New map courtesy Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

(BIVN) – The National Park Service has produced a new map prior to the reopening of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on National Public Lands Day on September 22, 2018.

The new map shows the Halema‘uma‘u deepest subsistence area, and lists the locations and facilities that are going to be open as of 10 a.m. next Saturday.

The National Park Service also published a new Special Reopening Advisory that details the profound changes and new dangers in the park:

Most of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park closed on May 11, 2018 due to increased dangers volcanic and seismic activity of Kīlauea volcano. Over the next twelve weeks large lava flows covered land southeast of the park destroying over 700 homes and devastating residential areas in the Puna District. At the same time, the summit area of the park was dramatically changed by tens of thousands of earthquakes, towering ash plumes, and 62 massive collapse explosions. The events caused profound damage to park infrastructure unprecedented in the park’s 102 year history including building damage, rock falls, deep cracks in roads and trails, and numerous breaks to water and sewer lines. Now, with the eruption paused, there is no molten lava to see in the park. As the park reopens and recovers, visitors should take extra precautions to remain safe during their visit. Visitors should expect limited services and parking, long lines, and no potable water.

Park areas remain unstable and unsafe from thousands of recent earthquakes and caldera collapses, the National Park Service says, as it warns visitors:

• Stay on open trails and roads! Closed trails and roads are dangerous, do not enter.
• Stay away from cracks and sinkholes. Falls into cracks have seriously injured and killed people. Cracks have unstable edges, do not approach them!
• Rockfalls are unpredictable. Pay attention and keep away from all cliffs.
• Wear sturdy shoes and long pants, falling on lava rock is like falling on broken glass.
• Do not hike after dark. Even those who know the area must be cautious due to new hazards.

“Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is a wild place,” the Special Reopening Advisory states. “The dramatic landscape of Kīlauea is constantly being shaped by powerful and uncontrollable natural forces. Respect the dangers of this dynamic natural process and stay out of closed areas.”

On the recovery page on the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website, the park provides these updates:

September 10: inspections of sewage lines at Kīlauea Visitor Center were completed finding no damage and the most critical public restrooms in the park are now determined to be safe for use.

September 11: a Federal Highways Administration team began assessing earthquake damage on park roads and making emergency repairs.

September 12: 8 out of 43 building sepetic systems have been inspected and determined safe for use.

September 13: two orientation briefings were held with permitted commercial tour guides at the Kīlauea visitor center to review new park conditions, limited parking challenges, and what areas and facilities would be open.