Kauai visitors regain access to two major state parks after hurricane closure

Hikers and day-trippers on Kauai can once again enter Kokee and Waimea Canyon State Parks. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) confirmed that both locations reopened at 6 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7. This ends a two-month closure that left many residents and tourists without access to the island's primary recreational corridors.

The parks shut down following Hurricane Lowell, which struck on Sept. 7. The storm felled trees, severed power lines, and blocked roads. It also damaged the water systems serving the parks. State officials estimated that roughly half of the historic recreational cabins suffered damage, with impacts ranging from moderate structural issues to total destruction.

Access is currently partial. All lookouts and restrooms between Waimea Canyon Lookout and Pihea are operational. However, the Kokee Lodge Restaurant and Kokee Museum will not reopen until next week at the earliest. Several hiking trails have also returned to service, including the Nualolo, Waimea Canyon, Iliau Nature Loop, and Pihea trails. The Awawapuhi Trail remains open only to the first mile marker.

State Parks Administrator Alan Carpenter described the scene upon returning to the area. “The amount of devastation to the forest landscape and our parks was shocking to see,” Carpenter said. The Kokee campground remains closed while planned upgrades resume. Other sections, including Kohua Ridge, Po’omau Canyon, Kawaikoi Stream, and Kuilau trails, are still off-limits.

DLNR crews continue to assess the remaining damage and plan additional repairs. The department is working to restore full functionality to the parks, but no specific date has been set for the completion of all projects.