Park Foundation Funds Hawaiʻi Volcanoes Wildlife Tech
A two-year National Park Foundation grant will fund aerial technology to track invasive animals and fence breaches at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in National Parks
The National Park Foundation has awarded a two-year innovation grant to Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to protect the park's native ecosystems using advanced aerial technology. The project follows damage from Hurricane Lala to protective fencing.
Why it matters
Damaged fencing allowed invasive animals into protected areas, threatening native ecosystems in the park. The grant reflects a broader effort to apply new technology to conservation work in remote terrain.
The grant is one component of the National Park Foundation's latest $12 million innovation investment, running for two years. The specific dollar amount awarded to this project was not disclosed.
The players
National Park Foundation
The congressionally chartered nonprofit partner of the National Park Service that raises private funds to support national parks.
Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
The nonprofit support group that works alongside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on conservation and visitor programs.
The details
Thermal imaging on unmanned aircraft systems and helicopter-based light detection and ranging (LiDAR) will detect invasive non-native ungulates, including pigs and sheep, and identify fence breaches across volcanic terrain. The technologies are intended to assess fence conditions and locate invasive animals across the park's remote areas.
Timeline
November 7, 2026: Big Island Now announces the grant award.
Roadmap
The National Park Foundation's innovation grant program is directing private funds toward new monitoring tools for park conservation. This award applies aerial detection technology to the invasive-animal and fencing problems that storm damage has made more acute at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes.
Visitors to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park may encounter fencing repairs and conservation work as the project proceeds. Those planning trips should check park notices for any access changes tied to fence restoration.
The takeaway
Aerial monitoring can cover remote volcanic terrain that is difficult to patrol on foot, making it a practical tool for protecting native habitat. Park visitors and supporters can follow the project's progress through the park's official channels.
Further reading
For more on how parks manage wildlife and habitat threats, explore National Parks.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Big Island Now | Big Island News and Information.
