Kokee Lodge announced Friday on Facebook and Instagram that Kokee State Park will reopen Saturday, November 7, after a two-month closure following Hurricane Lowell. So why is there a question mark in our title? As of Friday evening, the state has not announced the park’s reopening on its website, and we have not been able to confirm that Saturday’s opening is official.
The Lodge also announced plans to reopen Thursday, November 12. The announcement follows weeks of work to clear storm damage and restore access and utility services in the upper mountain area.
The timing is especially unfortunate for the 38th Annual Eo e Emalani Festival, normally held in Kokee State Park. With no reopening date announced, organizers had already moved Saturday’s celebration to the Grand Hyatt Kauai in Poipu, only for Kokee Lodge to announce Friday that the park is expected to reopen on the very same day.
Since Waimea Canyon Lookout reopened on October 24, visitors have not been able to go beyond that viewpoint. Our earlier report on Kauai’s park reopenings documented the remaining closures, including the upper lookouts toward Kalalau Valley. The lodge’s announcement doesn’t specify whether Kalalau Lookout, Puu o Kila, Puu Hinahina, or the hiking trails will reopen Saturday.
DLNR’s Kokee State Park notice, last updated November 2, however, still lists Kokee Road as closed until further notice, with access limited only as far as Waimea Canyon Lookout. HDOT’s road-status page also restricts travel beyond that point to local traffic, although its update dates back to October 2.
Kokee Lodge is the state’s park concessionaire, but neither agency has publicly confirmed Saturday’s reopening. The notices may be outdated, but visitors should check current conditions before driving, especially if they’re planning to hike.
In September, we reported on extensive tree damage across Kokee’s interior roads and routes. One lane of the main road was cleared for emergency access, while many side roads remained impassable and power and water were still out. Crews initially concentrated on reaching people and restoring essential access, long before Kauai visitors could return.
We’ve made this drive many times over the years, including for our firsthand coverage of the lookout closures last summer. Waimea Canyon Lookout is a memorable stop, but it isn’t the same outing as continuing into Kokee’s forests and the overlooks above Kalalau Valley. The climb eventually reaches roughly 4,000 feet, where cooler air and clouds can change the view spontaneously. We’ll head up shortly to check access firsthand and share what we find.
Kokee Lodge is aiming to reopen separately on Thursday, November 12, five days after the announced park reopening. Its announcement mentions welcoming guests back for cornbread and cabin stays, although it doesn’t confirm which services will be operating that day. When we tried to book cabin reservations, the first available date was December 1. Kokee State Park camping remains closed for improvements scheduled through spring 2027.
We’ll be going up to Waimea Canyon and Kokee within the next week and will update this post. If you get there before we do, please share your experience. Mahalo!
Lead Photo Credit: © Beat of Hawaii.
By Rob and Jeff, Beat of Hawaii.
Some of Hawaii’s most meaningful parts are the ones visitors walk right past without knowing they are there. We’ve spent nearly 20 years finding them firsthand for BOH as full-time Hawaii residents reporting on travel, culture, and island life, and telling you what they mean for your trip. Join us →
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