VOLCANO, Hawaii — Hawaii Volcanoes National Park remains closed today because of high levels of sulfur dioxide pouring from Kilauea volcano. About 2,000 park visitors were forced to leave the park Wednesday, and the popular Volcano House hotel on the crater rim was evacuated.

A lack of wind kept the noxious gas from Halemaumau Crater lingering over the heart of the park on the Big Island of Hawaii. The crater at the summit of the 4,000-foot Kilauea is edged by a road and viewpoints as well as the hotel, visitor center and small museum.

"Right now we have little to no wind," said park spokeswoman Mardi Lane. The plume from the volcano's main crater was lingering over the area rather than getting blown away by trade winds the way it had been earlier in the week.

"The winds died down, the huge plume that normally blows to the southwest has just pancaked on top of the summit of Kilauea and we're suffering the effects of that. So it really seems we are at the whim of the wind," she said.

Although the gas is invisible, its presence can be felt as it drifts with clouds of light-scattering particulate coming from the volcano.

"It's kind of like looking through a milky white film," Lane said. "When you step outside, definitely your eyes tear, you have that feeling that you'd like to cough or clear your throat," she said.

Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, has been erupting since Jan. 3, 1983. A new eruption began last month in the Halemaumau crater, spewing gases and occasional lava splatters.

A rare two-day park closure earlier this month was caused by a shift in wind direction that prevented the gas from being blown out to sea.

"Our primary concern is for the health and safety of visitors and employees," said Joe Molhoek, the park's incident commander. "We're in close contact with the National Weather Service and look forward to favorable winds by week's end."

The closure included evacuation of the 42-room Volcano House hotel.

Hawaii County Civil Defense said no evacuations were ordered for communities outside the park.

However, residents of Volcano Golf and Country Club Estates experiencing respiratory problems should consider leaving the area, officials said.

Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, has been erupting since Jan. 3, 1983.

Kristin Jackson of Seattle Times Travel contributed to this report.