{"id":144964,"date":"2021-07-13T09:41:48","date_gmt":"2021-07-13T19:41:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=144964"},"modified":"2021-07-13T09:41:48","modified_gmt":"2021-07-13T19:41:48","slug":"maunakea-visitor-station-to-reopen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/07\/13\/maunakea-visitor-station-to-reopen\/","title":{"rendered":"Maunakea visitor station to reopen after pandemic shutdown"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> < 1<\/span> minute<\/span><\/span>

\"Maunakea<\/p>\n

The Maunakea Visitor Information Station<\/a> (VIS<\/abbr>) on Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> 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.<\/p>\n

\"Rodrigo
Rodrigo Romo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

VIS<\/abbr>, which is at the 9,200-foot elevation of Maunakea, is in an area known as Halep\u014dhaku. The Center for Maunakea Stewardship<\/a> (CMS<\/abbr>) has completed parking lot and traffic flow improvements to ensure parking and vehicle pull-outs are on the same side of the road as VIS<\/abbr>. This helps to provide safe public access as required by the Maunakea Comprehensive Management Plan.<\/p>\n