All state land and parks on Kauaʻi that are overseen by the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources will remain closed to the public into the foreseeable future due to widespread damage from Hurricane Lowell, according to a state news release.
This includes NāPali Coast State Wilderness Park, Waimea Canyon State Park, Hāʻena State Park, Polihale State Park, Nu’alolo Kai State Park, Wailua River State Park and Kōkeʻe State park.
The public is especially urged to avoid Kōke‘e State Park and Kōke‘e Road, where many catastrophic, unmitigated hazards exist throughout the landscape.
Since Lowell struck on Labor Day, DLNR teams have assisted with checking leased cabins and clearing paths for individuals who were unable to leave because of significant fallen trees on interior unimproved park access roads. Anyone who can and wants to leave the area is now able to do so.
“Those on-site have described the devastation at Kōke‘e State Park as ‘unreal’ and there is still a long way to go toward restoration of public access,” said Dave Day, first deputy director of DLNR, in a news release.
Day said the state parks and public lands will reopen as soon as it is safe.
Trees have fallen across Waimea Canyon Drive, Kokeʻe Road and across virtually all internal park dirt roads that access facilities, including approximately 100 leased recreational cabins.
The state Division of State Parks has closed the road into Kōkeʻe State Park as part of the total park closure. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation also closed the Waimea Canyon Road above the lower junction.
Following reports of people disregarding the closure and trying to access the cabins, officers with the state Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement have been posted at the junction of Kōkeʻe Road and Waimea Canyon Road, maintaining a 24/7 roadblock, controlling traffic and access.
Access is allowed during daytime hours up to 6 p.m. for people who have legitimate business. All others continue to be denied entry by officers.
Although one lane of the main road has been cleared for critical emergency access and to assess damage, many trees are still down along the road and side roads remain largely unpassable. Power and water utilities have not been restored and cell service is limited. Road clearing may require many more weeks.
