HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaiʻi – Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has partially reopened several areas along the Kīlauea summit after recent storms swept through the region.
What’s Open
Crater Rim Drive West is accessible from the park entrance to Uēkahuna, along with the Welcome Center and the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store. Popular overlooks, including Kīlauea Overlook and Kūkamāhuākea (Steam Vents), are also open.
Mauna Loa Road is open as far as Kīpukapuaulu, though the Kīpukapuaulu Trail itself remains closed due to tree hazards. The Tree Molds site and day use area are open as well.
The Volcano Art Center Gallery reopens today, and Volcano House will resume operations with a limited restaurant menu. Kilauea Military Camp will reopen to authorized patrons. However, Nāmakanipaio Campground remains closed until further notice due to storm damage.
What Remains Closed
All other areas of the park are closed while staff work to clear hazards; these will reopen once conditions are confirmed safe. The Kahuku Unit remains closed indefinitely due to damage sustained during Hurricane Lala.
Safety Reminders
Visitors are urged to remain cautious. Although the storms have passed, hazards persist throughout the park, including fallen trees, unstable slopes, flooding, debris, and damaged roads and facilities. Guests should stay alert, follow all posted closures and warnings, and avoid any area that appears unsafe.
Volcanic Activity Update
According to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), Kīlauea’s next fountaining episode could occur sometime between Monday, August 24, and Friday, August 28.
Travel Advisory
Visitors traveling to the park from the west side of the island are strongly encouraged to take the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (“Saddle Road”) or the Hāmākua Coast (Highway 19), rather than the southern route through Kaʻū on Highway 11.
Infrastructure Update
Park electricity, communications, and the air quality monitoring system have been restored after a weeklong outage caused by Hurricane Lala. However, many communities in Kaʻū, the Kahuku Unit, and some park staff continue to experience power outages, unreliable communications, and lack of running water.
