STATE & NATION TRAVEL · news
Hā‘ena plans October 15 reopening, with longer Kalalau hikes still closed
By Bob LePage · Published October 14, 2026
Kaua‘i's north-shore park will restore day use and shuttle access, but a park reservation will not reopen the longer coastal hiking route.
Official announcement: Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources · October 13, 2026
Hā‘ena State Park is scheduled to welcome visitors again on October 15, Hawai‘i's Department of Land and Natural Resources announced in an October 13 release. Day hikes to Hanakāpīʻai Beach, Valley and Falls can resume, but overnight camping and travel beyond the Kalalau Trail's two-mile point remain prohibited until further notice.
The park closed September 6 ahead of Hurricane Lowell. DLNR says subsequent hazard checks and repairs extended the shutdown. The announced reopening does not restore access to every Kaua‘i state park.
What Travelers Need to Know
Hours beginning October 15 are 7 a.m.–6:45 p.m.; shuttle service resumes that day. Nonresidents must book through Go Hā‘ena. Residents with Hawai‘i identification do not need day-use reservations; DLNR says everyone in a vehicle using resident parking must show state ID.
Check the cost before paying: DLNR lists $5 admission, free entry for children 3 and under, and $10 vehicle parking. Go Hā‘ena's current FAQ instead lists $20 per car per time slot plus $5 admission per person. Those parking figures do not agree; confirm the applicable total with the booking service.
Read current park notices before departure. Do not plan a longer Kalalau hike or overnight stay on the strength of the day-use reopening.
About the Location
Hā‘ena occupies the end of Kūhiō Highway on Kaua‘i's north shore. Its restored taro fields and Kēʻē Beach sit beside the trailhead for the 11-mile Kalalau route into Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park. That makes the park both a destination in its own right and the starting point for a much longer coastal journey.
Flooding shut Hā‘ena and Nāpali parks from April 2018 to June 2019. The state's subsequent management changes introduced daily visitor limits and advance reservations to reduce pressure on the rural community and park resources. This week's reopening restores only the shorter day-use portion of that visitor experience.