HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii — National park officials announced the temporary closure of Uekahuna overlook, restrooms and parking lot on Nov. 9 to protect the area’s breeding and nesting nene (Hawaiian geese).

Kilauea Overlook remains open to park visitors. Visitors can hike about one-third of a mile west of Kilauea Overlook to a trail sign marking the closure along Crater Rim Trail. Vehicles longer than 25 feet cannot proceed west on Crater Rim Drive beyond the Kilauea Military Camp, according to a park news release.

Park officials ask visitors to help protect the rare and threatened nene by keeping your distance — at least four car lengths away — and never feed nene or other wildlife. Feeding nene encourages them to seek people and cars, putting them at risk of injury or death. Always observe park speed limits, slow down for all nene crossing signs within the park and across the island, and be alert for nene along park roads.

In the 1970s, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park started the Nene Recovery Program to assist in the nene's recovery. Now, close to 200 birds thrive in the park from sea level up to 8,000 feet.

Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii.