Park Seeks Public Input in Development of New General Management Plan

You are invited to help create a vision for the future of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The park is seeking public input in the development of a new General Management Plan that will guide Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park for the next 20 years.

"As the Park looks to its 100th anniversary in 2016, we are excited to create a collective vision to prepare the Park for its next century" said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando.

The long-range plan will answer "What kind of place do we want this park to be?" It will serve as a guidebook for the future to help managers make decisions about how to best protect natural and cultural resources, what levels and types of uses are appropriate, what facilities should be developed, and how people should access the park.

It has been more than 30 years since the park’s previous master plan was completed. Since that time, the park has experienced increased visitation, advances in knowledge about ecological and cultural resources, and numerous volcanic eruptions with the resultant loss of buildings and roadways. In 2003, the park grew by 116,000 acres with the acquisition of Kahuku on the southwest slope of Mauna Loa Volcano. The planning effort will develop a strategic vision for the entire park, including Kahuku.

As a first step in envisioning the Park’s future, the National Park Service will host open houses on three islands—Hawai‘i Island, O‘ahu, and Maui. You are invited to come meet the planning team, learn more about the GMP planning process, and share your ideas, concerns and thoughts about this special place.