Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will conduct a range of flight operations during September.
From 6 to 8 a.m. Thursday, ungulate surveys will be conducted at Kahuku between 4,000 feet and 6,500 feet followed by the transport of fence materials from Olaa Unit between 4,000 feet and 3,500 feet from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
On Sept. 9, between 8 a.m. and noon, flights will take place for invasive guinea grass surveys and control along Keauhou Trail, from the coastline to about 2,000 feet elevation.
From 7 a.m. to noon on Sept. 10, flights will operate for petrel monitoring from the summit of Kilauea to Mauna Loa between 8,000 feet and 9,000 feet elevation. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day surveys will also be conducted for invasive banana poka surveys and control on the Mauna Loa Strip between 5,000 ft and 6,400 feet elevation.
Lastly, from 7 a.m. to noon Sept. 29, flights will again take place for petrel monitoring from the summit of Kilauea on Mauna Loa between 8,000 feet and 9,000 feet elevation.
In addition, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may conduct flight operations over Kilauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation.
Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather.
The National Park Service said that management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources, and to maintain backcountry facilities.
