Several days each year, all National Park Service (NPS) sites that charge an entrance fee offer free admission to everyone. The other 400 National Parks across the country are free all the time. The fee-free days provide a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite.
2024 Free Entrance Days in the National Parks
Mark your calendar for the following entrance fee–free dates in 2024.
- January 15: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- April 20: First day of National Park Week
- June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- September 28: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
Before you go, download the NPS App with tools to explore more than 400 national parks nationwide. Find interactive maps, tours of park places, on-the-ground accessibility information, and much more to plan your national park adventures before and during your trip.
Kilauea Iki volcano crater 2017 photo by MNStudio via Depositphotos_154896316
National Parks in Hawaii
The following National Parks across Hawaii take part in national free entrance days.
Note that the fee waiver on free entrance days is only for park entrance. It does not cover amenities or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours. But many national park concessioners join the National Park Service to welcome visitors with their own special offers.
(listed alphabetically by island)
Big Island: Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park extends from sea level to 13,680 feet and includes unique geological, biological, and cherished cultural landscapes. The park encompasses the summits of two of the world’s most active volcanoes – Kīlauea and Mauna Loa – and is a designated International Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Kīlauea Visitor Center offers information on current conditions. Note: Visitor Centers are closed on National Holidays (Martin Luther King Day, Juneteenth, and Veterans Day).
Big Island: Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Parkis located about 15 miles south of Kailua-Kona. The Puʻuhonua protected the kapu (law) breaker, defeated warriors, and civilians during the time of battle. The Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau Visitor Center offers information about the park. Note: Visitor Centers are closed on National Holidays (Martin Luther King Day, Juneteenth, and Veterans Day).
Maui: Haleakalā National Park extends from the 10,023 foot (3055m) summit of Haleakalā down the southeast flank of the mountain to the Kīpahulu coast near Hana. These two sections of the park are not directly connected by road, but both can be reached from Kahului. Some of the features of the park include stark volcanic landscapes, sub-tropical rain forest, and endangered species, some of which exist nowhere else. There are three visitor centers where you can get information on current conditions and use the restrooms. Note: Visitor Centers are closed on National Holidays (Martin Luther King Day, Juneteenth, and Veterans Day).
Kōkane board game at Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park on the Big Island of Hawaii via Depositphotos_439121032
Always free Hawaii National Parks
(listed alphabetically by island)
Big Island: Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is a 175-mile corridor encompassing a network of culturally and historically significant trails. This “trail by the sea” traverses wahi pana (storied landscapes), ancient Hawaiian sites, and over 200 ahupuaʻa (traditional land divisions). The trail can be accessed through sections within the four National Parks on the Big Island, including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park and Pu’ukohola National Historic Site. Hiking on trails that are not actively managed is discouraged. Remember to check local weather first, and follow all advisories and alerts. The section of the Ala Kahakai Trail under Hawaii State Na Ala Hele jurisdiction is open for public use. This section of trail is located between Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site and Anaeho’omalu Bay. Further information is available through Na Ala Hele.
Big Island: Kaloko-Honokōhau is located about 3 miles north of the town of Kona on Highway 19. Kaloko offers visitors the chance to enjoy and learn about the Hawaiian culture and the natural history of Hawaiʻi. To survive the hot and arid environment, kanaka maoli (native Hawaiians) built fishponds using their knowledge of the location of fresh water that flows into the many brackish pools throughout the park.
Molokaʻi: Kalaupapa. When Hansen’s disease (leprosy) was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands, King Kamehameha V banished all those afflicted to the isolated Kalaupapa Peninsula on the north shore of Molokaʻi. Since 1866, more than 8,000 people, mostly Hawaiians, have died at Kalaupapa. Once a prison, Kalaupapa is now a refuge for the few remaining residents who are cured but choose to remain in isolation.
Oʻahu: Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Honolulu offers details about one of the most pivotal moments in US history: the attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent entry of the United States into World War II. Pearl Harbor National Memorial museums & grounds are free. Additional tours, museums, and attractions are available for a fee.
Oʻahu: Honouliuli National Historic Site. Opened in March of 1943, Honouliuli covered 160 acres and became the largest and longest-used incarceration site in the Hawaiian Islands for those were suspected of disloyalty following the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Following the closure of Honouliuli in 1946, the camp was dismantled, bulldozed, and abandoned. In partnership with the NPS, researchers, community stakeholders, and students have been working to uncover building foundations and artifacts in order to restore the site. As of February 2024, there is no date set for the opening and Honouliuli will remain closed for several years.
Calendar of free and cheap events across Hawai’i
The following calendar lists affordable events and things to do cross the Hawaiian Islands.
You might also like: Hawaiʻi free and cheap things to do, restaurant specials, shopping discounts, and more (hawaiionthecheap.com)
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