Hā‘ena State Park on the Hawaiian island of Kaua‘i reopened to visitors on October 15, 39 days after it was closed ahead of Hurricane Lowell.
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it → reopen → Lowell
While visitors can return to the park and resume some day hikes, overnight camping and hiking beyond the first two miles of the Kalalau Trail remain prohibited until further notice.
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camping → return → notice
, the park was closed on September 6 because of safety concerns as Hurricane Lowell approached.
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Lowell → close → concerns
The closure was extended to allow staff to assess hazards and complete repairs before allowing visitors back.
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staff → extend → visitors
The reopening brings back access to one of Kaua‘i’s popular coastal destinations, but restrictions remain in place as recovery work continues across the island’s state parks.
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work → bring → parks
What visitors can access after the reopening
According to the DLNR announcement published on October 13, Hā‘ena State Park will be open daily from 7 am to 6:45 pm, including holidays, unless an emergency closure is announced.
uncertain
closure → access → holidays
Shuttle services to the park also resumed on October 15.
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services → resume → October
Visitors can once again undertake day-use hikes to Hanakāpīʻai Beach and Valley, as well as Hanakāpīʻai Falls.
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Visitors → undertake → Beach
However, two restrictions remain.
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restrictions → remain → ?
Overnight camping is closed, and hikers cannot continue beyond the two-mile point along the Kalalau Trail.
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hikers → close → Trail
Both restrictions will remain in place until further notice.
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restrictions → remain → notice
The park also provides access to Kē‘ē Beach and the trail leading towards Hanakāpīʻai Beach and Falls.
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park → provide → Beach
Visitors planning a trip should check the
official park conditions page before travelling.
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Visitors → plan → page
Park staff removed damaged trees before reopening
Entrance fee: $5 per person for out-of-state visitors.
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staff → remove → visitors
Children aged three and under enter free.
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Children → enter → ?
The closure was extended beyond the initial safety shutdown to give park personnel time to inspect hazards and carry out repairs.
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closure → extend → repairs
In its October 13 announcement, DLNR State Parks Administrator Alan Carpenter credited park staff and community partners Hui Makaʻāinana o Makana and the Hanalei Initiative with helping restore access.
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Carpenter → credit → access
“Park staff and our partners Hui Makaʻāinana o Makana and the Hanalei Initiative worked diligently to get this iconic state park and trail back open for public use following this devastating storm,” Carpenter said.
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Carpenter → work → storm
The department said the decision to reopen was made in consultation with community leaders, balancing public safety and the needs of the local community.
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decision → say → community
Around 50 local jobs depend on the park
The reopening also has an economic dimension.
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reopening → depend → dimension
According to Carpenter, Hā‘ena State Park supports about 50 local jobs.
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Park → accord → jobs
He noted that the community had previously experienced a much longer closure after severe flooding in 2018, when Hā‘ena State Park and Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park were shut from April 2018 to June 2019.
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Park → note → June
The 2026 reopening, he said, followed a careful and collaborative decision with community leaders.
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he → say → leaders
Entry fees and reservations for visitors
The DLNR has also clarified the entry rules for residents and visitors from outside Hawaii.
Hawaii residents:
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DLNR → clarify → Hawaii
Entry is free with a Hawaii driver's licence or state-issued identification.
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Entry → issue → licence
Residents do not need reservations for day passes.
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Residents → need → passes
Thirty parking spaces are reserved for residents, and everyone in the vehicle must show Hawaii identification.
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everyone → reserve → identification
Advance reservations are required through the
Go Hā‘ena website.
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reservations → require → website
Children aged three and under enter free.
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Children → age → ?
Out-of-state parking reservations cost $10 per vehicle.
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reservations → cost → vehicle
Visitors should confirm availability and access conditions before setting out, particularly if they intend to hike beyond the sections that have reopened.
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that → confirm → sections
Other Kaua‘i parks remain closed or restricted
Hā‘ena is not the only park affected by storm-related disruption.
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Hā‘ena → close → disruption
In its October 13 update, DLNR said Kōke‘e and Waimea Canyon state parks would remain closed until further notice because of extensive damage.
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parks → say → damage
Other Kaua‘i state parks also remained closed to visitation and camping, subject to the department's latest notices.
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parks → remain → notices
At Wailua River State Park, access to the river, designated landing area and trailhead is permitted, but individual kayakers cannot enter Fern Grotto.
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kayakers → designate → Grotto
Hiking beyond the trailhead remains prohibited, and access to Uluwehi Falls, also known as Secret Falls, is still closed.
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access → hike → Falls
The department said refunds would be credited to visitors who missed park days, camping or lodging because of storm-related closures.
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who → say → closures
Refund processing may take two to three weeks.
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processing → take → weeks
The reopening of Hā‘ena State Park restores access to its beaches and some hiking routes, but it does not mean every trail or camping area is ready for use.
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trail → restore → use
Visitors should follow the remaining restrictions and consult official notices for changes.
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Visitors → follow → changes
The Aporia
