HVNP Offers Free Admission on National Public Lands Day

National Public Lands Day is just around the corner and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park will be offering free admission into the park.

On National Public Lands Day, recognized this year on Sept. 26, members of the public across the country provide support for public lands through volunteer efforts.

Invasive ginger dominating native forest on ‘Iliahi Trail. NPS photo.

HVNP is inviting community members to the park to participate in the Stewardship at the Summit program. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., interested volunteers should meet Paul and Jane Field at the Kilauea Visitor Center. From there, the group of volunteers will go into the forest where the morning will be spent removing Himalayan ginger. The ginger takes over the native rainforest and makes it impossible for the next generation of forest to grow as it crowds out native plants.

Park officials say that Himalayan ginger, known also as kahili, is not only one of the most invasive plants in the park, but also in the world.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists the Himalayan ginger as one of the 100 World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species.

In addition to entering the park free of charge, volunteers will receive a free pass to use on a different day