HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaiʻi -Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park announces flight operations for September 2023:
September 1 between 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. for Hawaiian petrel monitoring on Mauna Loa between 4,000 and 9,000-ft. elevation.
September 5 between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. for ungulate survey at Kahuku between 4,000 and 6,000-ft. elevation.
September 11 and 15 between 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. for Hawaiian petrel monitoring on Mauna Loa between 4,000 ft and 9,000 ft elevation.
September 14 between 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. for Fountain Grass control and monitoring from the park's west boundary to Keauhou and from sea level to 3,500-ft elevation.
September 18 between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. multiple flights are planned by U.S. Gelological Survey (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) to retrieve temporary seismic instruments on Kīlauea caldera floor around 4,000-ft. elevation.
September 18 and 21 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for Red Hill Cabin repairs and waste removal on Mauna Loa between 8,500 ft and 10,000-ft elevation.
September 19 between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. for ungulate survey at Kahuku between 4,000 and 6,000-ft. elevation and for invasive tree control and monitoring in the Ka'ū dessert from 1,000 to 2400-ft. elevation.
USGS HVO may conduct additional 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 conditions.
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