Park Partially Open as Hurricane Lester Nears

Date: September 1, 2016
Contact: Jessica Ferracane/Public Affairs Specialist, 808-345-4216

Hawaii National Park, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is open Thursday, with partial closures in place as Hurricane Lester nears, and Hurricane Madeline, now downgraded as a tropical storm, passes south of Hawai'i Island.  

 

Downed tree near Kīlauea Visitor Center

NPS Photo/J. Robinson

Open areas include Crater Rim Drive and Crater Rim Trail, Kīlauea Visitor Center, Jaggar Museum and observation deck, Steam Vents, Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube), Kīlauea Iki, Devastation Trail, Sulphur Banks and most front-country trails.

These closures remain in place: all camping and campgrounds, Chain of Craters Road, including the coastal lava viewing area, all backcountry areas, Hilina Pali Road, and Mauna Loa Road after Kīpukapuaulu to the overlook.

"Hurricane Lester is still a threat to Hawai'i Island, even though it is projected to go north. Therefore we will maintain the aforementioned closures until Lester has passed and is no longer a threat," said Chief Ranger John Broward.

Hawai'i Island and Maui are under a hurricane watch, and according to the National Weather Service as of 11 a.m., the center of Hurricane Lester was 675 miles east of Hilo, moving west at 13 mph. Forecasters are again expecting very heavy rainfall, dangerously high surf, and hurricane-force winds.

The Kahuku Unit, open only on Saturdays and Sundays, will remain closed on Saturday. Rangers will determine if Kahuku can reopen for Sunday.

Updates are posted to the park's website www.nps.gov/havo, its general information phone number, [phone], and its official social media sites.

-NPS-