Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park enacts temporary safety closures ahead of severe weather

Contact: HAVO Public Affairs

HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaiʻi - Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park staff are enacting the following temporary safety closures ahead of severe weather forecast to bring heavy rain, strong damaging winds and flooding:

• Mauna Loa summit is closed. Blizzard conditions and wind speeds up to 100 mph or more are expected.

The following closures are in effect Friday, March 13 at 2 p.m.:

• Mauna Loa Road from Kīpukapuaulu to Mauna Loa will close to all use, including pedestrians and bicycles.
• Kīpukapuaulu Trail
• Tent camping at Nāmakanipaio campground
• All backcountry camping sites including Red Hill cabin, the coastal backcountry and Pepeiao cabin.
• Chain of Craters Road at the Crater Rim Drive intersection near Devastation Trail

The Kahuku Unit will be closed Saturday and Sunday.

Kīlauea summit areas will remain open at this time, including the Welcome Center, Kilauea Military Camp, Volcano House and front country trails. Crater Rim Drive West is open from the park entrance to Kilauea Military Camp (KMC). Road access to areas west of KMC, including Kīlauea Overlook and Uēkahuna, is closed due to ongoing cleanup to remove large amounts of tephra from the recent eruption. Access to areas west of KMC on Crater Rim Trail is allowed.

Visitors are advised to use extreme caution on roadways, trails and crosswalks due to reduced visibility, watch out for falling trees and branches and be prepared for heavy rain and wind.

National Park Service staff will reassess conditions Monday and if safe, will reopen closed areas Additional unannounced closures could occur due to the severe weather.

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