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Haʻena State
Park

Hanalei Initiative is honored to work alongside Hui Maka’āinana o Makana and other organizations to oversee the Hā‘ena State Park Master Plan and integrated access system in an effort to preserve and protect ancient archeological and agricultural sites in the park.

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The Hā‘ena State Park Master Plan and complementary Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area are relatively new constructs that embody resource management methods based in cultural and historical practices with extensive community input and support.  These concepts were envisioned and refined over decades as shown in the timeline below.
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Hā‘ena State Park

Integrated Access System

The Hā‘ena State Park access system utilizes an online reservation platform that generates QR-coded tickets for visitors (residents are always allowed free access to the park with Hawaii ID). The tickets issued allow visitors to park at Waipā, board the North Shore Shuttle, and then be transported directly to Hā‘ena State Park.

 

These tickets are scanned at both the Waipā park-and-ride and the Hā‘ena State Park parking lot entry. The system offers detailed tracking and reporting of reservations, operations, and financial metrics, with ongoing software updates from our ticketing partner, SmartStubs.

 

At Hā‘ena State Park, Hanalei Initiative employs attendants to assist guests at key locations: the park-and-ride shuttle, vehicle and foot traffic entry, and the shuttle house, where they greet guests and manage returns.

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We also have a dedicated customer service team that handles inquiries, reservation changes, and cancellations. Through a comprehensive customer survey suite, we gather feedback on park visitation to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Our team monitors park demand and manages capacities to ensure resident access, maintain a sustainable shuttle system, and align overall usage with the Hāʻena State Park Master Plan.

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North Shore Shuttle

The North Shore Shuttle is a key component of the Integrated Access System, offering a sustainable financial model that supports ongoing conservation and preservation efforts within the park. By reducing traffic and providing convenient access, the shuttle generates revenue that allows us to fund vital land preservation initiatives, ensuring the long-term protection of this treasured environment.

Key
Benefits

  • Decreased Traffic Congestion: Significantly reduces vehicle traffic along the Waipā to Hā‘ena route, enhancing travel efficiency.

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  • Environmental Benefits: Eliminates nearly 200 vehicles daily—over 50,000 annually—resulting in a 20% reduction in traffic and a positive impact on local air quality.

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  • Cultural Education: Introduced onboard recorded messaging to educate riders about the cultural significance of key areas along the route and the broader park system.

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  • Complimentary Service for Residents: Offers a free shuttle service for residents traveling between Hā‘ena and Hanalei, promoting greater community access and connectivity.

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Economic Benefits

  • Job Creation: Provides employment for over 20 North Shore residents within the Integrated Access System operations, contributing to the local economy.

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  • Sustains the Hui Maka’āinana o Makana in its vital role as stewards of the land and historical sites at Haena State Park, ensuring cultural preservation.

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  • Generates dedicated funding for the Waipā Foundation through our parking agreement, reinforcing our commitment to community development and sustainability.

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  • Supports more than a dozen other local small businesses and nonprofits, creating opportunities for them to malama this wahi pana and thrive economically.

Mahalo to Our Partners

The Integrated Access System would not be possible without centralized local management  and the participation and expertise each of these entities to support the system.

Waipā Foundation

The Waipā Foundation is a culturally-focused nonprofit that generously provides Hanalei Initiative with the land needed for North Shore Shuttle's park-and-ride location. Situated approximately 8 miles, or about 25 minutes, from Haena State Park, this location plays a crucial role in our operations by reducing traffic on this narrow, dangerous stretch of highway. When tourism surged following the pandemic in 2021, there was a rapid increase in shuttle capacity requirements to meet heightened demand. We are incredibly grateful to Waipā for graciously providing the additional lot space needed to accommodate this growth.

Hui Maka‘āinana o Makana

For over 20 years, Hui Maka‘āinana o Makana has maintained a Curatorship Agreement to protect the ancient archaeological and agricultural sites within the park. Recently, the Hui transitioned from this agreement to a one-year revocable permit to oversee the cultural landscape of the park and the new Haena State Park Integrated Access System. They subcontracted management to Hanalei Initiative, leveraging its prior shuttle experience. The success of this initial year has resulted in the Board of Land and Natural Resources approving another one-year revocable permit.

Division of State Parks

Hawaii's Division of State Parks (DSP) oversees the entirety of Haena State Park. This innovative partnership between nonprofits and the DSP, represents a new model for state park management, driven by the community and supported by the government,. The leadership of the DSP has boldly embraced adaptive management principles to implement this approach and we are grateful for their trust in this endeavor.

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