The Kahuku Unit Reopens at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes

Good news if you're planning a trip to the south side of Hawaiʻi's Big Island: the Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park reopens to visitors on Thursday, September 3. This part of the park had stayed closed after the damage from heavy rain and strong winds during Hurricane Lala.

So if you'd crossed Kahuku off your itinerary these past few days, you can pencil it back in. It's a place apart, set well away from the heart of the park and the Kīlauea caldera, and it's known for its wide upland pastures, its hiking trails, and its old lava flows you can walk across on foot. It has a wilder, quieter feel than the main section, which usually sees far more traffic.

A few habits are always worth keeping after weather like this. An official reopening doesn't necessarily mean every trail or interior road is back to normal, since some stretches can still take a hit here and there while repairs are underway. Before you head out, we'd suggest checking trail conditions on-site, gearing up properly, and packing plenty of water, because this corner of the park is remote and light on services.

Keep Kahuku's own operating hours in mind too, since they don't match the main entrance: it's worth timing your visit accordingly so you don't pull up to a closed gate.

If you're putting your trip together, everything you need is in the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes park guide, where we break down the different areas, the access points, and how much time to give each one. And to fit this park into a bigger journey across the islands, take a look at our road trip route that runs through the park. Enough to turn this reopening into a real day of discovery, far from the crowds.