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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park reopens after federal government shutdown

UPDATED (8:30 p.m. on 1/22/2018)

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

UPDATED (12:35 p.m. on 1/21/2018)

Portions of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Closed during Government Shutdown

Hawaii National Park, HI – Due to the lapse in federal appropriations and the subsequent shutdown of the federal government, and the ongoing eruption of Kīlauea Volcano both at the summit and from the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō vent, portions of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park remain closed to ensure visitor and resource safety.

The open areas of Hawai‘i Volcanoes include Highway 11 through the park, and Mauna Loa Road to Kīpukapuaulu (Kīpukapuaulu Trail, the day use area and tree molds are open). Ka‘ū Desert Trail, about ¼ mile one-way, is open to the Footprints exhibit shelter but parking is limited at the Highway 11 trailhead. Access may change without notice, and there are no NPS-provided services. Backcountry permits will not be issued and overnight camping will not be permitted.

The hazardous geologic processes and the immediate threats to visitor health and safety necessitate the restriction of access to areas that are volcanically active. These closed areas include the entire summit area of KÄ«lauea, the main park entrance, Crater Rim Drive, Chain of Craters Road and the active 61g lava flow within the park boundary.

Guests at Volcano House and Kilauea Military Camp must depart the park by Monday morning. Volcano Art Center Gallery is also closed.

The hazards associated with the active KÄ«lauea Volcano pose a significant risk to the safety of visitors in the absence of National Park Service staff.

Many other national park sites across the country will remain as accessible as possible while still following all applicable laws and procedures, but emergency and rescue services will be limited.

Please visit www.nps.gov and select “Find a Park” for additional information about access to other parks and sites in Hawai‘i. However, note that because of the federal government shutdown, NPS social media and websites are not being monitored or updated and may not reflect current conditions.

For updates on the shutdown, visit www.doi.gov/shutdown.

MEDIA RELEASE

Due to the lapse in federal appropriations and the ongoing eruption of Kīlauea Volcano both at the summit and from the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō vent, portions of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park are closed for visitor safety.

The open areas include Highway 11 through the park and Mauna Loa Road to Kīpukapuaulu (Kīpukapuaulu Trail, the day-use area and tree molds are open). Ka‘ū Desert Trail is open to the Footprints exhibit shelter. However, access may change without notice, and there are no NPS-provided services. Backcountry permits will not be issued and overnight camping will not be permitted.

The hazardous geologic processes and the immediate threats to visitor health and safety necessitate the restriction of access to areas that are volcanically active. These closed areas include the entire summit area of KÄ«lauea, Crater Rim Drive, Chain of Craters Road and the active lava flow within the park boundary.

Guests at Volcano House and Kilauea Military Camp have 48 hours to depart (Monday morning). Volcano Art Center Gallery is also closed.

Again, we reiterate that hazards associated with the active volcano pose a significant risk to the safety of visitors in the absence of National Park Service staff.

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