February 2026 events & updates at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

Contact: Jessica Ferracane

HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaiʻi - Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park announces updates and events for February 2026:

Kīlauea Volcano Eruption. Kīlauea continues to erupt into 2026, with 40-and-counting eruptions all located within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the volcano's summit. The spectacular and historic eruptive activity is in a closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park but is easily seen from open viewing areas along the caldera rim. Stay out of closed areas! Hazards include volcanic gas, steep unstable cliff edges, earth cracks and falling airborne rock material.

Visitation skyrockets during eruptions. Traffic is heavy and parking is limited. Visitors are urged to park in designated areas only. Plan ahead and check the park website for viewing locations, parking tips, and more. When will Kīlauea erupt again? Sign up for free Volcano Notification Service emails through the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Be aware that the eruption could stop before you arrive.

Park Events

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. 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: February 7, 21 & 28. 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.)

Hana Hou! Nani O Kahuku Returns. This original living history play is a loving and informative remembrance of Kahuku Ranch in the 1870s. The play is taken from the memoir of Hannah Piʻilani Jones (daughter of George Jones, the second owner of the ranch), staged by Jackie Pualani Johnson (professor emerita of the theatre arts program at UH Hilo), and brought to life by talented actress Alya-Joy Kanehailua. Bring your valentine!
When: Saturday, February 14 from 11 a.m. to noonish
Where: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station

Fee-Free on President's Day. Make an executive decision to enjoy your park for free on the federal President's Day holiday. More information and a list of the 10 National Park Service 2026 fee-free days are available on the NPS website.
When: Monday, February 16
Where: All fee-charging national parks

Meet Photographer and February's Artist-in-Residence Houston Vandergriff. Professional photographer, entrepreneur and disability advocate, Houston Vandergriff, is the National Parks Arts Foundation and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park artist in residence for February. Born with Down syndrome, Vandergriff met early medical challenges with grit and curiosity. Although speech was never easy, he found his voice through a lens and transformed his passion into a career that blends travel, art and advocacy. Houston is from Knoxville, Tennessee. He has traveled extensively, and his work is showcased around the globe. Come and meet this extraordinary photographer and learn about his journey. Sponsored by the National Parks Arts Foundation and Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
When: Saturday, February 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station

Guided Hike of Palm Trail. Join us on a 2.6-mile loop trail along an old ranch road that leads to amazing volcanic features from the 1868 Mauna Loa eruption. Discover relics from the ranching era and learn about hulihia (catastrophic change) and kūlia (restoration), two natural eruptive processes. Enjoy panoramic views of Kahuku and the Kaʻū coastline on this moderately difficult 90-minute trek.
When: Saturday, February 28 at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station

Ranger-Guided Programs at Kīlauea Summit. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park offers free guided programs nearly every day. Experience Life on the Edge at Uēkahuna, 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

Construction Updates

Progress continues on the Kīlauea Visitor Center Rehabilitation (Phase Two of the Disaster Recovery Project). Roofing and tongue-and-groove underlay are being installed on the spacious open-air hālau that will serve as a visitor information area. Roofing on the restrooms, relocated to the east end of the building, is complete and the leach field and absorption beds are close to being finished. Inside, workers are installing a fire suppression system and waterproofing basement walls. Work to convert former office space into visitor areas, increase space for the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association (HPPA) store, and create exhibits in English and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, is ongoing. The visitor center is closed during the rehab project. Park rangers and the HPPA store continue to serve visitors from the temporary Welcome Center at Kilauea Military Camp. Kīlauea Visitor Center should reopen later this year.

Head to the Welcome Center! 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 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 bottle-filling station will be reinstalled there soon. Water is available for purchase at Volcano House.

Highway 11 Power Pole Replacement. HELCO's Line Relocation and Replacement project should be complete by the end of March 2026. Workers are pulling lines in the underground conduit between the park entrance and the ʻŌhiʻa Wing near Volcano House, then will remove poles that are safe to remove once the new lines are energized. More information and the Environmental Assessment can be found online.

###