In commemoration of the Martin Luther King Day holiday, national parks will waive entrance fees this weekend - Saturday, Jan. 15, through Monday, Jan. 17, 2011. In Hawai‘i, this weekend's fee-free parks include Hawai‘i Volcanoes, Pu‘uhonua o Honaunau, and Haleakala.
"It's a new year," said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. "If your resolution is to unplug and spend quality time together in the outdoors, where better than a national park in Hawai‘i?" In tough economic times, fee-free days give families an affordable way to enjoy our islands' natural beauty in meaningful ways," added Orlando.
This weekend is the perfect opportunity to join in ranger-guided hikes that celebrate Hawai‘i island's second annual Volcano Awareness Month, an initiative spearheaded by scientists at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Hikes slated for this weekend include:
* On Saturday, meet at the Kilauea Visitor Center by 1:00 pm for a three hour, 2.7 mile hike into Kilauea Caldera
* On Sunday, meet at Kilauea Iki Overlook by 1:00 pm for a three hour, 4 mile hike through Kilauea Iki Crater.
* On Monday, meet at the Mauna Ulu parking lot by 10:00 am, for a three hour, 3 mile hike through the lava landscape created by Kilauea's 1969 to 1974 eruption.
The Kahuku Unit of the park is also open this Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm for driving, hiking, and picnicking. A special ranger-guided hike, People and Land of Kahuku, is scheduled for Sunday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.
For all hikes, carry water and snacks, wear sunscreen and sturdy shoes, and be prepared for cool wet weather.
Mark your calendar - future 2011 fee-free dates include National Park Week (April 16-24), the first day of summer (June 21), National Public Lands Day (September 24), and Veterans Day weekend (November 11-13).
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
