Boles Field

On August 1, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the country’s 13th national park into existence – Hawaiʻi National Park (Kilauea and Mauna Loa;) eventually, Kilauea Caldera was added to the park.  On-the-ground administration of the park began with the arrival of Superintendent Thomas R Boles in April 1922.

At the same time the Park was created (1916,) the military opened a rest and recreation Camp within the Park boundaries – the Kilauea Military Camp (KMC.) A military landing field called Sand Spit Horst was located just south of Halemaʻumaʻu crate; it was referred to as Kilauea Airfield.  In 1925, a new Army field was under construction on the bluff between Uwekahuna and KMC (it was named for Boles.)  By 1945, the airfield was determined incompatible with NPS policy.

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