The National Park Service said that its Kahuku Unit, about an hour’s drive south of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s main entrance, will now remain open five days a week, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

The extra days were added after two-thirds of the park closed on May 11 due to increased volcanic hazards.

Admission is free to the Kahuku Unit on the slopes of Mauna Loa, where visitors can explore the wide expanse of the volcano’s 1868 lava flow, a native forest and historic pasturelands by foot. The entrance to the Kahuku Unit is on the mauka side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5 in Kau, about an hour’s drive south of the park’s main entrance

Park rangers and volunteers from the Kilauea section of the park will join Kahuku rangers in welcoming visitors. Free programs and guided hikes, including two scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday morning, are available. Visitors will also be able to get a new Kahuku stamp for their NPS Passport Books. More information is available at this link.

RELATED STORIES
>> Evacuation by air could have Lower Puna residents out in hours, official says
>> Volcano could dent booming tourism industry
>> Puna man ‘just wanted to live’ after nearly losing leg to lava bomb
>> Geothermal plant on Hawaii island declared ‘essentially safe’
>> Leilani Estates family ‘heartbroken’ as huge crack runs under their home

RELATED PHOTOS AND VIDEO
>> Live webcams from Hawaii island
>> Photos: Lava in Leilani Estates, May 23
>> Photos: Lava approaches Puna Geothermal Venture, May 22
>> Photos: Pahoa community meeting, May 22
>> Video: Victor Hoapili talks as lava fountains erupt in his backyard
>> Video: Ken Szymanski talks about lava fissures in his neighborhood

COMPLETE KILAUEA COVERAGE
>> Star-Advertiser volcano coverage
>> Kilauea Volcano YouTube playlist