News Release

Update for March 21, 2020: Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is modifying operations to implement latest health guidance

Date: March 21, 2020
Contact: Jessica Ferracane, Public Affairs Specialist, 808-985-6018

Hawaii National Park, HAWAI‘I – Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, in response to the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and actions outlined by the Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, is announcing additional modifications to operations to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). As of Sunday, March 22, 2020, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park will close to all park visitors until further notice. The park will offer no services except those that support visitor or resource protection. 

At Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, the following services and operations will be suspended on Sunday, March 22, 2020 in order to comply with the State of Hawai‘i action until further notice: 

• All public areas, including trails, roads, campgrounds, the backcountry, and public restrooms are closed to visitors. 
• All commercial tours and special use permits are suspended. 
• The Kahuku Unit is closed. 

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor COVID-19. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website, www.nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes, and social media channels.  

The NPS encourages people to take advantage of the many digital tools already available to explore Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, including our social media channels, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter,  and U.S. Geological Survey webcams: https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.

In addition, our education team has created curriculum resources for families at home with children in kindergarten through high school that highlight the geology, biology and Hawaiian culture that define the park: 
https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/education/curriculummaterials.htm. 

Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. 

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.