Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Sees Surge in Visitors

More than 1.5 million people visited Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in 2013, a 6.7 percent increase from 2012 statistics, according to the National Parks Service.

The national park, located on Hawaii's Big Island is home to two active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Kīlauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes and Mauna Loa is the world's most massive subaerial volcano.

In 2013 there were 1,583,209 visitors to the park, up from 1,483,928 visitors in 2012.

That park's popularity has been an economic boon for Hawaii, with the most recent data from 2012 revealing that visitors to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park spent $113,376,400 in communities near the park. According to the NPS, that spending supported more than 1,300 jobs in the area.

"Hawaii Island has been on an upward trend in arrivals and spending over the past few years, and a major contributor driving this demand is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park," said Ross Birch, executive director for the Big Island Visitors Bureau. "As the number one attraction for the island, and sometimes the state, it is not a surprise to see the economic impact the park has on our community."

Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando welcomed the 2013 increase in visitors.

"The dual eruptions from Kīlauea, the numerous cultural and scientific programs offered, and the incredibly diverse, protected ecosystem of native plants and animals, continue to attract people from the mainland, around the world, and locally," she said.

The 333,086-acre park stretches from sea level to the summit of Mauna Loa at 13,677 feet. Seven ecological zones encompass the park, as well as 155 miles of trails and 66 miles of paved roadways.

Kīlauea has been erupting from the Halema'uma'u Crater at its summit since 2008 and from the Pu'u 'Ō'ō vent since 1983.

The park is open to visitors 24 hours a day, all year long.