New parking procedures

KOKEE — Paid parking at Waimea Canyon and Kokee state parks rolled out with mild confusion, as visitors are learning how to use the system, according to community members in the area.

“From my observation the first day and (from) comments staff heard in the museum, visitors are not having problems,” said Chris Faye, manager of Kokee Museum.

Summer, weekends and the opening of plum season in Kokee are attracting both local and visitor traffic to the area, and paid parking is something new this year, introduced at about the same time as the reopening of Haena State Park.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources cited a need to help supplement the Division of State Parks budget, which lost money when they had to cancel and refund camping permits for Kalalau and Hanakapiai.

Hawaii residents who show a valid state ID don’t have to pay the parking or entry fees at Haena, Waimea Canyon or Kokee State Park.

Visitors are now being charged $5 to park in Haena State Park, and that fee is paid online when a parking space is booked at gohaena.com. If a non-resident chooses to be dropped off at Haena State Park without parking a vehicle, cost is $1.

Entrance to the Haena State Park via shuttle costs $11 for visitors.

The cost for parking at Waimea Canyon and Kokee state parks is $5 per car, and State Parks is only charging for parking at four lookouts: Waimea Canyon Lookout, Puu Hina Hina, Kalalau Lookout, and Pu‘u o Kila.

Visitors on motorcycles and mopeds, as well as pedestrians, will be charged $1 at the parking meter.

Payment is taken through ticket machines that are stationed at the four locations, and parking attendants are supposed to be stationed at the machines, though reports from the area say attendants aren’t where they’re supposed to be at all times, yet.

The ticket machines have been compared to vending machines that spit out a ticket with a date and time stamp. Put that ticket on your dash.

Machines and attendants don’t take cash, though, so it’s important to have a credit or debit card ready for parking.

Faye and others who frequent the area say that most of the visitors are paying for parking, but say there’s still a few holes in the system.

“There are still some small details that need to be ironed out for residents,” Faye said. “First of all, they do not have to pay to visit these attractions but need to have proof of residency. Also for visitors, the ticket machines and attendants don’t take cash, so make sure you have a credit/debit card on hand.”

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Jessica Else, environment reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.