HANALEI — The Hanalei Initiative announced Wednesday the launch of the Kauai North Shore Shuttle. It will begin running with the reopening of Kuhio Highway to the general public.
The highway beyond Hanalei is set to reopen without restrictions 5 a.m. Monday, according to the Hawaii Department of Transportation.
The shuttle will offer service for residents and visitors from Princeville and Waipa to Haena State Park and back, with stops in between.
“The April 2018 flood gave the North Shore communities an amazing opportunity to rethink and redesign systems to manage visitor traffic to preserve our natural resources and improve the quality of life for our residents,” said Joel Guy, executive director of The Hanalei Initiative. “The development and launch of the Kauai North Shore Shuttle is one component towards that effort.”
Riders entering Haena State Park will need to make a round-trip reservation at kauaiNSshuttle.com. The reservation site will go live Monday.
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 Haena State Park.
Visitors staying in Princeville will depart from the Princeville Makai Golf Club shuttle transfer station. These riders should consider options to be transferred to and from PMGC as there is limited paid parking.
Visitors staying elsewhere on Kauai will depart from the Waipa Park &Ride (past Hanalei Town) which will provide free parking.
Riders with reservations — who are boarding the shuttle at their appointed time and location — will be accommodated first, followed by other first-come first-serve Hop-On pass riders.
A Hop-On pass alone does not allow a visitor to enter Haena 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 Haena State Park. It is recommended that state residents purchase a full fare reservation ticket to ensure a seat at a selected time, according to a press release.
The shuttle operator contract has been awarded to Polynesian Adventure Tours and the ticketing/reservations system is powered by SmartStubs.
Nonresidents planning to access the area after restrictions are lifted are reminded that a “no parking” zone has been established between Haena Place and Kee Beach. Parking along Kuhio Highway in this zone could result in fines of $200 plus an additional $200 surcharge.
Access to Haena State Park is by reservation. Info: www.hanaleiinitiative.org
What does “the ability to get on and off” actually mean? It sounds Ike those of us who use wheelchairs will not be allowed to access the shuttle.
Hard to make than any more user unfriendly and complicated.
Wouldn’t it be better to call Uber or Lyft and take the ride for half the price?
Taxation with greedy repression.
How much is the tax payers funding this project that will benefit the tourism industry in one specific area? While the company get to collect ridiculous per person fees.
This is just like the Koloa Marathon, that is funded by the taxpayers and the one greedy person who collects over $100,000 for a one day event.
This is what happens when you have plantation mentality rule the island of Kauai. The county should just bring back the Europeans to run the island but the funny thing is that they never left and those who call themselves locals are a disgrace for the schemes that they run to force the families and communities of Kauai support their lobbyist projects.
Taxes, taxes, get your more taxes heah. Come and get more taxes
The fees to park at beautiful Haena State Park are marginal, acceptable and makes us all accountable for the welfare of this paradise we are privileged to see. If you don’t want to pay, stay away, knuckleheads
gradylady17@yahoo.com
Does each person in a family have to make a separate reservation for the shuttle and a separate reservation for the park? That means it will cost a family of five $55 to take the shuttle and however much the entry fee to the park will be…I have been coming to Kauai twice a year for ten years and although I understand the idea behind the new rules, I am afraid it will be too costly to do the things that I love most about going there. I feel like I love the place as much as a resident does, but this is taking some of the joy and
spontaneity out of going.
One of the 4 shuttles in route has an ADA lift for wheel chairs. Please click the ADA option when purchasing your ticket so we can make sure we got you. Residents pay $2 to go anywhere or you can use a Kauai Bus pass. Visitors pay $11 for shuttle access into Ha’ena State Park or $2 for any other shuttle ride to any other stop. Sorry for confusion, but it is a little confusing especially to start. We are working to launch the reservation page asap as this should help clarify things.
I guess I’m just confused on what locals can do. Can they drive themselves in their own car if they dont have a pass?