Hawaii’s state parks have free parking for residents, but state officials are requiring out-of-state visitors to pay for parking at four new parks, in addition to entrance fees.
The four new parks, the Hawaii Department of Natural Resources said, are Wailuku River State Park and Kekaha Kai State Park on the “Big Island” of Hawaii, Wailua River State Park on Kauai and Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside on Oahu.
The new parking fees at the four state parks go into effect next month, according to USA Today.
The fees “will follow the same format as the current system in place for the 10 parks that already charge parking fees for nonresidents,” such as Waiʻanapanapa State Park on Maui. While state residents with a Hawaii photo ID get in free and get free parking, it costs $5 per person for out-of-state visitors older than 3 years old to enter, and parking costs $10 per vehicle.
The Pu’u ‘Ualaka’a State Wayside will cost $7 to park, because it’s “a short stopover” at an overlook near Honolulu, a Hawaii Department of Natural Resources spokesperson told USA Today.
Commercial vehicles are also charged to park, based on the number of passengers.
Hawaii parks officials said the fees will “continue to support park maintenance, facility upgrades and long-term resource protection.”
Hawaii is not the only state to charge non-residents more to park.
Many state parks in Maryland, for example, charge locals $2 less to park compared to non-Marylanders. The state parks in Oregon that charge for parking also charge locals $2 less, while Idaho charges non-residents double the price for entry into and camping fees at certain state parks.
