Closure of national park’s Kīlauea Visitor Center for renovations could be as early as September

It could be as early as September that Kīlauea Visitor Center in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park closes as work begins on renovations and expansion plans.

The visitor center will be completely shuttered, including restrooms, water station and sidewalks around the building during the expected 2-year renovation project. Parking adjacent to the center, along Crater Rim Drive West, also will be limited.

The project contract is expected to go out for bid in July. If awarded next month, construction could begin in September.

Services will be reduced as well, including the suspension of the park’s After Dark in the Park and Nā Leo Manu programs, until Kīlauea Visitor Center reopens.

Limited visitor services and the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store will relocate to a temporary visitor contact station adjacent to the historic ball field near Kīlauea Military Camp.

Volcano House and the Volcano Art Center Gallery will remain open during the project.

Park managers will share details about the renovation and expansion during an After Dark in the Park program at 7 p.m. Aug. 20 in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium.

“As a result of the loss of Jaggar Museum due to the 2018 summit collapse of Kīlauea volcano, the existing Kīlauea Visitor Center is too small to meet the needs of current and future park visitors,” said Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh. “The renovation of [Kīlauea Visitor Center] will provide expanded outdoor and indoor spaces for new exhibits that convey the rich geology, biology and Hawaiian culture that define Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.”

Planned renovations include:

• The addition of a covered pavilion on the western end of the building.
• Restrooms relocated to the eastern end of the building.
• Full accessibility.
• The interior will be expanded by converting office space into visitor space.
• The Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store will shift into a larger interior space.
• New bilingual exhibits in English and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.

Although September is the soonest the visitor center would close, a delayed start date is possible. The park will continue to notify the public through news releases, social media and its website.

Construction closures and delays are regularly updated on the park’s construction web page.