Temporary Welcome Center now open at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

While the Kīlauea Visitor Center is officially closed for extensive renovations, a temporary welcome center has opened Kīlauea Military Camp’s accessible Koa Room just 1.2 miles west of the park entrance.

The Kīlauea Visitor Center will be undergoing renovations for the next 2 years, causing the closure of the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store, the restrooms, sidewalks, water station and half of the parking lot.

According to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, as the only visitor center in the park, the Kīlauea Visitor Center was too small and outdated to serve the 1.5 million people that venture to the park each year.

Especially with the official removal of the Jaggar Museum because of damage it received during the 2018 eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea. 

The renovations include:

• The addition of a covered hālau (pavilion) on the west end of the building  
• New and improved restrooms relocated to the east end of the building  
• Full accessibility  
• Converting offices to expand visitor space  
• More space for the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store  
• New bilingual exhibits in English and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi  

During the renovation project, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park rangers and volunteers will be stationed at the temporary Welcome Center in the Koa Room at Kīlauea Military Camp to provide visitors with park information and educational materials, answer questions and meet for ranger-led activities.

While ranger programs will continue, visitors should plan ahead, come prepared and expect limited services. Other programs such as After Dark in the Park and Nā Leo Manu will be suspended until the Kīlauea Visitor Center reopens.

The Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association, a nonprofit partner supporting Hawaiʻi and American
Samoa national parks, also moved its park store to the temporary Welcome Center.

That store features merchandise such as books, maps, guides, collectibles, apparel, water bottles, educational games and other items to enhance the visitor experience and connection to the park.

Proceeds from the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store continue to support interpretation, educational programs, research projects, publications and cultural activities in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association also has a store in the Kahuku Unit and online.

The only water refilling station at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park will be unavailable at the Kīlauea Visitor Center, so visitors should be sure to bring their own water. They also can purchase water at Volcano House.

Volcano House and its shops and restaurant as well as the Volcano Art Center Gallery remain open during the visitor center’s renovations.

The temporary Welcome Center is open 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily, with parking available in the nearby ballfield at Kīlauea Military Camp.

The park also continues to share disaster recovery updates through news releases, social media and its website.

Visit the park’s construction webpage for daily construction updates, closure notices and delay announcements.