Tropical Storm Nolo: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Closes Its Gates
With Tropical Storm Nolo closing in, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is shutting down all activities. Here's what to know before you go.
By Erika Müller,
A tropical storm named Nolo is heading toward the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, and the volcanoes park has decided to get ahead of it. If you were planning to hike there or pitch a tent over the next few days, you'll need to rethink your plans. Safety comes first, and rangers would rather clear the exposed areas before the weather turns.
The closure happens in stages. The park's backcountry, remote trails and campgrounds included, closes first, since those are the hardest places to clear out once the rain and wind set in. After that, the rest of the park shuts down too. By 5 PM Thursday, every site will be closed to all recreational activity, including tent camping at Nāmakanipaio. The Kahuku Unit, off to the side of the main caldera, closes a little earlier, at 4 PM.
A quick note for anyone staying on-site. The lodging isn't being evacuated. Guests and staff will shelter in place starting at 5 PM, waiting out the storm. That's the standard call for this kind of event, when moving around becomes riskier than staying put and dry.
For a traveler, it comes down to one simple thing. Hold off on your visit until the park reopens, and keep an eye on official announcements before you head back out. Weather-related closures like these are usually temporary, but how long they last depends on the strength of the storm and the shape of the roads once it moves on.
To plan the rest of your trip with confidence once things settle, keep the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes park guide handy. It'll help you reset your stops. And if you're building a bigger loop around the islands, our road trip route through this park gives you room to absorb this kind of surprise.