Special Use Permits

Special Use Permits are issued for short-term activities that provide a benefit to an individual, group, or organization rather than the public at large.

These activities require written authorization and some degree of management control from the park in order to protect park resources and the public interest; are not prohibited by law or regulation; are not initiated, sponsored, or conducted by the park; and are not managed under a concession contract, a recreation activity for which the NPS charges a fee, or a lease. Examples include weddings, family reunions, church services, first amendment demonstrations, political events, public assemblies, and other ceremonies.

Permittees who enter a park for recreational purposes are subject to the same entrance and expanded amenity (use) fees as the general public; however, persons engaging in special park uses that are not recreational in nature are exempt from entrance and expanded amenity fees.

Weddings In The Park

Weddings held in the park should be planned as small private affairs and conducted away from high visitor use areas. Weddings may be authorized in these locations:

• Kūpinaʻi Pali
• Kīlauea Overlook
• Hilina Pali Overlook
• End of Chain of Craters Road
• Coastal areas accessed by Chain of Craters Road
• Kīpukapuaulu (Bird Park)
• Grassy area west of Kīlauea Visitor Center
• Mauna Loa Lookout

An application form must be completed and approved for your wedding to be held in the park. Please email [e-mail] or mail the completed form to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Attn: Commercial Services Office, PO Box 52, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718.

A non-refundable $150 application fee is required. See below for payment information.

General permit conditions are listed below. Additional conditions may apply specific to the permitted activity.

 

Scattering of Ashes

Scattering of cremated human remains in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park should be planned as a small private affair, held away from high visitor use areas. Scatterings may be authorized in these locations:

• Kīlauea Overlook
• Kīlauea Iki Overlook
• Kūpinaʻi Pali
• Hilina Pali Overlook
• Kīpukapuaulu
• Pit crater overlooks
• Hōlei Pali overlooks

An application form must be completed and approved to scatter ashes in the park. Please email [e-mail] or mail the completed form to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Attn: Commercial Services Office, PO Box 52, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718.

A non-refundable $25 application fee is required. See below for payment information.

General permit conditions are listed below. Additional conditions may apply specific to the permitted activity.

 

Other Special Use Permit Requests

Other types of Special Use Permits may be requested by following the application process below. Types of activities allowed under a permit are provided in the Superintendent’s Compendium. The NPS will not permit the staging of special events that:

• are conducted primarily for the material financial benefit for a for-profit entity
• award participants an appearance fee or prizes of more than nominal value
• require in-park advertising or publicity (unless the event is co-sponsored by the park)
• charge a separate public admission fee.

An application for a special use permit must be completed and approved before conducting the activity in the park. Email [e-mail] or mail the completed form to Commercial Services Office at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, PO Box 52, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718.

A non-refundable $150 application fee is required. See below for payment information.

Special Use Permit Conditions

The following conditions apply to all special use permits- including weddings, scatterings of ashes and First Amendment activities:

1. Special Use Permit activities are allowed only at the locations specifically approved on the permit.
2. Access to the area must be kept open to the public and the permitted activity cannot interfere with normal visitor activity in any manner.
3. The permittee and participants will not disturb, adversely effect, alter, damage or remove any natural/cultural resources, archeological or historic artifacts.
4. Launching, landing, or operating Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS; also known as drones) within the park are prohibited.
5. Canopies, pop-up tents, tarps, or similar items must be approved in advance in writing.
6. Additional conditions will apply and are specific to the permit type.

Payment

The preferred method of payment is through this page on Pay.gov. Please email [e-mail] or call [phone] to obtain the permit number to use on the Pay.gov form. You must have this number in order to process the payment. Do not send your credit card information with your application.

Pay.gov accepts these payment methods:

• Bank account (ACH)
• Paypal account
• Debit or credit card

Email the Commercial Services Office at [e-mail] or call [phone] if you have questions.

First Amendment Activities

First Amendment activities include public assemblies, meetings, demonstrations, religious activities and other public expressions of views protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR 2.51 and 2.52).

To ensure public safety and the protection of park resources and values, and to avoid assigning the same location and time to two or more activities, the park may manage these activities by issuing a permit to regulate the time, location, number of participants, use of the facilities, and number and type of equipment used, but not the content of the message presented.

Types of First Amendment Activities include:

• Religious services or ceremonies
• Press conference
• Voter registration
• Public demonstration, picketing, assembly or rally for expressing opinion and views
• Sale or distribution of printed material related to free expression of opinion

Types of Activities that are NOT covered by the First Amendment:

• Church picnic or social gathering
• Wedding ceremonies or receptions
• Political fundraiser
• Solicitation of donations
• Community parade, athletics or sporting events
• Scattering of cremated human remains
• Sale of message bearing clothing, arts and crafts, or similar merchandise

The following areas are currently designated for public assemblies and/or meetings. Refer to the Superintendent’s Compendium for maps of specific areas at these locations:

• Kīlauea Visitor Center designated area
• Kahuku Unit designated area

The Superintendent may designate other areas in writing through a Special Use Permit.

There is no application fee when applying for a Special Use Permit to conduct a First Amendment activity, however, an Application for Special Use Permit-Demonstrations and Distribution of Materials must be completed and approved before conducting the activity in the park. Email [e-mail] or mail the completed form to Commercial Services Office at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, P.O. Box 52, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718.

No permit is required for demonstrations or distribution of printed matter involving 25 persons or fewer within the provisions of 36 CFR 2.51 and 2.52 at the designated areas listed above.

Contact the Commercial Services Office at [phone], or email [e-mail] if you have any questions.

Park entrance fees do not apply for First Amendment activities.

Please refer to the general conditions above under Other Special Use Permit Requests. Additional conditions will apply and are specific to the permit type.