Events at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park continue amid ongoing projects

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park will hit a milestone by the end of September as Phase One of the Disaster Recovery construction projects resulting from the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and summit collapse is almost complete.

The Uēkahuna observation deck opened in May, and its comfort station is expected to open before the end of September, according to a news release from the park.

There are a variety of other projects completed or ongoing in the park.

The new roundabout traffic circle near the park entrance is complete, and the additional entrance lane for park staff and partners, as well as the exit pullout before the highway, are expected to be finished by the end of September.

Kīlauea Visitor Center is closed for renovation, but park rangers, the NPS Passport stamp station, Junior Ranger books, visitor services and the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store have relocated to the temporary Welcome Center at Kilauea Military Camp on Crater Rim Drive West, about a 1.2-mile drive from the closed visitor center.

Parking for the temporary welcome center is at the adjacent ballfield; parking in front of KMC is for registered guests only. The Welcome Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The renovated visitor center is scheduled to reopen in late summer 2026.

The water station at Kīlauea Visitor Center is unavailable during the renovation closure. A bottle filling station will be reinstalled at Uēkahuna comfort station soon. Water is available for purchase at Volcano House.

Hawaiian Electric’s Line Relocation and Replacement project on Highway 11 is ongoing. Hole digging is complete, and power pole replacement is now happening along the highway in the park. The upgrades will provide more reliable electricity island-wide. Sections of this line were built in the early 1950s.

The project went out to the public for comment. More information and the Environmental Assessment can be found online.

The western switchbacks of Kīlauea Iki Trail are temporarily closed for repairs and safety upgrades. The work occurs Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the switchbacks are open to hikers outside of those hours. The rest of the popular 3.3-mile trail is open. The work should be complete by Sept. 30.

The on-again, off-again lava show at Kīlauea continues to draw many visitors to the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

The volcano has erupted 32 times since December 2024. During eruptions, park visitation surges, traffic increases and parking is limited in popular areas along the caldera rim. Park officials advise visitors to plan ahead and check the park website for the best eruption viewing locations, parking tips, and more.

See the list below for October’s upcoming events.

Weekend ranger-guided hikes are back in Kahuku. Two short Saturday hikes are featured in October: Realms and Divisions of Kahuku and Puʻuolokuana cinder cone.
When: Oct. 4 and 11 at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Meet at the Kahuku Visitor Contact Station. Turn into Kahuku near the 70.5-mile marker on Hwy 11 in Kaʻū.   

Kaʻū resident, actor and playwright Dick Herschberger will give a final performance of his living history program, “A Walk into the Past,” as Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar, the founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Hershberger will appear in period costume and deliver his stories in first person at the Kahuku Unit. With support from the Kīlauea Drama and Entertainment Network, he has presented the historical performances for a dozen years.
When: Oct. 18 at 10 a.m.
Where: Meet at the Kahuku Visitor Contact Station. Turn into Kahuku near the 70.5-mile marker on Hwy 11 in Kaʻū.   

Bring your ʻohana to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park or Kahuku for the annual Halloween Bingo Scavenger Hunt. Find the items on your bingo card and return to the Welcome Center or Visitor Contact Station for a treat bag provided by Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association. Costumes are encouraged!
When: Oct. 25. Kahuku, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Kīlauea summit, noon to 4 p.m.
Where: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station and the Welcome Center at Kilauea Military Camp.

Stewardship at the Summit Rainforest Restoration. Volunteer to help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Under 18? Parental or guardian accompaniment with written consent is required. Visit the park website for details.
When: Saturday, October 4. Meet at 8:45 a.m.
Where: Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center parking lot on the dates above. (The meeting place is open during the visitor center renovation.)

Experience Life on the Edge at Uēkahuna, with Explore the Summit and other ranger programs by checking the park calendar for dates, times and descriptions or drop by the Welcome Center to read the program board.
When: Almost daily
Where: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Kīlauea summit