Kauai’s Grand Canyon Is Open Again Two Months After Lowell

Two of Kauai’s most visited natural attractions are back open after a two-month closure. Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources reopened Kōkeʻe and Waimea Canyon state parks at 6 a.m. on Saturday, November 7. Every state park area, lookout and restroom between the Waimea Canyon Lookout and Pihea is open again, which means visitors can once more drive up to see the red-walled gorge often nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.

Hurricane Lowell hit the area on September 7, bringing down trees and power lines, blocking roads and damaging the parks’ water system. State officials estimate that about half of the historic recreational cabins in Kōkeʻe were damaged, ranging from moderate harm to total destruction. The state parks administrator described the damage to the forest and parks as shocking, and crews are still assessing what needs to be repaired or rebuilt in the higher-elevation areas.

Several popular hikes have reopened, including the Nuʻalolo Trail, Waimea Canyon Trail, Iliau Nature Loop and Pihea Trail. The Awaʻawapuhi Trail, known for its views down into the Nā Pali valleys, is open only as far as the first mile marker. Other areas remain closed, including the Kōkeʻe campground, where planned upgrades are resuming, and the Kohua Ridge, Poʻomau Canyon, Kawaikoi Stream and Kuilau trails, along with some forestry areas.

Visitor services are still limited. The Kōkeʻe Lodge restaurant and the Kōkeʻe Museum were not expected to reopen until this week at the earliest, so anyone heading up should pack food and water and check opening status before leaving the coast. The reopening is a welcome signal for Kauai’s tourism economy, which has struggled to win travelers back since Lowell. Hāʻena State Park on the north shore reopened to day hikers in mid-October, and the west side’s canyon parks now join it.

Sources: Hawaii News Now, Hawaii News Now (Hāʻena)