MEDIA RELEASE
Hawai‘i National Park, HI – Several roads and parking lots at popular trailheads and attractions will be temporarily closed or have limited access this week and next week during the current thoroughfare improvement project at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
Hilina Pali Road will be closed to traffic during the day on Thurs., Oct. 27 and Fri., Oct. 28. Hikers wanting access to backcountry trails and campsites including HalapÄ“ are encouraged to use other routes, such as Mau Loa o Mauna Ulu, or get their backcountry permits a day early at the KÄ«lauea Visitor Center and plan on a sunrise departure. Kulanaokuaiki campsite will not be accessible by vehicles during daylight hours due to the closure, but campers may want to consider the newly remodeled facilities at NÄmakani Paio campground.
The following parking lots within the national park will be partially or temporarily closed next week:
Devastation Trail parking lot will be closed Tues., Nov. 1 and the Pu‘u Pua‘i parking lot will be closed Wed., Nov. 2. However, visitors can still hike Devastation Trail between the two parking lots and observe the fascinating features of the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption and Pu‘u Pua‘i cindercone.
Thurston Lava Tube (NÄhuku) and KÄ«lauea Iki parking lots will have limited accessibility on Thurs., Nov. 3. Thurston Lava Tube’s parking area will be closed in the morning while road crews patch the pavement and seal cracks, but will reopen in the early afternoon. One of the two KÄ«lauea Iki parking lot entrances will be closed at a time while crews improve the area, but limited parking will be available.
In addition, work continues on Crater Rim Drive, the bike trail and pedestrian paths near Steam Vents and Sulphur Banks, and the sidewalks at K Ä«lauea Visitor Center. All remain open, however the public should expect 15-minute delays in construction areas.
“Please pardon our dust during this short but necessary construction period. These much-needed improvements will make Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park even more enjoyable for everyone,†said Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “We hope visitors will take this as an opportunity to explore some of the other areas of the park they might not be as familiar with.â€
Work at the front entrance station is scheduled to begin Nov. 9. Check www.nps.gov/havo for updates.
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