VIDEO: Watch Mauna Loa Erupting

Val Dean from Hilo was in the middle of her morning workout around 4:30 a.m. Monday when she looked out the window and saw a red glow and said “Uh oh, she’s erupting.”

Dean has lived on the Big Island her entire life and seen multiple lava flows, but Mauna Loa hadn’t erupted since March of 1984.

“I texted everyone and said, ‘OMG.’ You can’t see it now, but when it’s dark it’s so beautiful,” she said.

At around 3 a.m., there were reports of people rushing to the gas stations in Kona for fuel. But by daybreak, after a news conference that reiterated there was no imminent danger to communities, it appeared more business as usual.

Schools were open and school buses were on the streets of Kona picking up children.

The bright red glow in the dark night skies made way for an overcast morning, with the skies becoming a beautiful purple and blue as the sun rose.

Passengers flying from Kona to Maui had a gorgeous view of the volcano’s eruption.

Now, it’s waiting and watching.

“You never know what she’s going to do,” Dean said. “You live here all your life and know at some point she’s going to erupt somewhere. It was destined for a while. We were having action underground and figured at some point she’s going to erupt. It’s exciting, scary, but you’re used to it when you live here.” 

Michelle Ardila, who turned 26 today, said she woke up this morning to a text message from her friend asking her if she set the volcano off as a joke on her birthday.

“It was very pretty, stunning actually,” Ardila said. “It was all red skies around 5 a.m. and everything was lit up.”

Ardila said she and her boyfriend have plans to go view the glow tonight and try to see the action up close and personal. 

Paula Pua, a Hilo resident, said she woke up around 6:30 a.m. to the news. She said she’s on sick leave and will be keeping an eye on the mountain. She said she could see it from her driveway; and she could see the red glow and smoke going up toward the sky. 

“I think we all knew this was going to happen,” Pua said. “I think it’s good at least with the type of volcano it is that it’s slow-moving and we can watch it.”