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

Contact: HAVO Public Affairs

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

Kīlauea Volcano Eruption

Kīlauea volcano continues to erupt intermittently from Halemaʻumaʻu crater, with nearly 50 fountaining eruptions since December 2024. All eruptive activity remains within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Although the eruption area is closed due to significant hazards, there are many safe, open viewpoints along the caldera rim that offer excellent viewing. Please respect closures. Hazards include volcanic gas, loose and unstable cliff edges, ground cracks and falling tephra (falling volcanic material).

During eruptions expect heavy traffic and limited parking. Plan ahead and check the park website for viewing locations, parking tips, and more.

When will Kīlauea erupt again? Sign up for Volcano Notification Service emails through the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) and monitor the USGS HVO livestream cameras for eruptive activity in real time. Be aware that the eruption could pause before you get to the park - the last 10 eruptions have lasted between six and 10 hours.

Air Quality. Light or southerly winds cause volcanic gas or "vog" to drift over visitor areas at Kīlauea summit. Exposure to high levels of volcanic gas can cause respiratory distress and illness. Monitor the park's air quality online. If vog levels are unhealthy, explore another area of the park until air quality improves. Temporary area closures could occur due to volcanic gas and tephra fallout.

Park Programs

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.

Fee-Free Independence Day Weekend to Celebrate America 250. In celebration of Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, U.S. residents will not be charged entrance fees at national parks.
When: July 3, 4 and 5
Where: All fee-charging national parks

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: July 3, 18 & 24. 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.)

Guided Hike: Farming the Rock. Agriculture, history and archeology are highlighted on this guided walk to the Kaʻū field system at Kahuku. Learn how pre-Western contact Hawaiians intensively farmed this area and fed the large Kahuku population on Hawaiʻi Island. An easy, ½ mile, one-hour hike to Kīpuka Kāʻopapa and back.
When: Saturday, July 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station. Turn into Kahuku near the 70.5-mile marker on Hwy 11 in Kaʻū.

Birds of Kahuku Coffee Talk. Join former park ranger and avid bird nerd Jay Robinson for a lively presentation of the native forest birds of Kahuku and other feathered friends.
When: Saturday, July 11 at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station. Turn into Kahuku near the 70.5-mile marker on Hwy 11 in Kaʻū.

Christmas in July. Come celebrate summer in Kahuku and "Christmas in July" at this good fun family-friendly day of handmade Hawaiian crafts, music, entertainment and ono grinds! Free face painting for keiki and ice shave, too. Sponsored by the Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association.
When: Saturday, July 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Kahuku Unit, on the festival grounds adjacent to the Visitor Contact Station. Turn into Kahuku near the 70.5-mile marker on Hwy 11 in Kaʻū.

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

Closure & Construction Updates

Kīlauea Visitor Center (KVC) renovations are nearly 80% complete, and the interior, the expansive new hālau (covered outdoor gathering space), parking areas and restrooms remain on schedule to reopen in late 2026. The KVC rehabilitation is Phase Two of the park's Disaster Recovery Project that resulted from the 2018 summit collapse of Kīlauea volcano which closed the summit of Kīlauea and much of the park for 134 days.

Make the Welcome Center Your Starting Point. With Kīlauea Visitor Center closed during renovation, all essential visitor services have shifted to the Welcome Center at Kilauea Military Camp (KMC). Park rangers, the NPS Passport stamp, Junior Ranger activity books, visitor information, and the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store are all available there. After entering the park, follow Crater Rim Drive West for just over a mile to reach the Welcome Center. Visitors should park in the adjacent ballfield; parking directly in front of KMC cottages is reserved for registered guests. The Welcome Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Lava Tube Bridge Replacement. The Nāhuku lava tube bridge replacement is on track to be finished by the end of June. The large, sturdy foundational beams and new railings are in place, and the new planks are being painted before installation. Most of Nāhuku is open during construction but is only accessible one way in and out from the east "exit" end. The rainforest trail to the front of the lava tube, the lava tube bridge and 50 feet into the cave are closed during the replacement. The restrooms are open.

Kīpukapuaulu Trail Temporary Closure. Kīpukapuaulu Trail is temporarily closed due to numerous hazard trees that require further assessment and potential removal for safety. The closure is expected to last several weeks.

Additional alerts, conditions and closures are updated and posted to the park website.

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