Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources recently launched a spruced up website loaded with great information on Hawaii’s State Parks. Here’s how to use this resource to help you with your vacation plans.
Finding the State Parks
It’s easy to find the state parks for Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, and the Big Island with the interactive island maps. On each individual park page, you can find out much more about the significance of the park, hours of operation, and if there are facilities like restrooms and picnic tables, etc.
Learning Hawaii’s History and Culture
This section of the website is chocked full of information of which parks to visit to learn about life in ancient Hawaii.
Finding the Hiking Trails
You’ll find great hiking advice that is written specifically for Hawaii’s trails. You’ll find a listing of the trails maintained by the state in interactive maps. Here are the trail guides for Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island.
Camping and other State Park Lodging
Here, you’ll learn where you can camp as well as the permit process and fees required. You’ll find information for lodging in cabins at Hawaii’s state parks. For example, you can stay in a cabin at the Kokee State Park on Kauai.
Park Rules & Health and Safety
Before you visit Hawaii’s state parks, you should review the park rules and learn about the unique safety circumstance.
(We took the above photo at Waianapanapa State Park on Maui.)
Sheila Beal
6 comments
Thanks Sheila! This is great information that visitors and people that live here can use. Be advised that not all of the state parks are in good repair, for example the water fountain may be broken so you should have a bottle of water handy.
Thanks for news on the new site. Looks like it’s definitely worth checking out. It is very nicely done, as well.
Hi HVG – thanks for that heads up about something not working. For the most part, I’ve found that the state park facilities are in good condition…especially considering that they are sometimes very remote….now the beach park facilities that’s a different story. I’ve found that some of the beach parks tend to be a bit run down. I’m not sure who operates them, but they’re not part of the state park system….at least from the state parks listed on their website.
Hi Kris – yeah, I thought the website was nicely done, too….good design, nicely organized, and very informative.
Hi Sheila,
Many of the beach parks are operated by the counties. Here’s Maui Counties parks website: http://www.co.maui.hi.us/parks/
David
Thanks David.