Maunakea visitor station to reopen after pandemic shutdown 

Maunakea Visitor Information Station

Rodrigo Romo, VIS manager

The Maunakea Visitor Information Station (VIS) on Hawaiʻi Island will resume operations starting Thursday, July 15, more than a year after shutting its doors in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff have installed safety barriers and will implement proper social distancing that adheres to local, state and federal guidelines. Modified daily hours of 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m will be in effect until further notice.  

“Our goal is to educate the visitors on the cultural importance of the mountain,” said Rodrigo Romo, newly appointed VIS manager. “We need to make sure visitors know how to behave on the mountain and approach it with the respect it deserves.”  

The VIS, which is at the 9,200-foot elevation of Maunakea, is in an area known as Halepōhaku. The Center for Maunakea Stewardship (CMS) has completed parking lot and traffic flow improvements to ensure parking and vehicle pull-outs are on the same side of the road as the VIS. This helps to provide safe public access as required by the Maunakea Comprehensive Management Plan.   

Officials encourage everyone to follow health department recommendations on social distancing and protection while visiting Maunakea. 

For more information, go to the CMS website.