Nāmakanipaio tent camping reopens near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Tent campers once again have a low-cost place to stay near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, as Nāmakanipaio reopened after crews cleared several very large eucalyptus trees that fell across the tent sites during the March kona low storms. No one was injured, but the cleanup was a big job, and the closure kept one of the park’s most practical overnight options off limits for months.

The campground sits at about 4,000 feet elevation near the summit area of Kīlauea, off Highway 11 in Volcano. The National Park Service says Nāmakanipaio is one of two drive-in campgrounds in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and is operated by Hawaii Volcanoes Lodge Company. The lodge company lists campsite rates at $15 per night, and the park lists a seven-day maximum stay. For Big Island families, last-minute campers and visitors trying to keep costs down, the reopening restores an affordable place to sleep close to the park without booking a lodge room.

The return of Nāmakanipaio follows a rough stretch of storm damage across the park. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park closed March 14 because of severe weather and stayed closed through March 15 due to power outages, downed power lines, fallen trees, flooding and other storm-related damage. The park began reopening some areas on March 18, while other sections remained closed for storm and volcanic cleanup. Earlier, on March 12, closures were issued ahead of forecast heavy rain and strong damaging winds.

Nāmakanipaio’s history also shows that tree hazards have forced closures before. The campground was established in the 1960s, and a 2016 National Park Service notice said it had been closed for removal of hazardous non-native eucalyptus trees. That makes the latest reopening less of a simple administrative update than a sign that the park has worked through a real safety problem and can again support overnight use.

Volcano House and Big Island Tree Service, Inc. were thanked for helping with the cleanup, underscoring that the reopening depended on coordinated work rather than a quick fix. Volcano House’s campground page describes Nāmakanipaio as rustic and one-of-a-kind, and the lodge company also manages nearby camper cabins. With Kīlauea continuing to erupt episodically at the summit, the campground’s return gives residents and visitors another way to stay close to the park while keeping South Hawaii travel more affordable.