Hordes of visitors are already crowding Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii’s Big Island to witness the first day of the latest Kilauea volcano eruption, causing congested overlooks, full parking lots and busy roads, according to the park.
Following increased earthquake activity, the volcano began erupting at around 2:20 a.m. on Monday at the base of Halemaumau crater, with lava covering 500 acres of the caldera floor, according to the United States Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. It is the sixth eruption in the past four years, with the latest being in a remote region of the park.
The eruption remains contained within the crater with “fissures on the caldera floor are erupting lava fountains and feeding lava flows,” the USGS said in an update at 10:59 a.m. local time. There are no immediate threats to infrastructure or the community.
In a livestream chat, USGS HVO Head Scientist Ken Hon called the event “a really big, voluminous eruption.”
Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes and a key feature of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that encompasses the entire national park stands as one of the top tourist attractions on Hawaii Island. When there’s a viewable eruption, thousands more visitors descend upon the park to see the raw power of nature in action. The park is already experiencing a huge uptick in visitors, a park spokesperson said on Monday.
Here’s what travelers should know if they want to see the latest Kilauea eruption.
Visitors look at an eruption from an overlook near Keanakākoʻi crater.
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Where is the best place to view the eruption?
The eruption is viewable from nearly all open areas around the caldera, the park said in a Facebook post. Visitors can expect to see lava flow over the crater floor, and depending on the time they visit, there is a “magnificent reddish orange glow” in the sky.
The best viewpoints are along Crater Rim Trail, including Uekahuna, Kilauea Overlook, Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff), Kupinai Pali (Waldron Ledge), behind Volcano House, Keanakakoi and other overlooks. For their safety, visitors should stay on marked trails and overlooks and avoid any earth cracks and cliff edges.
In Hawaiian culture, the volcanoes serve as a sacred landscape – called wahi kapu – and are regarded as the home to Pelehonuamea, a goddess representing creation and destruction, according to the park website. It’s a place where cultural practitioners come to honor the goddess, and the park asks all visitors to be respectful and silent while viewing the natural marvel.
“While an eruption is an exciting experience, keep in mind you are observing a sacred event,” the park said on Facebook.
Travelers with heart or respiratory issues should also take caution and check the air quality before their visit, as strong winds are blowing volcanic gas and particles.
When is the best time to avoid crowds and visit the park to view the lava?
Unfortunately, the holidays are already a busy time for the park, and this eruption is only drawing in more visitors. As of Monday afternoon, parking spots at popular viewpoints are full, and the roads are already congested, according to a press release.
Since the park is open 24 hours, consider visiting in the very early morning before sunrise or at night after 9 p.m. – the lava glowing against the dark sky is also a majestic scene.
If you do visit at night, bring a flashlight, drive slowly and dress appropriately. The summit is over 4,000 feet above sea level and is chilly at night, even though you’re in Hawaii.
How long will the eruption last for?
While there’s no way of truly knowing how long the volcano will erupt – which is part of the beauty of mother nature – recent eruptions have lasted from two weeks to over a year, decreasing in intensity over time, the USGS said. Since eruptions can change quickly or end abruptly, check the park website before your visit for the most up-to-date information.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What travelers can expect to see as Kilauea erupts in Hawaii 2024