Free Entry to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes & All National Parks Sept. 29

Halemaʻumaʻu Trail and invasive ginger on the left

NPS Photo/Jessica Ferracane

News Release Date: September 21, 2012

Contact: Jessica Ferracane, 808-985-6018

Hawaii National Park, Hawaiʻi - Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park joins all 397 national parks in waiving entrance fees in recognition of National Public Lands Day on Sat., Sept. 29. The annual event is the largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands in the United States.

The park offers several special programs on Sept. 29 to celebrate the day, including two volunteer projects, and a guided hike of a new trail in Kahuku:

Save Halemaʻumaʻu Trail. Join park rangers and remove invasive kāhili ginger from one of the park's most historic and treasured scenic trails, Halema'uma'u Trail, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meet at Kīlauea Visitor Center, and wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, raingear, garden gloves and tools, a day pack, lunch and water. No advance registration required.

Kīpuka ʻAkihi, an adventure in stewardship, is offered in the park's Kahuku section, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants must be able to hike a challenging 1.5 miles and be prepared to scramble over fallen trees, lava rock, and slippery, wet terrain. Wear sturdy hiking shoes, long pants, sunscreen and a hat. Bring raingear, garden gloves, a day pack, insect repellent, lunch and water. This forest stewardship program provides opportunities to help protect this rainforest by pulling up invasive kāhili ginger and other invasive non-native plants throughout the kīpuka, which harbors rare plants and wildlife. No advance registration required.

A guided hike of Kahuku's new Palm Trail is also offered Sept. 29, a relatively easy 2.6 mile loop traversing through scenic pasture along an ancient cinder cone with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. The guided hike is from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Park and meet at the visitor contact tent, near the ranch buildings. Boots, raingear, long pants plus water and a snack are recommended. No advance registration required.

Kahuku is located on the mauka side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5. Drive through the gate, park and meet at the visitor contact tent, near the ranch buildings.

Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park will also offer a forest restoration project Sept. 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and are seeking volunteers. Advance registration is required. For more information, contact [e-mail] or call [phone].

-NPS-