping areas.
In 2006 this area was designated as a State Park Reserve – and vehicular access and both day and unauthorized nighttime use increased rapidly.
Camping is currently illegal, and has reached such large proportions, particularly on three-day weekends, that it must either be eliminated or managed, This management action is needed to preserve the natural and cultural resources that made Kiholo ideal to be designated as a State Park Reserve.
Archaeological resources are being degraded due to the public driving on the beach and indiscriminately moving rocks and cutting vegetation for camping. Additionally, The lack of adequate restroom capacity, (there are currently only a few port-potties) has created a human waste and growing public health issue. The public health and safety impacts of irresponsible campers makes intervention now on this pre-existing and unauthorized use critical and necessary.
Under Park Reserve status, the 4,362 acres of land were intended to be simply preserved for the public’s future and day use only until a plan is prepared to determine management and various public uses. A Master Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is now being prepared to guide the Division of State Parks in determining the future public use and management of this valuable public resource. Meetings to gather pubic input to this plan will be conducted in the near future on the island of Hawai‘i. The Master Planning/EIS process has included archeological surveys of the Park reserve – providing documented knowledge that the area has a rich history of significant Hawaiian culture still in place that must be protected.
The interim camping management plan consists of:
• Camping by permit, only on weekends and holidays • Driving on the beach will not be allowed • There will be specific, designated areas to camp (located to avoid impacts to cultural sites). • Permits will be available on-line for a standard fee
Permits will be available at all State Parks offices or online.
NEW ONLINE PERMITTING SYSTEM NOW AVAILABLE
UPDATE 3/22/10- PERMITS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE. Click on the "Online Reservations" button at left of page to access the new system. The system, created by Ehawaii.gov, requires users to set up an account prior to purchasing permits. There is no fee for creating an account, which will allow users to purchase permits for camping and lodging at any time in the future. Purchasing of permits requires a valid credit card.
Hawai‘i’s Division of State Parks (DSP) is pleased to announce our transition to a new and vastly improved camping and cabin permitting system! For full details, click here
NA PALI COAST, KAUA'I - SELECTED CAMPING AREAS AT KALALAU BEACH CLOSED DUE TO ROCKFALL HAZARD
As of November 2010, a portion of the Kalalau campground in the Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park is now permanently closed to camping to protect park users from potential rockfall hazards in this area. The closure was implemented following a rockfall hazard assessment and mitigation project which was conducted in Summer of 2010.
Rockfall hazard and no camping signs have been posted in the Kalalau trail segment now off-limits to camping up to Ho'ole'a Waterfall. The closure affects approximately 16 formerly popular campsites along the trail closest to the waterfall. Returning campers should be aware that some sites they formerly enjoyed are now unsafe and off-limits. Transit through the area is still allowed along the existing trail, however hikers are encouraged not to linger in the area.
A replacement set of composting toilets has been installed centrally within the new designated camping area at Kalalau. Campers are also allowed to set up camp on the sand beach fronting the now closed area, so long as they stay well away from the cliffs. Camping is not allowed beyond the waterfall/stream, including within the cave just west of the waterfall, which remains a hazardous rockfall zone.
