Virginia man awarded for seeing 59 parks

A 77-year-old Virginia man was recognized at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park last week for visiting all 59 national parks.

It took more than 60 years, but Dave Parker completed his journey when he entered Volcanoes park Tuesday night.

“It’s just spectacular to see,” he said of Kilauea’s eruption in a statement.

Parker first entered a national park at age 14 when his parents took him to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, Wyo.

On Wednesday, Volcanoes National Park Chief Ranger John Broward presented Parker with a “59ers” certificate of achievement signed by National Park Service Acting Director Mike Reynolds.

Parker, a McLean, Va., resident, visited the Big Island park with his wife and friends. Before retiring, he worked for the Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C., promoting travel to the U.S.