News Release
NPS Photo/J.Wei
News Release Date: November 10, 2026
Contact:
HAVO Public Affairs
PARK UPDATES
Kīlauea Visitor Center Reopening
Renovations at Kīlauea Visitor Center are nearly complete, with reopening anticipated during the first week of December. Improvements include easier access from the roundabout, a more spacious interior, a new 5,000-square-foot hālau (outdoor pavilion), additional water stations, larger restrooms and improved accessibility.
Park rangers and Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association staff will relocate from the temporary Welcome Center at Kīlauea Military Camp to the renovated visitor center in the coming weeks. Temporary exhibits will be available while new exhibits are developed in English and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. Wayfinding exhibits for the hālau are planned for fall 2027, with permanent visitor center exhibits expected by late 2028.
Once reopened, Kīlauea Visitor Center will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., including weekends and holidays.
Holiday Visitation
The holiday season is one of the busiest times of year at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Visitors should expect crowded trails, overlooks and parking areas around Kīlauea summit, particularly during volcanic eruptions.
December also falls within nēnē breeding season, and some areas may be temporarily closed to protect the threatened Hawaiian goose and its young. Visitors are urged to slow down and watch for nēnē. Plan ahead, check current conditions and consider exploring other areas of the park when parking is limited or temporary closures are in place. The park is open 24 hours a day.
DECEMBER EVENTS
Stewardship at the Summit: Rainforest Restoration
Help protect native Hawaiian plants by volunteering to remove invasive species from the park's rainforest. Volunteers should wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants and bring a hat, rain gear, a day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools will be provided. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and have written consent. Visit the park website for additional details.
When: Dec. 5, 12 and 19. Meet at 8:45 a.m.
Where: Kīlauea Visitor Center parking lot. Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field.
Holidays at Kahuku
Celebrate the holiday season at the annual craft fair and hoʻolauleʻa (celebration), presented in partnership with the Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Enjoy local craft vendors, live music, hula, food, free shave ice, face painting and a visit from Santa with gifts for keiki (children).
When: Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station area, near mile marker 70.5 on Highway 11 in Kaʻū.
ʻAlalā Recovery
Learn about ongoing efforts to recover the endangered ʻalalā (Hawaiian crow). Laura Berthold, Hawaiʻi Island ʻAlalā Research and Recovery field coordinator, will discuss conservation efforts, lessons learned from previous releases and plans for a potential release into the Kaʻū Forest Reserve in 2027. The presentation will explore the challenges of returning this culturally and ecologically important species to native Hawaiian forests.
When: Saturday, Dec. 12, at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station area, near mile marker 70.5 on Highway 11 in Kaʻū.
Ranger-Guided Hike: Realms and Divisions of Kahuku
Discover how Native Hawaiians understood and organized the landscape for centuries through careful observation of the natural environment. This moderately easy, 1-mile guided hike along Kamakapaʻa Trail explores traditional Hawaiian land classification systems, including realms and vertical and horizontal land divisions. The hike lasts approximately 90 minutes.
When: Saturday, Dec. 19, at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station area, near mile marker 70.5 on Highway 11 in Kaʻū.
Ranger-Guided Programs at Kīlauea Summit
Join park rangers for free guided programs offered nearly every day, including Life on the Edge at Uēkahuna and Explore the Summit. Check the park's online calendar for program dates, times and descriptions, or visit the park's visitor information center for the daily schedule.
When: Nearly daily; times vary.
Where: Kīlauea summit, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
All events are free, but park entrance fees apply. Some programs are supported by the Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association. Programs are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Visit the park's online calendar for the latest information.
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Last updated: November 10, 2026