Shuttle reservations begin with highway reopening
HANALEI — The Hanalei Initiative launched the Kauai North Shore Shuttle upon Monday’s re-opening of the Waipa–Ha‘ena portion of Kuhio Highway to the general public.
The Hanalei Initiative began taking shuttle reservations via kauaiNSshuttle.com, with the actual shuttle starting date scheduled for Friday.
The KNSS will offer scheduled shuttle service for Kauai residents and visitors from Princeville and Waipa to Ha‘ena State Park and back, with stops in between.
Visitors entering Ha‘ena State Park will need to make a roundtrip reservation via the KNSS online system. An introductory $11 roundtrip fare includes a reserved seat at an appointed time and place of departure, the ability to get on and off at all stops (with an included Hop-On day pass) and entry to Ha‘ena State Park.
Residents pay $2 to go anywhere on the shuttle. Residents can also use a Kauai Bus pass to ride the shuttle. If a resident wants to take the shuttle into Ke‘e, they would pay $2 and show their Hawaii ID as they exit in the park.
Visitors staying in Princeville will depart from the Princeville Makai Golf Club shuttle transfer station.
Visitors staying elsewhere on Kauai will depart from the Waipa park and ride (past Hanalei town), which has free parking.
Riders with reservations who are boarding the shuttle at their appointed time and location will be accommodated first, followed by other Hop-On pass riders.
A Hop-On pass alone does not allow a visitor to enter Ha‘ena State Park. A reservation ticket for park entry is required for all visitors.
However, Hawaii residents can use a Hop-On pass and their Hawaii ID for entry to Ha‘ena State Park. It is recommended that state residents purchase a full-fare reservation ticket to ensure a seat at a selected time.
This article omits the fairly major problem that there presently is no overnight parking at the shuttle stops, so anyone who wants to backpack the Kalalau coast has nowhere to legally park.
I think all back country permit holders for the Kalalau trail should be given an option to overnight park at the golf course. Not allowing such a thing will only contribute to the island’s drop in tourism. The trail is a big draw to backpackers.