![]() In terms of park access, backcountry hikers have been the most affected by the eruption and the recent uptick in seismic activity, including earthquakes, over the fall. This site has air-quality updates specific to the park and links to other island health advisories. The national park is also staying in contact with the Hawaii County Civil Defense and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency for updates.Ī previous ash advisory by the National Weather Service has been canceled, and the park continues to monitor air quality for higher levels of sulfur, ash and vog (volcanic smog), although safe levels are currently being reported, according to the Hawaii Department of Health. Of the four fissures, number three has been the most active. Currently, lava flow has descended more than five miles downslope and is moving at less than a mile per hour, according to Ken Hon, scientist-in-charge at the USGS’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Geological Survey’s scientists continue to monitor conditions, Ferracane says. “The parts of the park that 95 percent of visitors come to see-the visitor center and trails-are still open and have been impacted very little,” says Ferracane, who noted that only a fraction of the popular 354,461-acre destination had closed as as a result of the volcano. While the summit of Mauna Loa is closed, an eruption that began within its crater has since migrated to the northeast rift zone, on the slopes outside of park boundaries, where fissures are spewing lava as high as 200 feet. The park is advising visitors to come before 9 a.m. Ferracane recommended the viewpoints of Kupinai Pali (also known as Waldron Ledge), which is an easy half-mile walk from the Kilauea Visitor Center, where there’s parking, as well as from behind Volcano House. Already crowds have begun to flock to the park in the excitement to see the dual eruptions. You’re seeing one of the most unbelievable sights ever.” He noted that the eruption of Mauna Loa was visible from Hilo, Kona, and numerous other points around the island, and he saw many residents viewing the lava flow from Inouye Highway and Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area (Mauna Kea State Recreation Area) on Saddle Road, about 35 miles west of Hilo.ĭecember and January are high travel season for the island, and the national park, which is open 24 hours, can see as many as 8,000 visitors a day during this period. Hawaii County mayor Mitch Roth echoed those sentiments and encouraged tourism. And this is a sacred event-Pele is coming to life.” “This is a rare time-two simultaneous eruptions. ![]() The viewing has been “spectacular,” says Jessica Ferracane, the park’s public-affairs specialist, who admired the glow from Kilauea this morning as well as the vigorous activity from one of four fissures currently open on Mauna Loa. What does this mean for visitors and hikers heading to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park? The eruption of 13,679-foot Mauna Loa, the world’s largest most active volcano, began late Sunday night on the Big Island, joining 4,009-foot Kilauea, which has been erupting for a year. ![]()
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