Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was busier than usual late last month thanks to the end of the Safe Travels program and an influx of spring break vacationers from the mainland.
In March, HVNP had 88,871 visitors, which is an average of 2,867 visitors a day.
“We were definitely busy during spring break. Our numbers reflect what’s coming to the island because most people want to come to the park,” said park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane. “The eruption conditions are spectacular, which also causes an influx in visitation. Both have contributed to an increase in tourists.”
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2021, HVNP had 75,511 visitors, which was up from 61,695 in March 2020.
“A lot of factors have impacted visitation over the last five years, especially the summit collapse and the pandemic,” Ferracane said. “Seeing the numbers for 2022 is a sign that things are getting back to some normalcy.”
The largest number of visitors in March in the past five years was 174,690 in 2018 before the May-August summit collapse, the Kilauea eruption and subsequent 134-day park closure.
The current eruption has been ongoing since Sept. 29, 2021. Lava continues to erupt inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater. All lava activity is confined within the crater.
Visitors can see the lava lake and eruption from multiple viewpoints at the park.
Samir El Negro walked through the park April 1 with a relative to watch the plume from the eruption rise in the sky.
“It is incredible up here and something we had to see,” El Negro said. “Seeing an eruption is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I’m glad we caught it during the visit.”