MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaii National Park, HI – Repaving of the exterior observation area and pathways adjacent to the Jaggar Museum will begin on Monday, August 22nd.

The approximately 7,000 square foot repaving project will remove and replace the existing pavement in sections from the east side of the museum to the exterior museum bathrooms. Continued access to the museum will be maintained throughout the project. However, not all of the entrances will be accessible at all times. ADA museum access will be maintained throughout the project.

A ten-person construction and interpretation crew will execute the work, direct pedestrian traffic and provide a safe environment for visitors. Each phase of the project will see a portion of the area closed off by a safety barrier as old pavement is removed and new pavement is placed. An alternate temporary viewing area will be constructed to the west of the museum parking lot to alleviate pedestrian congestion.

Visitors are encouraged to use the Kilauea Overlook as an alternate viewing area for Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Construction is scheduled through September with a completion date mid-October.

The project is part of the park’s ongoing facility maintenance. Repaving will improve drainage, accommodate an expanded viewing area and extend the surface’s life cycle by approximately 20 years. Every effort will be made to reduce the impact of the visitor experience but some inconvenience is, unfortunately, required to improve the park’s visitor facilities for years to come.