The Maui News
Following a 9-month closure for slope stabilization work, one of the most popular parks in the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks system is scheduled to reopen on May 1.
The reopening of Iao Valley will also mark the fourth Hawaii state park to require advance reservations for out-of-state visitors.
Nonresident reservations are already necessary at Ha’ena State Park on Kauai, Diamond Head State Monument on Oahu, and at Wai’anapanapa State Park on Maui.
DSP Assistant Administrator Alan Carpenter hopes that with the addition of a reservation system at Iao, and other parks slated to have them in the future, visitors will know well in advance of arriving in Hawaii that they’ll need reservations at some of the most popular parks.
“It’s been four years since we began booking reservations at Ha’ena State Park. The complaints from those who fail to secure them have steadily decreased and we expect with the addition of ‘Iao reservations people will become more aware of the requirement.” Carpenter said in a news release. “The true silver lining to these systems is the ability for local residents to return to these spaces they felt pushed out of for years by throngs of tourists.”
Advance reservations for Iao State Monument open today, two weeks prior to the scheduled park reopening.
All Hawaii State Parks day-use reservations can be made at https://gostateparks.hawaii.gov.
The parking fee is $10 per vehicle. The additional nonresident entrance fee is $5 per person, with no charge for children under three years of age.
There are separate fees for commercial vehicles.
Hawaii residents with a valid driver’s license or State ID continue to get into all of the state parks free of charge.
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