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Short answer: Not fully. Hawaii State Parks says Waimea Canyon and Kōke‘e State Parks remain closed until further notice after Hurricane Lowell, and Kōke‘e Road beyond the Waimea Canyon Drive junction is open to local traffic only. When the park reopens, non-residents pay $5 per person plus $10 per car.
Status, October 19, 2026: Hawaii State Parks (October 13 notice): “Kōke‘e and Waimea Canyon State Parks remain closed until further notice due to extensive damage.” HDOT’s road status page (October 2 update) says the junction of Kōke‘e Road and Waimea Canyon Drive is open, and Kōke‘e Road beyond it is open to local traffic only. Check both pages the day you plan to drive.
Waimea Canyon Drive (Route 550) climbs from Kauai’s west side to the canyon lookouts of Waimea Canyon State Park and on to Kōke‘e. It is one of the best drives on the island in normal times. Right now, after Hurricane Lowell, the state parks at the top are closed.
What’s open right now
- Waimea Canyon State Park and Kōke‘e State Park: closed until further notice (DLNR, October 13).
- Kōke‘e Road: DLNR says it remains closed until further notice. HDOT says the junction with Waimea Canyon Drive reopened October 2 and the road beyond is open to local traffic only. Either way, visitors can’t drive through to the lookouts.
- Kōke‘e camping: separately closed for campground improvements from May 2026 through spring 2027.
In short, don’t plan a Waimea Canyon lookout day until DLNR lifts the closure.
Fees once it reopens
From the Waimea Canyon State Park page:
| Who | Entry | Parking |
|---|---|---|
| Non-residents | $5 per person (children 3 and under free) | $10 per vehicle |
| Hawaii residents (with ID) | Free | Free |
The park is open daily during daylight hours. One parking ticket is valid at both the Waimea Canyon and Kōke‘e State Park lots, so you don’t pay twice on the same drive.
In a rental car
- Waimea Canyon Drive is a paved state highway, so an ordinary rental car is fine once it reopens.
- It is a long climb from the coast, so start with a full tank and bring water.
- Allow time. Kauai has one main road, and the west side is the far end of it from Lihue.
Want to see the canyon without the drive back down? On this tour a van takes you to the top and you ride a bike down, with stops in Waimea Canyon and Kokeʻe State Parks. It takes about 4 hours and includes the bike, helmet and gloves. It has about 700 reviews, and 99% of travelers recommend it.
See the Waimea Canyon bike tour → (affiliate link)
Plan around it
While the canyon is closed, the south shore is open: see Poipu Beach parking. Ha‘ena on the North Shore reopened on October 15: see the Ha‘ena State Park reservations guide. For the bigger picture, see how long it takes to drive around Kauai and whether you need a rental car on Kauai.
Compare rental rates for your trip →
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Researched and written by Neo Pecorro. Facts on this page were checked against Hawaii State Parks (DLNR) and the Hawaii Department of Transportation, plus the other sources linked above. Hawaii rules change often, so confirm on the official page before you go.
Last updated: October 19, 2026.