Koke'e State Park is located at 4,000 feet atop Waimea Canyon ridge. The park encompasses 4,345 acres of land and has over 45 miles of trails. A 20-square mile highland bog is known as the Alaka'i Swamp and is a unique experience. Koke'e State Park charges an entrance fee of $5 per person as well as a $10 parking fee per vehicle for out-of-state visitors. Pedestrians, motorcycles, and moped riders will pay $1 per person. Check out our hiking guide at Kauai Hiking Trails. Koke'e Museum & Lodge is located between mile markers 15 and 16 on Waimea Canyon Drive with the parking lot on your left. Parking is free and a stop here is a good time investment, especially if it's one of those days the weather just won't cooperate with you at the canyon. As we've said before, weather changes fast on Kaua'i, so if you're experiencing undesirable weather, head over to the lodge for a while before trying the overlooks again.
Explore smarter
Turn this stop into a better day plan.
Use maps, timing, access checks, and current conditions before adding another stop to the route.
The museum has several interesting displays where you can learn more about the island, its geology, flora and fauna, and even its history. A few of our favorite displays are the three-dimensional figure of Waimea Canyon, the factoids on Wai'ale'ale including the rain gauge showing the record precipitation amounts, and the wall dedicated to the tragic story of Hurricane Iniki which struck the island on September 11, 1992. Iniki (Hawaiian for Enid) formed from a tropical depression that moved in from the east. It gradually strengthened into a major hurricane and turned north, with its eye passing directly over the island of Kaua'i. Iniki caused over two billion dollars in damage and killed six people. Iniki was the most powerful hurricane to make landfall in Hawai'i since Hurricane Dot in 1959. The wall serves as a tribute to what the category three hurricane did to the island and proof that the Hawaiian people can survive and continue to thrive after such a horrible natural disaster. If you have any questions about Waimea Canyon or Koke'e State Park, the museum is the place to ask. The staff here is very friendly and knowledgeable. If you're looking for a bite to eat, head next door to the Koke'e Lodge.
2026 Fees & Reservations
Non-residents: $5 per person + $10 per vehicle. Fees also cover Waimea Canyon State Park — no need to pay twice.
Planning your trip? Hawaii has introduced new visitor fees and reservation requirements for popular attractions, beaches, and state parks. It pays to plan ahead — some sites require advance reservations or turn away visitors who arrive without paying.
Founder & certified Hawai'i travel expert with 20+ years in Hawai'i tourism, University of South Carolina climate-research training, and NOAA weather-station experience.
Trade winds are strong right now, with high surf hitting the south shore today. Windward areas are seeing frequent showers through the weekend.
South-facing beaches have dangerous surf today through Sunday—stay out of the water unless you're an experienced swimmer. East-facing shores will build rough water by Sunday or Monday. The bigger picture is a tropical system, Fausto, heading our way. It's weakening but should arrive near the islands by Tuesday or Wednesday as a tropical storm or weaker system, bringing strong winds, rough seas, and heavy rain. The exact track is still uncertain, so check the forecast daily.
Get your beach time and water activities in today through early next week on the leeward side, where conditions stay calmer. Be ready to shift plans by midweek when conditions turn rough.
0:000:52
Voice
Read the transcript
Windy conditions across Maui right now, with trade winds gusting strong. South-facing shores have high surf today and will see another big swell Saturday and Sunday—the water's dangerous unless you're an experienced ocean swimmer.
Through the weekend, windward areas will get frequent showers while trade winds stay gusty. The bigger picture arrives midweek: Hurricane Fausto is weakening as it moves toward the islands and should reach Maui as a tropical storm or weaker system Tuesday or Wednesday. That'll bring rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain. Track and timing are still uncertain, so check updates daily.
Hit the leeward beaches and snorkel south Maui coasts today through early next week, but stay out of windward and south-facing waters through Sunday.
0:000:54
Voice
Read the transcript
Windy conditions dominate right now with strong trade winds pushing across the island. South-facing shores have high surf today—dangerous water if you're not an experienced swimmer.
Through the weekend, those south shores see another big swell Saturday and Sunday, and east-facing shores will build dangerous conditions by Sunday or Monday. Windward areas get frequent showers. A tropical system—the remnants of Hurricane Fausto—is weakening and headed toward the islands as a tropical storm or weaker system by Tuesday or Wednesday, bringing rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain midweek. Timing and track are still uncertain, so check updates daily.
Leeward beaches on the Kona side stay your best bet today through early next week, but avoid the water on the windward and south shores through Sunday.
0:000:57
Voice
Read the transcript
Strong trade winds are pushing showers across windward areas through the weekend. On Kauaʻi, expect frequent showers on the windward side.
High surf is running on south-facing shores today and will build again Saturday and Sunday—stay out of the water unless you're an experienced swimmer. East-facing shores will also see dangerous swell by Sunday or Monday. Hurricane Fausto is weakening as it moves toward Hawaii. By Tuesday or Wednesday it should reach the islands as a tropical storm or weaker system, bringing rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain. Track and timing are still uncertain, so check updates daily through midweek.
Beach time on leeward shores works through early next week. Plan water activities for today, but be ready to shift if Fausto's track becomes clearer—conditions will deteriorate by midweek.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
Created with AI from this HawaiiGuide page and read by a computer-generated voice. Double-check fees, hours, and reservations on the full page before you head out. Hawaiian pronunciation is tricky for synthesized speech and a few words may land slightly off; mahalo for your patience as we keep refining.
Mele and Kani are computer-generated voice options chosen for clarity and warmth.
Get Your Free Hawaii Visitor Guide
Enter your email and we'll send you instant access to our free 2026 Hawaii Starter Guide + Summary Guidesheets.
Been here? Tap to stamp
