Public Notice of Aircraft Use at HVNP

Hawai’i Volcanoes National park has announced that helicopter services will be used within park areas on various days throughout the next month.

The upcoming flights and their purposes are as follows:

• Jan. 26, 27 and 30, between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., to transport fencing material, camp supplies, and crew near the Kahuku Unit/Ka’u Forest Reserve Boundary.
• Feb. 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 23, and 27, between 8 a.m. and noon, to transport fencing material from near the top of Mauna Loa Road to approximately 9,000-ft. elevation.
• Feb. 11, between 9 a.m and 3 p.m., to survey and control invasive fountain grass in the Ka’u Desert.
• Feb. 17 and 19, between 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., to transport crew and equipment to field camp for fountain grass control in Kamo’oali’i.
• Feb. 17, between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., for ungulate surveys and control work in Kahuku between 3,000 and 7,000-ft elevation.
• Feb. 23, between 9 a.m. and noon, to survey and control invasive faya tree in Kahuku above 5,000-ft. elevation. Survey and control invasive faya tree in Kahuku above 5,000-ft elevation.
• Feb. 27, between 9 a.m. and noon, to survey and control mullein above Mauna Loa Road.

According to the park’s spokesperson, Jessica Ferracane, the dates and times of the flight are subject to change, depending on aircraft availability and weather.

Additional uses of the aircraft include monitoring and research of volcanic activity, search-and-rescue efforts, law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources, and the maintenance of backcountry facilities.