Entrance at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Highway 11 reopens; tephra cleanup ongoing

The entrance of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and Crater Rim Drive Drive West is now open following episode 43 of the Kīlauea eruption.

The nine-hour eruptive event on Tuesday, while contained within the park, produced sustained high lava fountaining, which reached up to 1,300 feet at one point, and began at 9:17 a.m. It also resulted in widespread falling volcanic hazards such as volcanic glass known as Pele’s hair and fine volcanic ash, being reported in Hilo and Puna.

Larger tephra fell near the volcano, including particles up to 3 inches in diameter in Volcano Village and Mauna Loa Estates.

Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense and partners The Red Cross and Community Response Team will be available beginning today (March 11) in Volcano to provide residents with information about tephra cleanup. Click here for details.

As a result of the widespread falling volcanic hazards, a portion of Highway 11 of closed and park visitors were evacuated from the summit area.

Highway 11 has since reopened.

According to the state park’s Facebook page this morning (March 11), cleanup of tephra is ongoing and parkgoers should expect temporary closures of other areas. The video above shows park staff using heavy equipment to clear rockfall at the park entrance and roundabout Tuesday evening.

“Volcanic ash and larger pieces of tephra are still prevalent in areas around the summit,” park officials stated.

Kīlauea Military Camp is open as well as Mauna Loa Road.

Kīlauea remains under watch status.