Waiʻānapanapa and ʻĪao Both Need Booking, and Neither Sells at the Gate

Hawaiʻi State Parks now runs a reservation system for its busiest Maui sites, and two of them sit on almost every visitor itinerary.

Waiʻānapanapa State Park

The black sand beach, sea cave and coastal trail complex just short of Hāna. Since April 2021, non-residents have needed both an entry and a parking reservation, booked in advance, in a timed slot.

• Reservations open 30 days ahead and are released daily.
• Slots are in blocks through the day rather than open-ended, so build your Hāna morning backwards from the one you hold.
• Standard vehicle parking runs around $10 per slot for non-residents, with a separate per-person entry fee.
• There is no same-day purchase at the gate.

The approach road is privately owned. Parking on it will get the car towed, so there is no workaround for a missed booking.

ʻĪao Valley State Monument

The valley above Wailuku, with Kūkaʻemoku — the needle-shaped ridge — at its head. Non-residents need an advance reservation here too, available up to 30 days ahead, with a per-person entry charge and a separate vehicle parking fee. Park hours run through the day with a last entry well before closing; check the current times when you book, since they have been adjusted more than once.

ʻĪao is worth more than the twenty minutes most visitors give it. The valley was a burial place for aliʻi and the site of the 1790 battle of Kepaniwai, a name that refers to the damming of the stream. Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens sit below it in the valley mouth.

Why this exists

Both parks were being overwhelmed, with roadside parking spilling into residential areas and heavy foot traffic on sites of real cultural significance. The reservation system spreads arrivals through the day and funds maintenance. Residents with a Hawaiʻi ID are exempt from the non-resident charges, which is the point.

Book both at the same time you book the Haleakalā sunrise, which is to say before you book anything else.