NPS - National Park Service

03/24/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/24/2026 14:27

April 2026 Events & Updates at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

News Release Date:
March 24, 2026

Contact: HAVO Public Affairs

HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaiʻi - Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park announces updates and events for April 2026. Photos available upon request.

Kīlauea Volcano Eruption. The ongoing Kīlauea eruption continues, with 43-and-counting episodes all within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at the volcano's summit.

Tephra fallout from eruption episode 43 impacted the summit. Uēkahuna and Kīlauea Overlook are temporarily closed. Crater Rim Trail is closed west of Kilauea Military Camp to Uēkahuna. These closures could last a few weeks while park staff remove large amounts of volcanic rock cinders from roads, trails, parking lots and overlooks.

Eruptions are easily observed from viewing areas along the caldera rim. Stay out of closed areas! Hazards include volcanic gas, steep unstable cliff edges, earth cracks and tephra (falling volcanic material).

During eruptions traffic is heavy and parking is limited. Plan ahead and check the park website for viewing locations, parking tips, and more. Be aware that some viewing areas may temporarily close due to volcanic hazards.

When will Kīlauea erupt next? Sign up for free Volcano Notification Service emails through the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Be aware that the eruption could stop before you arrive. Follow the USGS HVO livestream cameras for eruptive activity in real time.

Air Quality. Light or southerly winds can cause volcanic gas or "vog" to drift over visitor areas near Kīlauea summit. Exposure to high levels of volcanic gas can cause respiratory distress and illness. Monitor the park's air quality online and if vog levels are unhealthy, explore another area of the park until the air improves. If hazardous air quality persists, the park may temporarily close impacted areas until it is safe to reopen.

Park Programs

All events are free, but park entrance fees apply. Some programs are sponsored by the Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park andHawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association. Programs are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Check the park calendar for more information.

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: April 4, 17 and 25. 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.)

Ranger-Guided 'Ōhi'a Lehua Hike. Spring is in the air, and the lehua blossoms are popping in Kahuku! Learn about the vital role of 'ōhi'a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, the many forms of the 'ōhi'a tree, and the threat of a new fungal disease, Rapid 'Ōhi'a Death. Visitors will be able to identify the many differences of the most prominent native tree in Kahuku on this program, which is an easy, one-mile, one-hour walk.
When: Saturday, April 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Where: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station. Turn into Kahuku near the 70.5-mile marker on Hwy 11 in Kaʻū.

Hula Kahiko. Enjoy hula kahiko (traditional hula) with Kinohi Neves, Nāmaka DeMello, Kimo Miranda and Hālau Haʻa Kea o Kinohi. Bring sun/rain gear and sitting mats and arrive early due to limited parking at the Kīlauea Visitor Center which is under renovation. If parking is full, be prepared to walk from the overflow lot at Kūkamāhuākea (Steam Vents). Call (808) 967-7565 for more information or email [email protected].
When: Saturday, April 11 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: At the Kahua Hula (hula platform) near Volcano Art Center Gallery.

Ranger-Guided Programs at Kīlauea Summit. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park offers free guided programs nearly every day. Check 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

Construction Updates

Nāhuku Bridge Replacement.
Contractors will soon replace the bridge entering Nāhuku (also known as Thurston Lava Tube). Most of the lava tube will remain open during construction but will only be accessible in and out from the back entrance. The rainforest trail to the front of the lava tube, the lava tube bridge entrance and 50 feet into the cave will be closed during the replacement. The project will start in mid- to late April and is expected to complete by late summer. The restrooms will remain open.

Kīlauea Visitor Center (KVC) is slated to reopen in late 2026. Work continues on the open-air hālau, with installation of a large skylight, gutters and stone posts bases underway. Paving of the overflow parking lot and the lot behind KVC continues. Solar lighting in the restrooms is complete. Inside, the basement is painted, contractors continue work to transform former office space into visitor areas and increase space for the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association (HPPA) store. Once complete, exhibits in English and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi will orient and educate visitors. The KVC rehabilitation is Phase Two of the Disaster Recovery Project, resulting from the damaging 2018 eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea volcano that closed most of the park for 134 days.

Make the Welcome Center Your First Stop. Kīlauea Visitor Center is temporarily 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 Welcome Center at Kilauea Military Camp (KMC). Take Crater Rim Drive West, a little over a mile from the park entrance and park 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.

Got Water? Visitors should bring their own water to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The water station at Kīlauea Visitor Center is unavailable during renovations. A drinking fountain is available at Uēkahuna, and the park plans to install a bottle-filling station soon. Water is available for purchase at Volcano House.

Highway 11 Power Pole Replacement. HELCO's Line Relocation and Replacement is complete. Workers will remove poles that are safe to take out. More information can be found online.

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