What’s Closed at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Right Now
The national park on Hawaiʻi Island is in the midst of a two-year construction project. Here’s how that may affect you.
If you’re heading to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park anytime soon—and you really should!—you should know the national park is undergoing a massive, two-year construction project to repair, improve and remove damaged buildings and infrastructure at the summit of Kīlauea.
That means you can expect—and should prepare for—delays at the entrance station, temporary area closures and limited parking, especially during peak visitation times like December and January.
The construction project includes:
- Removal of the earthquake-damaged Jaggar Museum and USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory buildings and temporary closure of the restrooms at Uēkahuna
- A new roundabout west of the entrance station to improve safety and traffic flow
- Construction of a new USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field station west of Kīlauea Military Camp
- Temporary closure and complete renovation of the Kīlauea Visitor Center and adjacent restrooms
Right now Mauna Loa Road in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is temporarily closed to all use while survey, drilling and soil sampling work is underway. Some access will be provided.
- Mauna Loa Road from Highway 11 to Kīpukapuaulu, Kīpukapuaulu Trail and the day-use area are open.
- The closure starts at the gate past Kīpukapuaulu Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m to 4 p.m. due to a large trailer-mounted drill rig and heavy machinery dominating the narrow road.
- The road is open to pedestrians and bicyclists before 8:30 a.m. and after 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- The road will open on weekends to all users, including vehicles, and close at 7 p.m. Sundays.
- Mauna Loa Road will open on holidays for all use Nov. 27 through Thanksgiving weekend (closed at 7 p.m. Sunday).
- Mauna Loa Trail and Puʻuʻulaʻula (Red Hill) Cabin will remain open, but access to and from the trailhead during work days will only be permitted before 8:30 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
This section of historic Mauna Loa Road (not to be confused with Mauna Loa Observatory Road off Daniel K. Inouye Highway) was first built as a truck trail by local members of the Civilian Conservation Corps. It has degraded due to tree root intrusion, seismicity and age. The temporary closure of Mauna Loa Road is expected to last through mid-December.
In addition, the popular Sulphur Banks Trail is closed for boardwalk replacement from now through Dec. 12, 2024. And Nāpau Crater and campground remains closed, as they were inundated with lava from the September 2024 eruption.
Hikers walk along the restored Kilauea Iki trail in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park/Janice Wei
But there’s lots of other things to do at the national park, including hiking Kīlauea Iki Trail, walking through Nākuhu (formerly Thurston Lava Tube) and exploring the park’s Kahuku Unit.
Visit the park website for additional temporary construction-related closures.
