In the last couple of years, fees to visit Hawaii state parks have gone up considerably. Many that used to be free for everyone to visit now have a fee for both parking and entry. These fees are required for non-residents only as Hawaii state residents are exempt.
It was only back in October 2020 when many new or increased parking fees went into effect for Hawaii state parks. (You can read our coverage of those fees here.) Now, effective April 19, 2021, new entrance fees have gone into effect on top of those new or increased parking fees.
The increasing rate an implementation of new fees has been a bit fast. For example, on March 1, 2021, a brand new parking fee and reservation system was instituted for non-Hawaii visitors at Waianapanapa State Park off the road to Hana. That parking reservation fee is $10. Now, effective April 19, 2021, non-resident visitors must pay $5 per person to enter the park on top of the parking fee. So, for example, a couple from the mainland who want to visit Wai’anapanapa must pay $20 to visit — that’s $10 for a parking fee plus $5 per person entrance fee. That’s a substantial increase in less than two months, when, prior to March 1, 2021, it was free for all to visit.
Here’s a list of all the Hawaii state parks that just implemented a new entrance fee effective April 2021:
Kauai
- Ha’ena – this park requires pre-paid reservations as well.
- Kokee & Waimea Canyon – the same parking and entrance fees apply for both of these adjacent parks.
Oahu
- Diamond Head
- Nu’uanu Pali Lookout – per their website, the parking fee has gone up to $7 per non-resident vehicle. It appears that a per person entrance fee is not required.
Maui
- Iao Valley
- Wai’anapanapa – as previously noted, this park requires a reservation as well.
Hawaii (Big) Island
With the exception of Nu’uanu Pali Lookout, all the other listed parks have added a $5 per person entrance fee. These parks have different methods and processes for payment, so check their official pages for their policies. In the above list, we have linked to the official state park pages.
We’ve been covering Hawaii travel for 15 years and we remember when all these state parks, except Diamond Head, were free for anyone to visit. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be busy updating all our articles about these parks to add entrance fee information.
Sheila Beal
5 comments
This is gouging tourists. The taxes on lodging and car rentals already are some of the highest in the United States. Having to pay multiple fees every time you go to one of these beaches? No thanks.
We were surprised to find these fees ($20 for a couple) on the Big Island (at Hapuna Beach and also Beach 69 nearby). Since the fees only apply to non-residents it doesn’t feel very welcoming – like saying they don’t want us there. $20 is a lot considering we usually only spend a short time (30-60 min) at the beach. Not worth it to us. For a group of 4 it would be $30, or for a group of 6 it’d be $40! Fortunately there are still free beaches.
This is insane! I am from Greece and there are no fees to access any beach whatsoever. Not even a parking fee! I’ve been to Hawaii 4 times and during my recent visit in Maui I found out as I got there that we had to pay $30 to enter Makena beach. The annoying part was that the only facilities available were porta potties at the entrance. No showers, no changing rooms. Get yourself together Hawaii!
I was shouted at and threatened by an attendant as my family and I were walking to the beach. I approached the angry attendant to find out that it wasnt a obnoxious homeless person, just a state employee hired to act beligerant to visitors who didnt know they need to pay. I paid the fee. Never felt less welcome on the island of Aloha. No signs indicate the need to pay, just angry rangers. Most peole just walk by not paying. Here I thought that access to beaches was a human right in the US. I thought there’s a reason that resorts can’t purchase beaches and charge to visit. Apparently the state can do whatever it wants.
There are over 10,000,000 visitors a year to Hawaii. I believe it is a great way to generate income to maintain infrastructure. Plus maintaining said beaches, so many tourists have really beaten many of the natural resources in the ground.