As of July 4, 2026, Kalaupapa National Historical Park says public guided tours will start on July 9 and run on Thursdays and Saturdays. The National Park Service says the tours are now the only way general visitors can access the park, and reservations must be made in advance.
This is a major access change, but it is not casual sightseeing. The park says the tour requires a strenuous hike in hot and humid conditions, and the visitor rules are strict enough that travelers should treat this as a physically demanding all day plan rather than a flexible vacation add on.
- Kalaupapa public tours start on July 9, 2026.
- The park says tours will run twice weekly on Thursdays and Saturdays.
- Reservations opened on June 26 and must be completed at least 24 hours in advance.
- Participants must be at least 16 years old.
- The park says visitors should be prepared to hike up to 8 miles, and total daily access remains capped at 100 people.
What Travelers Need to Know Before Booking
The National Park Service says the hike includes the Kalaupapa Pali Trail in both directions, with roughly 3 miles each way and about 1,600 feet of elevation change. The agency compares the climb to about 20 flights of stairs, which makes this a real conditioning question rather than a routine scenic walk.
The permit piece also matters. Kalaupapa says visitors still need a Hawaii Department of Health permit, but tour participants do not have to arrange that separately because the permit is issued through the guided tour process.
Planning Impact
The immediate planning move is to lock the reservation first and build the rest of the Molokai day around it second. The park says tickets cost $20 per person plus a $1 non refundable reservation fee, and the limited tour days mean you should not assume there will be a backup slot that fits the same trip.
Travelers also need to respect the access limits. The park’s plan your visit guidance says general visitors can reach Kalaupapa only through the guided tour path, so anyone who cannot comfortably handle the hike should treat that as a stop signal rather than hoping the rules will be loose on arrival.
When do Kalaupapa public tours begin?
The National Park Service says the tours begin on July 9, 2026.
How much do the guided tours cost?
The park says reservation tickets cost $20 per person plus a $1 non refundable reservation fee.
How hard is the hike?
Kalaupapa says participants must be prepared to hike up to 8 miles in hot, humid conditions, including the Pali Trail in both directions.
Do visitors still need a permit?
Yes. The park says a Hawaii Department of Health permit is still required, but tour participants receive that permit through the guided tour process.
Image: Photo: National Park Service, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons
