Volcano House Hotel on Hawaii’s Big Island to Reopen

Volcano House, a series of historic buildings in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island that have been closed since December 2009, could begin booking guests again before the end of the year. A new management group plans to take over operation of the hotel and restaurant, pending congressional approval of a 15-year contract. A joint venture of Aqua Hotels and Resorts Inc. of Honolulu and Ortega National Parks LLC of Santa Fe, N.M., will spend the next year renovating all 32 guest rooms and the dining area at a cost of $2.5–3 million. The company intends to open the property, which includes banquet facilities and meeting rooms, in phases as work is completed. The rustic cabins at the Namakanipaio campground will be ready within the next few weeks, and eight rooms in the hotel’s annex could open by Jan. 1. hawaiitribune-herald.com