Mauna Loa Road in HVNP will temporarily close for six weeks

Mauna Loa Road in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will temporarily close to all use when survey, drilling and soil sampling work starts Monday.

Mauna Loa Road from Highway 11 to Kipukapuaulu, Kipukapuaulu Trail and the day-use area will remain open.

The closure will start at the gate past Kipukapuaulu from 8:30 a.m to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday due to a large trailer-mounted drill rig and heavy machinery that will dominate the narrow road. The road will reopen on weekends and holidays to all users, including Nov. 11 for Veterans Day and Nov. 27 through Thanksgiving weekend, until work resumes the following Monday.

Mauna Loa Trail to Pu‘u‘ula‘ula and Red Hill Cabin will remain open, but access to and from the trailhead during work days will only be permitted before 8:30 a.m. or after 4 p.m.

Mauna Loa Road (not to be confused with Mauna Loa Observatory Road off Daniel K. Inouye Highway) was first built as a truck trail by local members of the Civilian Conservation Corps. It has degraded due to tree root intrusion, seismicity and age.

This initial survey, drilling and sampling work will determine the subgrade material and inform the design process for a major rehabilitation of Mauna Loa Road to Mauna Loa Lookout, where the bumpy and uneven road ends around 6,700 feet.

The rehab project is anticipated to start in late 2025.

The temporary closure of Mauna Loa Road is expected to last through mid-December.