01-20-2018, 09:17 AM
Due to a combination of The Art Of The Deal with shrewd negotiating tactics, Volcanoes National Park is now closed because of the government shutdown. From their website:
January 20, 2018 - Due to the lapse in federal appropriations and the ongoing eruption of Kilauea Volcano both at the summit and from the Pu‘u ‘O‘O vent, portions of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park are closed for visitor safety.
The open areas include Highway 11 through the park and Mauna Loa Road to Kipukapuaulu (Kipukapuaulu Trail, the day use area and tree molds are open). Kau Desert Trail is open to the Footprints exhibit shelter. However, access may change without notice, and there are no NPS-provided services. Backcountry permits will not be issued and overnight camping will not be permitted.
The hazardous geologic processes and the immediate threats to visitor health and safety necessitate the restriction of access to areas that are volcanically active. These closed areas include the entire summit area of Kilauea, Crater Rim Drive, Chain of Craters Road and the active lava flow within the park boundary.
Guests at Volcano House and Kilauea Military Camp have 48 hours to depart the park (Monday morning). Volcano Art Center Gallery is also closed.
Again, we reiterate that hazards associated with the active volcano pose a significant risk to the safety of visitors in the absence of National Park Service staff.
"This is an island surrounded by water, big water, ocean water.” - President Donald J. Trump
January 20, 2018 - Due to the lapse in federal appropriations and the ongoing eruption of Kilauea Volcano both at the summit and from the Pu‘u ‘O‘O vent, portions of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park are closed for visitor safety.
The open areas include Highway 11 through the park and Mauna Loa Road to Kipukapuaulu (Kipukapuaulu Trail, the day use area and tree molds are open). Kau Desert Trail is open to the Footprints exhibit shelter. However, access may change without notice, and there are no NPS-provided services. Backcountry permits will not be issued and overnight camping will not be permitted.
The hazardous geologic processes and the immediate threats to visitor health and safety necessitate the restriction of access to areas that are volcanically active. These closed areas include the entire summit area of Kilauea, Crater Rim Drive, Chain of Craters Road and the active lava flow within the park boundary.
Guests at Volcano House and Kilauea Military Camp have 48 hours to depart the park (Monday morning). Volcano Art Center Gallery is also closed.
Again, we reiterate that hazards associated with the active volcano pose a significant risk to the safety of visitors in the absence of National Park Service staff.
"This is an island surrounded by water, big water, ocean water.” - President Donald J. Trump
“We do this thing not because it is easy, but because we thought it would be easy.”