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STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Chain of Craters Road is one of several portions of Volcanoes National Park that remained closed today.
Most of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park remained closed today while Congress worked to end a federal government shutdown.
Portions of the park that are closed include the main park entrance, Crater Rim Drive, Chain of Craters Road, the entire summit area of Kilauea and the active “61G lava flow” within the park boundary, a park spokeswoman said in an email. Those areas were closed Saturday and will remain closed until further notice.
In the absence of staff, the National Park Service said hazards associated with the active Kilauea Volcano both at the summit and from the Puu Oo vent pose a significant risk to the safety of visitors.
Guests at Volcano House and Kilauea Military Camp were asked to depart the park this morning. The Volcano Art Center Gallery is also closed.
No back country permits will be issued, and overnight camping is not permitted.
Highway 11 through the park remains open, along with Mauna Loa Road to Kipukapuaulu Trail, as well as about a quarter-mile of Kau Desert Trail to the Footprints exhibit shelter. Access may change without notice, the NPS said.
The NPS said it will remain closed until President Donald Trump signs the law funding the government and gives it an order to resume operations. Once the order is received, the park will mobilize staff to safely reopen closed sections to visitors no sooner than Tuesday morning.
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