Kalalau Trail Reopens After Inspection Finds Less Storm Damage Than Expected

Ten people were cited for trespassing on the Kalalau Trail the same day a four-person state crew walked the route from Hanakoa to Kalalau and cleared it for reopening, the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources announced March 18. None of the ten held valid permits, according to DLNR.

Two officers from the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement accompanied the State Parks crew during the inspection, which was prompted by the Kona low storm that struck Kauaʻi County and the rest of the state the prior week. The crew found that "the trail did not get as much damage as anticipated" and dug out what DLNR described as the normal areas, ultimately declaring the 11-mile trail to be in "normal Kalalau trail conditions." The trail reopened the following morning, March 19.

The Kalalau Trail, originally built in the late 1800s, remains one of the few land routes to the Nā Pali Coast and draws hikers from around the world. Access requires either a day-use reservation or a valid camping permit combined with a parking reservation.

Not all of Kauaʻi's state parks emerged from the storm as intact. Polihale State Park remained closed as of March 16 due to ongoing mud and debris removal, with no reopening date announced. Pāʻulaʻula State Historic Site was separately closed for construction. Kōkeʻe State Park, Waimea Canyon State Park, and Wailua River State Park were all reported open.

Hāʻena State Park carried the most complicated status among the affected sites. Day-use visitors and overnight campers could enter, but overnight campers were barred from traveling past Hanakapiai Valley, permitted only as far as Hanakapiai Falls. DLNR said it planned to post a sign on the trail beyond Hanakapiai Beach and that a survey of that segment was scheduled for March 18, with a follow-up notification to come after the assessment.

Work at state and county parks across Kauaʻi continued in the days after the storm, with crews removing debris and repairing damage caused by the Kona low.