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Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park will reopen with free admission Saturday

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COURTESY HAWAI‘I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

National Park Service crews assess the damage along Crater Rim Trail.

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COURTESY HAWAI‘I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

National Park Service crews assess the damage along Crater Rim Trail.

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is on track to open Saturday at 10 a.m., with free admission on that day, the National Park Service said today.

Park visitors should anticipate heavy traffic, long lines and delays, and one-third fewer parking spaces than before, officials said. In addition, there will be limited services and no potable water as the park continues to recover from the recent Kilauea eruption.

Most of the park has been closed to visitors since May 11 due to hazardous volcanic and seismic activity at the Kilauea summit, which damages many structures and roads.

“We are thrilled to welcome our public back and share the incredible changes that have taken place,” said park superintendent Cindy Orlando in a news release. “We ask that you stay alert to these profound changes while enjoying your park and its resources.”

Before the closure, the park averaged 5,500 visitors a day, and many parking lots were often full by 10 a.m.

If a parking lot is full, the NPS advises visitors to seek parking at a different destination such as Mauna Ulu or at the coast. Vehicles parked outside of designated stalls are subject to citation and may be towed, they said. Visitors should bring snacks, drinking water, and have a full tank of gas, officials added.

Saturday is National Public Lands Day.

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For more information: www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/safety.htm.

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