The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said Tuesday the Big Island monument had been closed since September so a private contractor could trim trees in the parking lot and rebuild the park entry road. The company also reconstruction parts of the parking lot.

The work cost the state about $230,000.

The agency plans further improvements, including repaving walkways, rebuilding the pavilion and installing an information kiosk.

The park southeast of Pahoa is known for its “lava trees.” They are lava molds left behind on tree trunks by a lava flow that swept through the forest.