Hawaii National Park, Hawai‘i - Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park announces the following upcoming flight plans for December:
• Dec. 2, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and December 5 between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to shuttle crew and equipment from Chain of Craters Road at 2,000-ft. elevation to ‘Āpua,
Keauhou, and Halapē beaches, and extract hawksbill turtle monitoring equipment.
• December 3 and December 5, between 7 a.m. and noon, for petrel monitoring from the summit of Kīlauea to Mauna Loa between 8,000- and 9,000-ft. elevation.
• December 3 and 4, between 6 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., for crew and equipment transport to the Kahuku-Kapāpala boundary between 5,000- and 9,000-ft. elevation.
• Dec. 10, between 6 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., for ungulate surveys near the Ka‘ū desert boundary between sea level and 1,500-ft. elevation.
• Dec. 10, between 7 a.m. and noon, for petrel monitoring from the summit of Kīlauea on Mauna Loa between 8,000- and 9,000-ft. elevation
• December 10 and 13 between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., for transport of field equipment from the end of Hilina Pali Road to Pepeiao Cabin for vegetation monitoring.
• Dec. 17, between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m., for transport of fence material and field equipment from the ‘Ōla‘a Tract.
• Dec. 18, between 6 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. for ungulate surveys near Mauna Loa Road from 4,000- to 9,000-ft. elevation.
• Dec. 19, between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., for transport of fence material and field equipment from the Kīpuka Kī and Keauhou-Ka‘ū boundary to 4,000-ft. elevation.
In addition, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may conduct flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation.
The park regrets any noise impact to residents and park visitors. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather.
Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources, and to maintain backcountry facilities.
-NPS-
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
