Tips on safely viewing the latest Kilauea volcano eruption: Travel Weekly

Kilauea, a volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes Nationwide Park, began erupting on Sept. 29, and, to this point, the exercise is contained inside its crater, making for some spectacular sights.

Throughout the day, spectators can see volcanic gasoline and steam billow out of Halemaumau, the summit crater. The park is open 24-hours a day, and at night time guests are entranced by the 127-acre lava lake casting a reddish-orange glow in opposition to the crater partitions and into the darkish sky. 

The most effective eruption viewpoints day or night time, in accordance with nationwide park workers, are alongside Crater Rim Path and embrace Uekahuna, Kilauea Overlook, Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff), Kupinai Pali (Waldron Ledge) and Keanakakoi overlook, the place it’s generally doable to catch a glimpse of lava. 

“Viewing lava on the summit of Kilauea is awe-inspiring. Throughout this Covid-19 pandemic, we ask the general public to recreate responsibly, keep social distance and to put on a masks,” Hawaii Volcanoes Nationwide Park superintendent Rhonda Loh mentioned in a press release. “We wish to preserve the park open for all to expertise this new section of volcanic exercise, however we will solely accomplish that if guests comply with pointers that preserve everybody protected. We proceed to work with USGS scientists to obtain the most recent volcanic updates and remind guests that the eruptive exercise and accessibility may change at any time.” 

Park workers additionally advocate guests test the climate, as it may be chilly on the summit sitting at 4,000 ft of elevation. Moreover, volcanic eruptions may be hazardous and alter quickly, and guests are reminded to remain on marked trails and overlooks, keep away from cracks within the earth and cliff edges and keep out of closed areas.

In 2018, Kilauea skilled a massive eruption that generated a whole lot of tremors and despatched rivers of lava into close by communities, destroying greater than 300 houses and different constructions. The park was closed for several months to permit the volcanic exercise to die down and for repairs.