Kalalau Trail/Pu'u Trail Reservations

Question

I am sort of confused how reservations for the Kalalau Lookout and Pu'u lookout go.

Do you need reservations to just park your car and head to that lookout spot? I see some websites saying no reservations, others saying 90 days in advance and others saying 30 days in advance. Also I know there is a super intense hike for the Kalalau trail but is there anything short and simpler like under 2 miles? Or is it just you park, see the lookout and thats all unless you do the 22 mile hike?

Answer

Great question — it's a little confusing, but I’ll walk you through how reservations work for the Kalalau Trail, Kalalau Lookout, and Puʻu o Kīla Lookout, and clarify what’s really required.

Do you need reservations just to go to Kalalau Lookout or Puʻu o Kīla Lookout?

No, you do not need a Kalalau Trail permit just to park at Kalalau Lookout (in Kōkeʻe State Park) and enjoy the view. The lookout is accessible by car, and according to the park’s website, the gate to Puʻu o Kīla Lookout is currently closed to vehicles, but the lookout is still open to pedestrians, with parking available at Kalalau Lookout.
You do need to pay a park entrance fee (Kōkeʻe State Park): $5 per non-resident person, plus $10 per non-resident vehicle for parking.

What about Puʻu o Kīla Lookout?

Puʻu o Kīla is also part of Kōkeʻe State Park. There’s a paved parking area (though capacity is limited) and a short steep path up to the lookout platform.
Because of road repairs, vehicle access to that lookout is currently restricted, so you may need to park at Kalalau Lookout and walk.

Do you need *Kalalau Trail* permits to hike, and how do those work?

Yes — to hike the Kalalau Trail (especially beyond the first ~2 miles), you need a permit.
The trail is divided: you are allowed to day-hike up to Hanakāpīʻai Valley (about 2 miles in) with just an entry permit through Hāʻena State Park.
If you want to go past Hanakāpīʻai (toward Kalalau Beach), you need an overnight camping permit, which is more tightly controlled: permits are now available 90 days in advance.

What about parking and shuttle permits for day hikers?

If you’re just doing the 2-mile hike to Hanakāpīʻai, you will need a Haʻena State Park Day-Use (entry) reservation. According to r/VisitingHawaii users, those day-use permits (or shuttle + entry) open 30 days ahead at midnight HST and fill up extremely fast.
If you have a Kalalau camping permit, there is overnight parking in Haʻena State Park, but that has to be reserved separately (and that parking reservation often sells out).
Some hikers use shuttle services instead of parking — especially if overnight parking is sold out.

Short/simple hike options?

Yes — the Hanakāpīʻai Valley hike (about 2 miles in from the trailhead) is the popular short day-hike option along the Kalalau Trail.
That’s effectively the main “easy section” unless you have a camping permit. Beyond that, the trail becomes much more strenuous and requires an overnight permit.

Summary & Key Take-Aways:

You do not need a Kalalau Trail hiking permit just to go to Kalalau Lookout or Puʻu o Kīla Lookout — but you *do* need to pay the state park entry + parking fees.
For hiking:
- Day hike to Hanakāpīʻai (2 miles): Requires a Haʻena entry permit, but not the full Kalalau camping permit.
- Hiking beyond Hanakāpīʻai: Camping permit required, available 90 days in advance.
Overnight parking at Haʻena State Park is a separate reservation and often sells out; some people use shuttles instead of parking.
Because road work affects access, plan for limited parking and possibly walking up from Kalalau Lookout to Puʻu o Kīla.

If you're looking for a short, scenic stop: just park at Kalalau Lookout, walk a little uphill to the overlook, and enjoy the view — no Kalalau hiking permit needed for that. But if you're thinking of day hiking into the valley, make sure you secure the Haʻena State Park permit 30 days ahead and know exactly which permits you need.