Hawaii volcano - Kilauea’s Halemaumau Crater spews, shuts roads
Hawaiian park officials have closed some roads and trails because of dangerous gas emissions from the Kilauea volcano, whose main crater exploded Wednesday for the first time since 1924. Spectacular lava flows from Kilauea have recently been drawing crowds to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. And now there’s a webcam at the crater to watch all the action.
The road closures came after scientists detected unsafe levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas, which can worsen heart and breathing problems such as asthma, at Kilauea’s summit. They said emission rates there have more than doubled since March 12, and they are concerned that the gas may travel downwind.
Crater Rim Drive and Crater Rim Trail between Kilauea Military Camp and Chain of Craters Road have been closed to all visitors, including drivers, hikers and bicyclists, until further notice. Also closed are all trails leading to the main Halemaumau Crater. However, most of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, including the Kilauea Visitor Center and Volcano House hotel, remains open.
The situation changes rapidly. For updates, visit the websites of the park and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
—Jane Engle, Assistant Los Angeles Times Travel Editor
[Photo: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory]
13 Comments on “Hawaii volcano - Kilauea’s Halemaumau Crater spews, shuts roads”
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March 23rd, 2008 at 5:20 am
Hasn’t this volcano been active since the 1980’s? I’ve had family members and friends visit Hawaii and claim to have seen eruptions from it. Is it the kind of eruption which is new, not seen since 1924? Or what? Thank you.
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:46 am
Kilauea has been erupting and sending out lava from a vent further downslope since the 1980’s. These flows are what your friends/family have been seeing.
The main crater, Halema`uma`u, considered to be Pele’s home, has been quiet since the 1920’s. People have hiked across it (myself included), following cairns marking the safe route (solid, no lava tubes to fall through). In Mark Twain’s time, this crater was a sea of molten lava, easily seen from the hotel on the rim.
March 23rd, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Actually, the main crater is Kilauea Caldera, about 2 1/2 miles across. Halema’uma’u is a smaller crater inside the caldera. One could hike across the caldera and up to, but not into, Halema’uma’u. Now trails leading to Halema’uma’u are closed. The new gas vent in the crater is now putting out up to 5000 tons of SO2 per day.
March 24th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
hhhhh
March 25th, 2008 at 7:19 am
We are going to be on a cruise in Hawaii the week of April 1. Will we still be allowed to dock at Hilo and Kona? Is there any danger of the volcano erupting?
March 25th, 2008 at 9:10 am
WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN
March 25th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Brenda & Musty: Don’t worry. The cruise will be one you can talk about for years. I live 2 miles from the caldera where the gases are spewing and I feel safe. And you should get a great view of the lava entering the ocean as you cruise from Hilo to Kona. The volcano has been in a constant state of eruption since 1983, and the new event (the escaping gases) began a bit over a week ago.
March 30th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
We have planned to go to the Big Island on April 14 for a week for
a vacation. We are now concerned that the air quality is bad. Can
somebody tell us what the air quality is like on the Kona side
of the island right now ? Thank you.
March 31st, 2008 at 10:15 am
My neighbor has two dogs.
March 31st, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Oliver: A friend from Kona just reported that the air quality was good there. At this time about the only poor air quality in habitable areas is in the Kau district. Kona should be OK regardless of the wind directions, but parts of East Hawaii could get pretty bad if the winds shift and Kona winds prevail. Enjoy your stay in Kona, and don’t forget to come to the East side for a couple of days to see the spectacular view of the lava entering the ocean at Kalapana and of the gas vent in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
March 31st, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Oliver: A friend from Kona just reported to me that the air quality there is good. The only place on the Big Island with bad air quality is the Kau district. Even if the winds shift, the quality in Kona should remain good. You should, however, plan to spend a little time on the east side of the island to view the lava entering the ocean near Kalapana and the gas plume at Halema`uma`u crater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
If you hike down to the viewing point at the Ki Ocean entry…what do you actually see? Any incadescence or just more hardened Pahoehoe and ‘a’a?
April 10th, 2008 at 9:31 am
darn, was just there for 3 weeks, returned the 19th :( Went off one day to try and find the current lava flow, but was scurrying around the wrong developemnt…LOL Got to late and had to abandon our search and head back to Waikoloa. It was pretty “voggy” down in Kona while we were there…must have been the wind direction. Up at the Hilton, sunny as usual ;)
Would have loved to have seen Kilauea spewing!! Oh well, perhaps next visit if were lucky!!