Volcano Eruption Update

Pele puts on dramatic show for visitors

The exciting volcanic activity continues to evolve in Halemaumau crater at the summit of Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. The dramatic plume of gas that has been gushing from a vent in the crater wall since March 11th has turned from fluffy white to dusky brown. This indicates that ash has somehow bled into the plume, which is now rising up to a mile above the crater, according to scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO).

Visitors from near and far have been thronging to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to see the show being staged by Hawaiian fire goddess Pele.

Equally as dramatic, but visible only to the intrepid HVO geologists who recently ventured to the crater rim just above the vent, were deposits of “Pele’s hair” (thin strands of solidified lava), and “Pele’s tears” (droplets of lava rock) above the crater rim. These artifacts of the eruption indicate that molten lava was ejected from the vent for the first time during this eruption. However, no flowing lava has been seen on the crater floor.

This activity follows on the heels of the March 19th gas explosion in the crater wall that threw rock onto the crater floor and over the top of the rim. Debris fell on the parking lot and damaged the viewing platform. That area was already closed to visitors because of the plume’s heavy content of sulfur dioxide. This was the first explosive eruption at Kilauea’s summit since 1924, and the first eruption in the crater since 1982.

The main concern is the elevated sulfur dioxide levels caused by the plume. Prolonged exposure to high levels of SO2 can be dangerous, especially to anyone with respiratory conditions. But as long as the customary tradewinds keep blowing, visitors to the rest of the park are safe. If anything should change, park rangers will alert visitors.

There’s also good news for the Kona Coast. Though the air may look hazy in Kona, there is very little SO2 left in it by then. (For a new brochure from the state Dept. of Health explaining health issues related to SO2, volcanic ash and “vog,” see below.)

So Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is still very much open for business, though the downwind stretch of Cater Rim Drive is closed off for now.

But the excellent overlook at the Thomas A. Jagger Museum is open again, and will remain so as long as the tradewinds continue to send the toxic gas to the southwest. Visitors can also still get stunning views of the heavy plume of steam and gas from the wall at Volcano House hotel and along the adjacent trail.

For the very latest eruption viewing and health info, see the resources below.

Hawaii’s volcano goddess Pele is on the move again, from summit to sea, and officials have joined forces to ensure the public can safely view the mesmerizing movement of lava as it makes its way down-slope from Kilauea volcano.

A new viewing area in Kalapana has opened, providing a safe vantage point to see the current lava flows make their way to the ocean – the first time lava has reached the sea since June 2007. The Kalapana viewing site, located at the end of Highway 130 in the Puna District, has already attracted thousands of visitors who’ve watched the lava ooze and burn its way across the coastal plain.

For now, the viewing area is open daily from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., with the last car permitted into the parking area at 8 p.m. The afternoon opening gives volcano scientists ample time to assess the ever-changing lava activity and report to Hawaii County Civil Defense. The area is subject to closure if danger is imminent.

“I was completely hypnotized by the beauty and power of the molten lava,” said Rebecca Sawyer, a resident of Waikoloa who drove with her family more than three hours one recent Saturday to witness the natural phenomenon. “It took us two hours to walk in from where we parked, but it was worth every step,” she said. “It’s something that will be seared into my memory forever.”

Visitors to the viewing area are strongly advised to carry two to three quarts or liters of water each; wear sturdy, closed-toe boots or shoes with socks; carry at least one flashlight per person; wear long pants, a sun hat and plenty of sunscreen. There is no cell phone coverage in the viewing area.

Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim reminds visitors the viewing area passes by private homes and properties and to proceed with respect and not leave trash behind. Portable restrooms are set up for public use.

Visitors on foot must obey all warning signs and are required to stay within permitted areas for safety purposes. A newly formed black sand beach and land area are extremely unstable, and could collapse into the ocean at any time. There is also the threat of acidic “laze,” a hazardous chemical reaction of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and seawater, that occurs when the extreme heat of the lava enters the sea, rapidly boils and vaporizes the seawater into visible white plumes.

The lava is also currently visible from the ocean via passenger craft that can avoid laze-prone areas. Capt. Shane Turpin, owner of Lava Ocean Adventures, reported a huge demand for his boat tours that depart East Hawaii to take passengers to watch the lava pour into the sea.

Air tours are another popular way to view the current active flow. “We’ve had a lot of incredible flight-seeing in the last six months or so,” said Jeanne Alford, Big Island operations manager for Sunshine Helicopters. “But it can change as quickly as we are speaking. We never know what we’re going to see on each trip, the lava can be so unpredictable. But I can say we’re seeing lava activity in some areas now that we haven’t seen in many years.

The most recent example of new activity is up at Halemaumau, the summit crater of Kilauea. There’s no fresh lava, and a full-blown summit eruption is unlikely at the moment, but super-heated steam and gases (mostly sulfur dioxide) are spewing from the crater, causing incandescent glowing visible at night. Visitors are gathering along the wall by Volcano House hotel to see the dramatic scene. However, the elevated levels of sulfur dioxide have led rangers to close part of the park downwind of the vent.

“It’s all about the weather,” says Jim Gale, the park’s Chief of Interpretation. “You want to stay upwind.” Or if you drive into the “vog,” says Gale, “roll up your windows and turn on the air conditioner until you get through to clear air.”

Volcanic activity is subject to change and may not be exactly what is pictured.