Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park| Kahuku Site Management Plan

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National Park Service

November 11, 2024

A forest with a thick understory of bright green ferns.

NPS & Kahuku

The Kahuku Unit was acquired as several parcels between 2003 and 2022. Together they extend from sea level to over 12,000 feet in elevation.

Purpose of the Plan

The purpose of the park is to protect, study, and provide access to Kīlauea and Maunaloa, two of the world’s most active volcanoes and to perpetuate endemic Hawaiian ecosystems and the traditional Hawaiian culture connected to these landscapes.

The Site Management Plan (SMP) and the process of civic engagement are essential to define the types of visitor uses and functions for the Kahuku Unit. Called for in the 2016 General Management Plan, the SMP will refine the vision for the unit by assessing the facilities and access needs. The plan will also provide recommendations on additional facilities and improving access. Two initial steps of the process are to identify the overall objectives of the plan and any issues or concerns that need to be addressed or considered.

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Green rolling hills, trees and ranch like buildings are seen from the top of a tall hill, and the Pacific Ocean is visible in distance.

An old water tank structure sits beside a winding dirt road among green pasture grass and large trees.

The ROD quarantine gate forms a barrier across the main Kahuku road. There is a drive gate and a pedestrian gate with boot scrubbing station. Signage attached to the gate informs visitors of procedures and rules.

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The trailhead parking at Lower Kona/Glover is a small grass pull-off area next to a gravel road. The parking area is surrounded by taller grass and a few large trees provide some sparse shade.

A close view of a bright red native ‘akala berry and flower surrounded by green leaves.

Two visitors standing in the fenced decontamination area of the ROD quarantine gate are spraying boots with isopropyl alcohol solution.

Management Zones

Desired conditions and Management zones describe what the park strives to achieve in each area of the park.

An empty picnic table in a recently mowed area, under overcast skies with tall trees nearby.

Three people on a very grassy hill look down on a festival with ocean in the background.

The misty volcanic landscape of Hapaimamo with an expanse of rough terrain made up of dark lava rock and highlights of bright red soil and green shrubs.

Preliminary Concepts

The following preliminary concepts are early ideas for potential projects at Kahuku. Not everything presented here would be implemented. Projects that are implemented would be installed or developed over time depending on funding availability. Through civic engagement, we want to learn more about community priorities and use public input to help prioritize projects and locations.

Project Schedule & Next Steps

The Kahuku Site Management Plan is in the second phase of a four-phase process. The comment period for this phase is November 6th to December 6th. There will also be opportunities to provide feedback during the next two phases as detailed in the Project Timeline below. See the next section, Share Your Feedback , for information on how to comment during this phase of the project.

A graphic of the project schedule shows that phase one of the project was in the spring of 2024 and phase two covers summer and fall of 2024. The second phase is marked as the current phase of the project. Phases three and four are shown as future phases to be completed over the next year, 2025.

Share your Feedback!

Two red apapane honeycreepers are facing eachother perched on top of a mamane tree with green leaves and yellow flowers. — ʻApapane, the most abundant species of the Hawaiian honeycreeper, on māmane tree.

It is important that we hear from you! We will accept comments from November 6, 2024 to December 6, 2024. See below for the different ways to participate and provide your feedback.

Comment Online

Submit your comments via our Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website using the link below. You will also find additional information about the project on the website. Click here to go to the Kahuku Site Management Plan PEPC site.

Attend a Meeting in Person

We will be hosting two in-person meetings November 14 and November 16. The in-person meetings will provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the project, ask questions, and have discussions with park staff.

A group of visitors gather around a park ranger on a grassy hilltop overlooking a forested area below and the coastline in the distance. — Group at Puʻuolokuana with rangers.

In-Person Meeting - Thursday, November 14, 2024 Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Location: Nāʻālehu Community Center, 95-5635 Hawaiʻi Belt Rd, Nāʻālehu, HI 96772

In-Person Meeting - Saturday, November 16, 2024 Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Location: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station, Māmalahoa Highway (Hwy 11) mm 70.5, Nāʻālehu, HI 96772

Attend a Virtual Meeting

We will be hosting one virtual public meeting December 3^rd. The virtual meeting will also provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the project and ask questions. There will be a presentation at the start of the meeting (6 p.m.). Use the link below to join the meeting online or join by phone using the toll-free number and meeting ID.

Virtual Meeting - December 3, 2024 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Join Virtual Meeting Online

Join Virtual Meeting by phone: (888) 475-4499 ID: 917 9929 0126

Please note: Comments will not be accepted by fax, e-mail, or any other way than those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Two sea turtle hatchlings crawling across a sand beach toward the ocean.