Visits to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park got a brief boost when Kilauea erupted again last week, creating new reasons for visitors to come to Hawaii, but just like that, the dramatic view of multiple lava fountains feeding into a lake of molten rock is over.
Spending by the 1.6 million visitors to the park last year supported 1,500 jobs in the area and $195 million in economic output in local gateway economies surrounding the park.
While the most recent activity at Maunaloa and Kīlauea has paused, the National Park Service is moving forward on cleaning up damage from past eruptions.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island was given new land Tuesday in a deal that will protect and manage a pristine white sand beach and ocean bay area that is home to endangered and endemic species and to rare, culturally significant Native Hawaiian artifacts.