Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park visitor center to reopen late this year with completion of renovations
The national park on the Big Island also has many programs scheduled during the month of November.
With renovations nearly complete, the Kīlauea Visitor Center at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, is scheduled to reopen late this year.
Park rangers and other staff are preparing to relocate from the temporary Welcome Center at Kīlauea Military Camp to the renovated structure.
The interior of the center has been expanded and an adjacent new hālau (a spacious outdoor gathering place) is now easily visible from Crater Rim Drive West.
Larger, modern restrooms have been moved to the east side of the building with direct access to the visitor center from the roundabout that opened in July 2025.
Updates also include new interpretive experiences in English and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. Wayfinding exhibits for the hālau are to be installed a year from now, and remaining new exhibits will debut by late 2028.
Meanwhile, the Kīlauea summit remains highly pressurized with increased seismicity, multiple short-lived lava overflows and sporadic low dome fountains from the north vent. Forecasting is not possible due to the irregularity in inflation and deflation, and a change in eruptive activity and location could occur quickly at the summit.
Some park closures are in place during this time. Visit nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/eruption-viewing.htm for updates, safety tips, and viewing areas. Check out nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/conditions.htm for alerts and conditions.
Upcoming events in November at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Free National Park entrance: Wednesday, Nov. 11. All national park sites are free to visitors on Veterans Day to honor the country’s veterans. Military veterans, Gold Star Family members and current military are eligible for free annual and lifetime park passes available online or at the entrance station.
Stewardship at the Summit Ranforest restoration: Saturdays, Nov. 7, 21 and 28 at 8:45 a.m. Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center parking lot.
Volunteers are needed to help remove invasive, non-native plant species that impede native plant growth. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants and bring a hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools will be provided. Volunteers younger than 18 must be accompanied by parent or guardian. For details, visit nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/summit_stewardship.htm.
ʻUkulele Concert and Kanikapila: Saturday, Nov. 14 at 9:30 a.m. at Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Keoki Sereno and other musicians will share favorite mele (music), followed by kanikapilia (musical jam session). Bring your ʻuke and play along. Chords and words will be projected on a large screen.
Chegamos: We Arrived program: Saturday, Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. at Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Learn how Portuguese immigrants contributed to Hawaiʻi through this new interpretive living history performance.
Ranger-Guided Programs at Kīlauea Summit nearly every day at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Check out nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/calendar.htm for dates, times and descriptions.
All events are free, but park entrance fees apply. Some programs are sponsored by the Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association.
