A visitor strokes the nose of Clyde the mule, (standing beside ‘Ōhi‘a, a part quarter horse) part of the park’s stock program managed by NPS animal caretaker Sean Harris. NPS Photo/Joan Wasser

(BIVN) – On Saturday morning, the day of the highly anticipated reopening of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, the National Park Service gave a media briefing, Public Affairs Specialist Jessica Ferracane spoke to media outside the Kīlauea Visitor Center.

Ferracane announced that drinking water had been restored in the park, just in time for the reopening, “thanks to members of the park’s Facilities Maintenance team who have worked diligently to repair pipes and the water system.”

According to the National Park Service:

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park now resumes its normal 24-hour a day operation. Saturday was National Public Lands Day, a fee-free day, and entrance fees will go into effect Sunday. Parts of the park remain closed until further damage assessments and repairs can be made.