UPDATE: From the Department of Land and Natural Resources

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks has initiated a new five year contract for the collection of entry fees at Akaka Falls State Park, with Makai Parking Inc. now on site as the new vendor to collect the fees starting today. The current fees will remain the same and are only collected from commercial tour operators and out of state visitors.

“These fees provide new income and are critical as a sustainable funding source for continued operation of our state parks,” said DLNR Chairperson William J. Aila, Jr.

New vendor to start up in early March

Media release by the Department of Land and Natural Resources

HILO, Hawaii: The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks is initiating a new five year contract for the collection of entry fees at Akaka Falls State Park. Due to delays in contract execution, the Division of State Parks will temporarily suspend the collection of entry fees for a short period of time in early March, 2012.

It is anticipated that the new vendor will be established on site to collect the fees, no later than early March. The current fees will remain the same and are only collected from commercial tour operators and out of state visitors.

“These fees are critical to provide new income to offset the operating budget shortfalls for the Hawai‘i State Parks system that have occurred over the past several years. The collection of entry fees allows for the continued operation of our state parks, and fees being applied to the visitors of the parks support development of a sustainable funding source that is directly related to the resource itself,” said DLNR Chairperson William J. Aila, Jr.