Kauai County Temporarily Closes Kekaha and Waimea Park Facilities for Remediation

The Department of Parks and Recreation announces temporary closures of several Kekaha and Waimea parks facilities due to remediation work. Tennis, pickleball and handball courts at Kekaha Neighborhood Center Park and the basketball court at Kekaha Faye Park will be temporarily closed from March 3 to July 30, weather permitting. Basketball courts at Waimea Athletic Field will be temporarily closed from April 13 to Aug. 22, weather permitting.

Work at the closed facilities will include court resurfacing; painting; sport striping; replacing sport implements such as basketball posts, backboards, rim with net, tennis court posts and nets; fence work; and installing windscreens along the fences.

Residents with questions about the closures can contact the Kaua‘i County Department of Parks & Recreation at 808-241-4460 or by email at parks@kauai.gov. The county press material identifies Parks & Recreation as the source of the announcement and lists those phones and email addresses for more information.

Construction is scheduled to proceed "weather permitting" and nearby road and utility projects may affect access. The Department of Water and contractor Hawaiian Dredging Company Inc. extended Kawaihau Road utility and excavation work through May 2026 along Kawaihau Road from Kapuni Road at Kapahi Park to near the Kapahi Road intersection. A single lane closure on Kawaihau Road is possible in either direction, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays only, and parking is not permitted in the designated work zones. The Kapaa Homesteads Tanks Project will build two 0.5 million-gallon storage tanks for a total of 1 million gallons, include storm drain improvements and install about 1,700 linear feet of water lines. Project contacts are Chansen Oshiro, Hawaiian Dredging Company Inc., 808-397-9627, and Scott Suga, Department of Water, 808-245-5411; email inquiries may be sent to publicrelations@kauaiwater.org.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation notifies road users of the daily full closure of the Waimea Canyon Drive (Route 550) between Panini Place and mile post 3.2 from Monday, March 2 through Friday, March 6, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There will be a single lane closure from March 9 to March 31, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., for striping. Alternating traffic will be directed in the open lane, variable message boards are posted, and HDOT Public Affairs can be reached at 808-587-2160.

State Parks work overlaps in some locations; DLNR advises that "Local visitors are encouraged to enjoy these parks and lookouts on weekends, when most work will be suspended," while also noting that "Waimea Canyon Lookout will be closed for the duration of the project including weekends." DLNR previously posted that "Beginning July 14, 2025, Waimea Canyon Lookout with be closed for construction of safety improvements, anticipated OPENING on January 9, 2026," a separate schedule that may affect parking and visitor patterns during other projects.

All closures and timelines are listed as weather permitting; visitors and organized groups should follow posted signs and the directions of flaggers at work zones. "Parks and Recreation thanks the public for its patience and understanding while the facilities are closed.