May 2026 Events & Updates at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

Contact: HAVO Public Affairs

HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaiʻi - Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park announces updates and events for May 2026. Photos available upon request.

Kīlauea Volcano Eruption. The Kīlauea summit eruption that began in December 2024 is ongoing, with 44-and-counting episodes all within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at the volcano's summit crater, Halemaʻumaʻu.

Large amounts of tephra (falling volcanic material) from eruption episodes 41, 43 and 44 caused temporary closures in the park and on Highway 11 for safety and cleanup. If light or southerly winds occur during high lava fountains, visitors and residents should expect similar closures.

The eruptions are in a closed area of the park, but volcanic activity can be observed from open viewing areas along Kīlauea caldera rim. Stay out of closed areas! Hazards include volcanic gas, steep unstable cliff edges, earth cracks and tephra.

During eruptions traffic is heavy and parking is limited. Plan ahead and check the park website for viewing locations, parking tips, and more.

When will Kīlauea erupt next? Sign up for free Volcano Notification Service emails through the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Be aware that the eruption could stop before you arrive. Follow the USGS HVO livestream cameras for eruptive activity in real time.

Air Quality. Light or southerly winds cause volcanic gas or "vog" to drift over Kīlauea summit and visitor areas. Exposure to high levels of volcanic gas can cause respiratory distress and illness. Monitor the park's air quality online and if vog levels are unhealthy, explore another area of the park until the air improves. If hazardous air quality persists, the park may temporarily close impacted areas until it is safe to reopen.

Park Programs

All events are free, but park entrance fees apply. Some programs are sponsored by the Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association. Programs are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Check the park calendar for more information.

Cracked Nut Creatives Morning Concert at Kahuku. The National Parks Arts Foundation 's May artists-in-residence, Cracked Nut Creatives, bring a rare fusion of cello performance and live multimedia art to the Kahuku Unit. Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra cellist Joshua Nakazawa honors Queen Liliʻuokalani with an improvised interpretation of her music, shaped in real time by the shifting light, weather, and natural acoustics of Kaʻū. Multimedia artists Carlin Ma and Sam Paris layer in live visual, musical, and cinematic elements to create an immersive, one-of-a-kind experience. Drawing from their interdisciplinary backgrounds in film, music, and photography, Cracked Nut Creatives explore how people and landscape continually influence one another. Their Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park residency centers on themes of transformation, resilience, and cultural reverence. Co-presented by the National Parks Arts Foundation and Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
When: Saturday, May 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Where: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station. Turn into Kahuku near the 70.5mile marker on Hwy 11 in Kaʻū.

Paper Making Workshop. Artist Susan O'Malley will teach paper-making using fibers from maiʻa (banana) and hau. This is a hands-on experience. All materials will be provided, attendance is limited and reservations are required. Email e-mail us to reserve a spot.
When: Saturday, May 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station. Turn into Kahuku near the 70.5-mile marker on Hwy 11 in Kaʻū.

Two-Lined Spittlebug: A Threat to Hawaiʻi Pastures. Mark Thorne will discuss the two-lined spittlebug, recently found in Kaʻū, and a major threat to the local pasture-based livestock industry. Mark Thorne is the range and livestock management specialist for the state of Hawaiʻi. He conducts applied research and provides educational outreach on rangeland ecology and management and sustainable livestock production across the state.
When: Saturday, May 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Where: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station. Turn into Kahuku near the 70.5-mile marker on Hwy 11 in Kaʻū.

Stewardship at the Summit Rainforest Restoration. Volunteer to help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Under 18? Parental or guardian accompaniment with written consent is required. Visit the park website for details.
When: May 30. Meet at 8:45 a.m.
Where: Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center parking lot on the dates above. (The meeting place is open during the visitor center renovation.)

Ranger-Guided Programs at Kīlauea Summit. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park offers free guided programs nearly every day. Experience Life on the Edge at Uēkahuna, Explore the Summit and other ranger programs by checking the park calendar for dates, times and descriptions or drop by the Welcome Center to read the program board.
When: Almost daily
Where: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Kīlauea summit

Construction Updates

Lava Tube Bridge Replacement. The park will replace the aging bridge entering Nāhuku (also known as Thurston Lava Tube) starting April 23. Most of Nāhuku will remain open during construction but will only be accessible one way in and out from the east "exit" end. The rainforest trail to the front of the lava tube, the lava tube bridge and 50 feet into the cave will be closed during the replacement. The bridge replacement should be complete by the end of June. The restrooms will remain open.

Kīlauea Visitor Center (KVC) renovations and updates are about 70 percent complete, and KVC should reopen in late 2026. The roof on the large, open-air hālau is nearly finished. Work continues on the restrooms, the overflow parking lot and the interior. The KVC rehabilitation is Phase Two of the park Disaster Recovery Project that resulted from the damaging 2018 summit collapse of Kīlauea volcano which closed most of the park for 134 days.

Make the Welcome Center Your First Stop. While Kīlauea Visitor Center is temporarily closed for renovation, park rangers, the NPS Passport stamp, Junior Ranger books, visitor services and the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store are at the Welcome Center in Kilauea Military Camp (KMC). Take Crater Rim Drive West, a little over a mile from the park entrance and park at the adjacent ballfield. Parking in front of KMC is for registered guests only. The Welcome Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

We Have Water! Bring your refillable water bottles. The water bottle filling station at Uēkahuna is up and running.

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