UPDATE: As of Monday June 29, 2020, gates are now open to cars from 7am to 6:45pm daily. Camping is still not allowed. We reached our fundraising goal “For the Love of Luas” thanks to many generous donors in our community and are now able to cover sanitation costs for one year. Click here to learn more.
Aloha e Hui Aloha Kīholo ʻohana,
In light of the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation, we would like to update you on the latest developments at Kīholo State Park Reserve.
Since March 18, Kīholo State Park Reserve has been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. State Parks continues to keep the gates locked as the park is closed, but hiking and ocean access are now allowed. The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks is allowing access for exercise with an emphasis on social distancing and continued restrictions on gatherings of any sort.
As of May 2, 2020, active transit on foot and ocean access are allowed at Kīholo State Park Reserve for groups of no more than two persons, unless part of the same household.
What to Know Before You Go:
The gates are locked and you must park at the highway and hike to the ocean.
The only allowed activities are hiking, swimming, solo paddling, surfing, boating, and fishing. You must be doing one of these allowed activities while within Kīholo State Park Reserve (not sunbathing or sitting on the beach).
There is no potable water or showers. Bring your own water (the hikes are hot and are 25 minutes and 40 minutes one way).
There are no trash facilities. Whatever you bring in, make sure to pack out (even toilet paper).
Social distancing measures must be maintained.
No group of more than two persons is allowed to hike on state trails, unless all hikers in the group are part of a single residential or family unit sharing the same address.
Park hours are from 7:00 am to 6:45 pm.
There is currently no camping allowed.
No animal are allowed in the park, including dogs with the exception of service dogs properly identified with paperwork and leashed.
Allowed Activities
According to Governor Ige’s Seventh Supplemental Proclamation Related to the COVID-19 Emergency, the following are allowed outdoor activities at this time:
Swimming and Surfing. “Outdoor exercise activities, including ocean activities such as surfing and swimming, so long as social distancing requirements are maintained…"
“No person shall sit, stand, lie down, lounge, sunbathe, or loiter on any beach or sand bar in Hawaiʻi, except as allowed in Section III.C.4 below and when:
a. transiting across or through beaches to access the ocean waters for outdoor exercise purposes, such as surfing, solo paddling, and swimming, so long as social distancing requirements are maintained;
b. running, jogging, or walking on the beach, so long as social distancing requirements are maintained.
2. Boating Restrictions. No more than two persons are allowed in any boat on Hawaiʻi’s waters for recreational purposes unless they are part of a single residential or family unit sharing the same address. Both persons in the boat shall comply as reasonably possible with the social distancing requirements unless they are part of a single residential or family unit sharing the same address. All boats shall maintain a distance of 20 feet from other boats when in use. This restriction does not apply to fishing as allowed in Section III.A.3 of this Proclamation.
Gates at Kīholo State Park Reserve remain locked by State Park. Only pedestrian access is allowed at this time.
3. Hiking Restrictions. No group of more than two persons is allowed to hike on state trails, unless all hikers in the group are part of a single residential or family unit sharing the same address. All persons hiking, who are not part of a single residential or family unit sharing the same address, shall maintain a distance of at least 20 feet from any other hiker.
4. Shore Fishing Limitations. No group of more than two persons may engage in shore fishing, unless all in the group are part of a single residential or family unit sharing the same address. All persons engaging in shore fishing, who are not part of a single residential or family unit sharing the same address, shall comply with social distancing requirements.”
Social Distancing Requirements
“All essential and designated businesses and operations identified herein, and persons engaged in permitted activities identified herein, shall exercise the following social distancing requirements to the fullest extent possible:
1. High risk populations. Elderly and others at high risk for COVID-19 are urged to stay in their residences to the extent possible, except as necessary to seek medical care.
2. Persons who are sick. Persons who are sick or have a fever or cough or are exhibiting symptoms such as shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell, are urged to stay in their residences to the extent possible, except as necessary to seek medical care.
3. Six-foot distances. All persons shall maintain a minimum of six-feet of physical separation from all other persons to the fullest extent possible.
Active Monitoring + Presence
Our Hoa ʻĀina team continues to be on the ground at Kīholo seven days a week. In collaboration with our partners, these Hoa ʻĀina, or “friends of the land” monitor and protect natural and cultural resources and educate visitors to the reserve. Our primary Hoa ʻĀina are Andrew Hanano, Leighton Hind, and Sandy Kamaka. Also, the State of Hawai`i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers are regularly monitoring Kīholo and issuing citations for those not actively hiking or engaged in permitted ocean activities. There are no emergency or lifeguard services at Kīholo. In case of emergency, call 911.
HUI’S HOA ʻĀINA TEAM
The only vehicles allowed through the gates at this time are workers with the State, Hui, or other partners there to work, as well as private land owners. Landowners have an easement through the State Park to access their properties. These private parcels were in place before Kīholo became a State Park Reserve.
No Camping
Camping continues to be closed until further notice. Please do not set up any kind of camp or attempt to stay overnight. Learn more about the camping program here.
Volunteer Workdays Cancelled
Regularly scheduled volunteer workdays are canceled until further notice. A big mahalo to everyone who has given their time and aloha for the restoration of Kīholo. We look forward to seeing and working alongside you again in the future, once it is safe to do so.
Workdays are cancelled until further notice. Volunteers move rocks at a past volunteer workday.
For additional information on COVID-19 resources and park closures, please see the:
Hui Aloha Kīholo stands committed to the health and safety of our community. Limiting measures such as these are aimed to keep us all safe with social distancing that will ultimately slow or reduce the spread of this virus. Please join us in doing your part to following these measures when accessing Kīholo State Park Reserve, so that we can all continue to enjoy Kīholo safely.
We will continue to communicate the latest developments via our website, social media, and emails. We look forward to the day when gates can reopen and campers are allowed back, but until then, stay safe.
Please take good care and if you have any questions, please contact us.
Mahalo,
