Sections of Kīlauea Summit Reopen Following Eruption

Contact: HAVO Public Affairs, (808) 985-6018

HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaiʻi - Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has reopened Crater Rim Drive West from the park entrance to Kilauea Military Camp. Park staff are working with heavy equipment and hand tools to clear major amounts of volcanic ash, rock and glass (tephra) from roadways, overlooks and other areas around the summit of Kīlauea.

Highway 11 is open. Most trails accessible from trailheads in open areas at the summit are open. The park will reopen other areas as soon as they are cleared. Check the park website for future updates, www.nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes.

Kīlauea began to erupt at 9:17 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10. The eruption lasted nine hours and ended at 6:18 p.m. Lava fountains that reached as high as 1,300 feet produced widespread tephra fall over visitor areas at the summit, on the highway and in nearby communities. The deepest tephra fall in the park is at Uēkahuna overlook and parking lot which are currently closed and covered in tephra up to a foot deep.

Drive slowly. While roads that are open have been cleared of tephra, small particles can be remobilized by driving and wind, covering road markings and causing vehicles to skid and slide.

Although light and airy, tephra is an irritant. Consider wearing eye protection, a dust mask, long sleeves, pants and sturdy closed-toe shoes at Kīlauea summit. Do not handle tephra.

More information and guidance on tephra fall hazards is available at the links below:

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