Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Posts March Flight Schedule for Mapping, Invasive Species

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has posted a remaining March 2026 flight schedule to support invasive-species control, high-resolution coastal mapping, native-plant monitoring and logistics on Maunaloa, with several helicopter sling-load missions to deliver fence material to high elevations and aircraft activity in coastal and backcountry areas. The park notice was last updated March 2, 2026.

March 2, 2026, Time: between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Activity: external sling loads of fence material, Location/elevation: Maunaloa, between 6,300- and 9,500-ft. elevation.

March 3, 2026, Time: between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., Activity: survey and control of invasive trees, Location/elevation: Kueʻe/Pepeiao area, from 1,000- and 2,000-ft elevation.

March 4, 2026, Time: between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m., Activity: external sling loads of fence material, Location/elevation: Maunaloa, between 6,300- and 9,500-ft. elevation.

March 18, 2026, Time: between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., Activity: invasive guinea grass control work, Location/elevation: coastal backcountry, from sea level to 2,400-ft. elevation.

March 23, 2026, Activity 1, Time: between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Activity: high resolution mapping of park coastline, Location/elevation: between sea level and 500-ft elevation, Purpose/goal noted: “to protect natural resources.” Activity 2, Time: between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Activity: native plant monitoring, Location/elevation: Pepeiao area, between 500-ft and 2,500-ft elevation.

March 26, 2026, Time: between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Activity: native plant monitoring, Location/elevation: Pepeiao area, between 500-ft and 2,500-ft elevation.

March 30, 2026, Time: between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m., Activity: external sling loads of fence material, Location/elevation: Maunaloa, between 6,300- and 9,500-ft. elevation.

The park notice also states: “USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may conduct additional flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation.” That activity is presented as conditional, with no dates or times provided in the March notice.

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park included two operational cautions: “The park regrets any noise impact to residents and park visitors. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather.” Residents and visitors near Maunaloa, the Kueʻe/Pepeiao area, the coastal backcountry and the Pepeiao monitoring sites should expect intermittent helicopter and aircraft noise tied to the listed conservation and logistics missions through the remainder of March.

For contact and further information the notice lists the park mailing address as P.O. Box 52, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718, and phone 808 985-6011. The National Park Service encourages following park updates on the agency website and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

These flight operations are scheduled to support targeted restoration and monitoring work across the park, including fence logistics into high-elevation Maunaloa sites, invasive tree and guinea grass control, high-resolution coastline mapping to protect natural resources, and native-plant monitoring in the Pepeiao area.