Wednesday, September 23, 2020 - 05:45 p.m.



The access road to the summit of Maunakea is closed to the public at the Visitor Information Station, at the 9,200 foot level due to: high humidity, thick fog making for poor visibility, steady and heavy rains falling all day, causing some flooding and runoffs, especially on the gravel portions of the roadways leading up to the summit, and thereby making for dangerous and hazardous road conditions.



Rangers will continue to monitor road and weather conditions and this message will be updated as these conditions change. We thank you for your patience and understanding.





Mahalo,

Maunakea Rangers



This announcement is primarily used to inform the public about road closures. Road closures typically occur during winter months due to ice or snow on the road and occasionally for high wind situations. Specific road closure criteria are listed below:



1. Any ice or snow on the road.

2. Winds greater than 55 mph for more than 1 hour and/or gusts greater than 65mph.

3. Visibility less than 50 feet.

4. Any emergent condition that makes the road unsafe for travel.



There are very few road closures from April 1 through November 30, and this message will not be updated during this time period unless unusual circumstances develop.



The rest of this website is regularly updated with the summit weather forecast and is a useful source of current Mauna Kea weather conditions.





More Information: Mauna Kea weather varies widely. A calm sunny day may quickly become treacherous with hurricane force winds and blizzard conditions. Summit winds above 120 mph are not uncommon. Snowstorms have even occurred during the summer months.



When conditions are too dangerous, the Summit Access road is closed at the Visitor Information Station to ensure everyone's safety. The road is re-opened as soon as the weather and the roads are safe again.



Traffic delays and road closures on the summit access road may also occur due to the use and transport of heavy equipment, slow vehicle movements, deliveries, road maintenance, stalled or abandoned vehicles, hikers and bikers. Remember that dust, fog or snow can reduce visibility and slow traffic. Specific road closure criteria is listed below:



1. Any ice or snow on the road.

2. Winds greater than 55 mph for one hour and/or gusts greater than 65 mph.

3. Visibility less than 50 feet.

4. Any emergent condition that makes the road unsafe for travel.



Mahalo for your understanding.



Public road conditions and snow report message: (808) 935-6268