Kōkeʻe and Waimea Canyon State Parks Reopen After Hurricane Lowell

Kōkeʻe and Waimea Canyon State Parks reopened at 6 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, following extensive damage from Hurricane Lowell.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) reported that all state parks, lookouts, and comfort stations between the Waimea Canyon lookout and Pihea are now accessible to the public.

While the gates are open, visitors should prepare for limited amenities. The Kōkeʻe Lodge Restaurant and the Kōkeʻe Museum are not expected to reopen until next week at the earliest.

The storm, which battered the central uplands of Kauaʻi on September 7, damaged the region's infrastructure. According to the DLNR, the hurricane left roads blocked, snapped power poles, and downed lines, while also rendering the parks’ water system inoperable.

“The amount of devastation to the forest landscape and our parks was shocking to see,” said DLNR State Parks Administrator Alan Carpenter. “Yet, equally impressive was the amazing recovery effort made by our staff, working tirelessly dawn ’til dusk, freeing trapped tenants and visitors and reopening roads so contractors could follow up with major repairs to the electrical grid. This was truly a kākou affair.”

The impact on the local mountain community is substantial. An estimated 50 percent of the historic recreational cabins sustained damage, with impacts ranging from moderate to a complete loss of the structures.

Kokee, Waimea Canyon State Parks reopen after Hurricane Lowell damage https://t.co/JYf6VFYDf7

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The 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp in Kōkeʻe State Park also suffered storm damage. Parks staff and the leaseholder community are currently conducting damage assessments to determine the strategies needed for both short-term and long-term repairs to these historic facilities.

In the immediate aftermath of the storm, DLNR parks and forestry staff cleared downed trees to open arteries for contractors and Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative personnel to repair the electrical grid.

While many areas are accessible, several specific locations and trails remain closed to the public. The DLNR is also resuming planned upgrades to the Kōkeʻe campground, which will remain closed during this period.

Usa hawaii kauai overlook over the waimea canyon

The following trails are now open:

Nuʻalolo Trail
Awaʻawapuhi Trail (open to the first mile marker)
Waimea Canyon Trail
Iliau Nature Loop
Pihea Trail

However, the following areas remain off-limits:

Category	Closed Locations/Units
Hunting Units	A, L
Forest Reserves	Puʻu Ka Pele Forest Reserve (Western Ridge Section, including Makaha Pine Forest Drive, West Ridge Roads, and Contour Road)
Campgrounds	Wiliwili, Kauluhaulu, Hipalau, Lonomea, Waialae
Trails	Kohua Ridge, Poʻomau Canyon, Kawaikoi Stream, Kukui (from 1.75 down to the river), Kuilau, Kuamoʻo Bridge, Okolehau

For further updates on park status and specific facility availability, the Kōkeʻe State Park and Waimea Canyon State Park official pages provide the most current information from the state.

The recovery of these central upland parks remains a complex task as crews balance the reopening of public access with the necessity of repairing a heavily damaged electrical and water infrastructure.