Aloha e Hui Aloha Kīholo ʻohana,
At the request of Mayor Harry Kim, and to mirror the County of Hawaiʻiʻs latest Emergency Order, State Parks is closing all Big Island coastal and beach park areas, including Kīholo State Park Reserve, effective Friday, September 4th through Friday, September 18th. However, this date could be extended.
This effort is aimed at preventing large unauthorized gatherings and suppressing the increasing spread of COVID-19, particularly during the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend.
Kīholo gates will remain locked during this time, but visitors will be allowed to access the ocean, engage in exercise, fish, and gather food, but will not be allowed to spend time in the park relaxing. Hui Aloha Kīholo will continue to maintain portable toilets, trash, and staff presence in the park during the closure.
It is the kūleana, responsibility, of each of us, in our daily actions to protect ourselves and each other. Mahalo for maintaining your social distance (6ft+ or just stay home!), mahalo for rocking your face masks, be they fancy or simple, and mahalo for frequently washing your hands and using hand sanitizers. These are our tools for our collective health and wellness.
Pedestrian transit through Kīholo State Park Reserve is allowed for active ocean activities only from Sept. 4th - 18th.
What to Know Before You Go:
The gates are locked and you must park at the highway and hike to the ocean.
Only active ocean activities are allowed (not hiking, 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).
Social distancing measures must be maintained.
No group of more than ten persons is allowed 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.
Gates at Kīholo State Park Reserve remain locked by State Parks. Only pedestrian access is allowed at this time.
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,
