Kalalau Fees Increase by More Than 66% for Residents, 40% for Non-Residents

Kalalau Beach, part of Na Pali Coast State Park.

Starting this Friday, camping and entry fees for state parks, including Kalalau, will have a substantial increase across the board.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced on a press release Thursday that camping fees along the Kalalau Trail within Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park, “Hawaiʻiʻs largest State Park with arguably the greatest set of management challenges, will go up from $15 and $25 per night, to $25 and $35 per night for residents and non-residents, respectively.”

For residents, this represents an increase of more than 66 percent for daily camping fees at Kalalau, while non-residents will have a smaller increase, only 40 percent.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources approved the higher fees in August. Following a public hearing, the fee schedule was signed into law by Gov. David Ige last week, according to the DLNR news release.

Out-of-state park visitors will now pay $10 per vehicle and $5 for walk-ins at eight parks on the four major islands. Previously fees were $5 per vehicle and $1 for walk-in visitors. That’s a 100 percent increase for vehicles, and a 500 percent increase for walk-ins. Commercial entry for vans and tour buses are also being raised, with fees now ranging from $15 to $90 depending on location and passenger capacity.

Camping and lodging fees will also see increases. Residents will now pay $20 per night for tent campsites, while the non-resident rate is set at $30 per night. New lodging rates will range from $40 per night for an A-Frame shelter at Hāpuna Beach State Recreation area ($70 for non-residents) to $70/night for cabins in various parks ($100 for non-residents). That’s a 75 percent increase for residents, and a 43 percent increase for non-residents.

Under the rule change, Hawaiʻi residents will no longer pay to enter Diamond Head State Monument on Oʻahu. Parking and entrance fees to all State Parks for Hawaiʻi residents are free.

Hawaiʻi State Park entry fees have not been increased for the past 20 years, and camping and lodging rates were last increased more than a decade ago, according to DLNR.

“Though the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in drastic reductions in the number of visitors coming to Hawaiʻi, we hope these additional fees will help to offset some of our severe revenue losses incurred by State Parks as Hawaiʻi gradually reopens. Some of our most heavily visited parks will remain closed due to coronavirus concerns. This further hampers revenue generation as we all struggle with the economic impacts of the pandemic,” said  DLNR Division of State Parks Administrator Curt Cottrell.