Hawaiʻi Volcanoes: Upper Kahuku Road Closed After the Storm

If you're planning a trip to the Kahuku Unit at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, here's where access stands right now. Hurricane Lala left its mark, and part of the road is still closed until further notice.

The upper stretch of Kahuku Road stays closed beyond the boot decontamination station. The reason is storm damage that park crews haven't cleared on this section yet. As long as the closure holds, you can't count on this route to reach the higher parts of the area.

The good news is that most of the unit has reopened. The Visitor Contact Station is up and running again, and most of the Kahuku trails are open. So you can plan a day of hiking here without any nasty surprises, as long as you stick to the open sections and check the signs on-site before you head out.

One thing deserves your attention if you're aiming for the higher areas. Above the Lower Palm Trailhead, the road is deeply rutted from the recent heavy rains. The ruts run deep, and a regular passenger car clearly won't be happy up there. For these higher stretches, a 4WD is recommended, and it's really what you need to drive through without getting stuck or scraping your undercarriage.

Here's our advice. Match your plans to the actual condition of the road on the day you show up. Keep the bulk of your hiking on the reopened trails near the Visitor Contact Station, and only attempt the climb past the Lower Palm Trailhead if you've got the right vehicle. To place Kahuku within the rest of the park and plan out your route, lean on the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes park guide. If your trip covers several stops, our road trip itinerary that runs through this park will help you string the visits together without any dead time.