HVNP to Conduct Helicopter Flights in November

Kilauea Volcano’s Halema‘uma‘u Crater. PC: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has announced a series of helicopter flights in November that will impact the park area with aircraft noise. Park officials regret any noise impact to residents and park visitors.

In addition, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may also conduct flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instruments. The flight plans for November are scheduled as follows. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather conditions.

Flight Operations for November 2018:

• Nov. 5 and 7, from 7 to 9 a.m., to shuttle crew between Highway 11 near mile marker 42 and Kamo‘oali‘i, below 500-foot elevation level, for ungulate survey and control work;
• Nov. 7, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., to shuttle fence materials and crews between Mauna Loa Road and the Kapāpala boundary fence above 6,000-foot elevation level;
• Nov. 8, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., to shuttle crew from Highway 11 near mile marker 42 to Kuee grasslands for survey and control of invasive fountain grass;
• Nov. 13 and 15, between 7 and 10 a.m., to fly supplies and crews for petrel monitoring between Mauna Loa around 9,000 feet in elevation and the rainshed at Kīlauea summit;
• Nov. 14, between 7 and 9 a.m., departing from the rainshed at Kīlauea for invasive faya tree surveys in upper Kahuku Mauka and East Units above 5,000-foot elevation level;
• Nov. 14, between 10 a.m. and noon, to conduct surveys for Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death in Kahuku Unit, between 2,000- and 5,000 feet in elevation;
• Nov. 14, between noon and 3 p.m., to shuttle fence materials along the park boundary between the upper Kahuku former paddocks area and the Ka‘ū Forest Reserve between 3,000- and 5,000 feet in elevation.

Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources and to maintain backcountry facilities.