HAENA The Kauai Visitors Bureau is reminding visitors headed to the Garden Island about new rules that have been recently introduced following the reopening of access to Haena State Park, which includes the Kalalau Trail, Hanakapiai Falls and Kee Beach on the North Shore.
HAENA — The Kauai Visitors Bureau is reminding visitors headed to the Garden Island about new rules that have been recently introduced following the reopening of access to Haena State Park, which includes the Kalalau Trail, Hanakapiai Falls and Ke‘e Beach on the North Shore.
This change from the Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks comes after a 14-month closure due to torrential rain and flooding in the area last April. The rules for Haena State Park limits the number of visitors to 900 per day and requires advanced reservations and a permit to enter the park.
“This is a rural community that is still rebuilding following the devastating floods last April and we ask that all visitors in the area be aware of the situation and respect the residents and new rules that have been put in place,” said Sue Kanoho, KVB executive director. “I strongly encourage visitors to familiarize themselves with the new guidelines and to review the Aloha Pledge which provides comprehensive information to ensure they have a positive experience in Haena.”
All visitors to the park, including beach-goers, hikers and others, will be required to make an advanced online reservation prior to entering the park whether they are arriving in a private vehicle, shuttle, walking in by foot or on a bike. Anyone without a confirmed reservation will be denied access to the park and asked to turn around, according to a press release.
With few parking spaces available on the North Shore, and to help reduce congestion on Kuhio Highway by limiting the number of vehicles traveling through, visitors are encouraged to enter by hopping on the North Shore Shuttle. A round-trip reservation ticket, which includes entry into the park needs to be purchased prior to visiting the area. The shuttle runs between Princeville and Haena State Park with stops along the way. To secure a reservation ticket online, visit kauainsshuttle.com.
This article does nothing to explain the requirements for residents and actually contradicts what has been previously published. We visited Haena last week and entered and parked simply by showing my Hawaii Driver’s License. Has this changed now?
Really????????
“All visitors to the park, including beach-goers, hikers and others, will be required to make an advanced online reservation prior to entering the park whether they are arriving in a private vehicle, shuttle, walking in by foot or on a bike. Anyone without a confirmed reservation will be denied access to the park and asked to turn around, according to a press release.”
No mention is made that all State of Hawaii residents do not require advance reservations?
Either the KVB is simply not want out-of-state visitors to realize that locals are treated differently, or TGI is not accurately reporting the press release. Which is it??????????
hahaha -this is the Garden Isle news, accurate, professional journalism isn’t exactly a priority.