Hawaii Volcano National Park Open During Shutdown

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

HVNP will be open during the federal government shutdown, with limited services. Entrance fees WILL NOT be collected.

The following areas will remain open:

* Kilauea Visitor Center (KVC), picnic tables and restrooms. Exhibits will be open, however the auditorium will be closed and films will not be shown.
* The Hawaii Pacific Parks Association store in KVC will be open.
* Crater Rim Drive from park entrance to Kilauea Military Camp
* Crater Rim Trail between Volcano House and Kilauea Military Camp
* Volcano House lodging, gift stores and restaurants
* Kilauea Military Camp & Theatre
* Volcano Art Center Gallery
* Steam Vents and Sulphur Banks
* Mauna Loa Road to Kipukapuaulu (vehicles not permitted past the gate at Kipukapuaulu)
* Mauna Loa Road to Mauna Loa Lookout – pedestrians and bicyclists only
* Kipukapuaulu day use picnic area (no trash or custodial services or – pack it in, pack it out only)
* Kipukapuaulu and trail
* Kau Desert Trail to the Footprints shelter and exhibit

The rest of the park will be closed, including Chain of Craters Road, Escape Road, all campgrounds, all backcountry areas, and Kahuku, the National Park Service says. Entrance fees will not be charged.

I shot the tariff, but I did not shoot the subsidy.

[Guest]

Excellent news.

[leilanidude]

Entrance fees will not be charged.
--------------
Typical government nonsense.
If they continued to man the gate and charge fees, they would come out ahead of the game.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Typical government nonsense.

And yet, if you placed that nonsensical decision on a compiled list of other governmental shutdown actions and responses, tallied them up, then compared the total with the original monumentally idiotic directive which created the entire chaotic mess, they’d be the ones who look like stable geniuses.

I shot the tariff, but I did not shoot the subsidy.

[Guest]

Nimbys moans aside. Short term inconvenience for lifetime gains for ours and generations to come.. legally of course.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Volcanoes National Park will run out of private and County funding next Wednesday, January 9th. After that, the gates may remain open but the park could deteriorate into yet another wretched hive of scum and garbage, literally, as has already occurred at other national parks parks during the federal government shutdown. This weekend might be a good time to visit HVNP, to help reduce impacts after next Wednesday:

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the Pacific Historic Parks are only open now because of non-profit support.#8233;And there’s no real plan after that money runs out.#8233;On Friday, visitors were entering Hawaii Volcanoes National park without paying.#8233;Park rangers are working without pay.#8233;Non-profit groups have been propping up the Big Island landmark. Hawaii County also stepped in and agreed to fund the park in a limited capacity until Wednesday.
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/01/05/...own-drags/

“Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.” - Mark Twain

[MarkD]

Do not try to hike to the Mauna Iki lookout, about 7 miles past main park entrance on the left heading toward Kau, unless you want only a short hike.

Trail to Mauna Iki lookout, about 1.8 miles in, is closed at the cabin (about .6 miles in from the road). Signs by the cabin announce: No further entry. On the day we tried to go to Mauna Iki, there were at least 10 other hikers there, most disappointed.

Yet HVNP personnel couldn't take the time to post that closure info on the big map right next to the parking area. Not only that, volunteers at the Kilauea Visitor Center center were advising that Mauna Iki was open. And the large wall map outside the building said the same (which is why we drove all the way out there to begin with).

The list of open areas at top seems expansive but truth be told, much of the park is closed insofar as hiking. Result: very crowded hiking between the Visitor Center and KMC.

No excuse for this lack of notice. HVNP officials knew the government shutdown was being discussed days in advance; they knew it was impending the day before. How long does it take to brief volunteers and ensure proper signage? A few hours. Not brain surgery here.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

How long does it take to brief volunteers and ensure proper signage? A few hours. Not brain surgery here.

Maybe they had a list with 100 things that needed attention before the shutdown, and time enough to finish 50? I know I can work all day and whatever didn’t finish stands out, draws first attention, like it’s illuminated by a spotlight. The tasks I completed, filed, mailed, crossed off my list are out of view, no longer a priority.