Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park has reopened on a somewhat limited basis/NPS photo of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō's cone

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park has reopened after being closed for two days due to volcanic activity, but that could change at any time.

“Our primary objective is the safety of employees, park partners and visitors,” Superintendent Cindy Orlando said Sunday, when the park reopened at 3 p.m. local time. “The limited opening allows us to respond to new volcanic and seismic events should they occur and the closures that remain are necessary to keep people out of dangerous and unassessed areas. Visitors should expect changing conditions and be prepared for unannounced closures.” 

Park staff have been assessing trails, roads, and buildings in the park, and so far minimal damage has been reported. However, several rock slides were triggered by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Friday at 12:32 p.m., and a slew of aftershocks and smaller earthquakes that preceded it. The U.S. Geological Survey reported 500 earthquakes have occurred in and around Kīlauea Volcano since Friday afternoon, and smaller temblors continue to rattle the island.. 

The following areas are open: 

• The Entrance Station from Highway 11 to Jaggar Museum is open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Jaggar Museum will close at 8 p.m. (the outdoor overlook will remain open until 10 p.m.)
• Kīlauea Visitor Center is open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. 
• Sulphur Banks Trail 
• Steam Vents parking lot
• Crater Rim Trail is open from Kīlauea Overlook to Jaggar Museum only
• The Entrance Station to the 1969 lava flow near Mauna Ulu 
• Mauna Ulu to Pu‘uhuluhulu (Nāpau Trail is closed past Pu‘uhuluhulu) 
• Escape Road from Highway 11 to Mauna Ulu 
• Mauna Loa Road from Highway 11 to the Mauna Loa Lookout and Kīpukapuaulu 

Any area in the park not listed above is closed, including most trails, Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube), Kīlauea Iki, Devastation Trail and Pu‘u Pua‘i and Chain of Craters Road past Mauna Ulu. 

Due to the hazardous and unpredictable ash plume coming from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō vent, there is a Temporary Flight Restriction above the vent. Aircraft (including drones) are not permitted in the TFR, which extends 3,000 feet above ground level and a two-mile radius from the vent.  Relief aircraft on official flights approved by the National Park Service are the only aircraft allowed in the area.