Hawai'i Volcano Blog

Lava was just 3.6 miles Wednesday morning from the Big Island’s main thoroughfare from east to west.

Now more than 3 miles away from Daniel K. Inouye Highway, the Mauna Loa eruption has reached the bottom part of the slope of the volcano and is entering into a flat area, officials confirmed this morning.

At approximately 11 p.m. Tuesday, the leading edge of the Mauna Loa lava flow crossed Old Kona Highway, a dirt road that crosses the Mauna Loa Forest Reserve.

A steady stream of vehicles flowed nearly 35 miles Monday night from the upper Kaʻūmana area of Hilo to Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area to see Mother Nature in action on Mauna Loa.

New webcam videos from USGS shows fissure 3 and new fissure 4 is feeding lava flows downslope to the north/northeast. Fissure 3 is feeding the largest lava flow.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Land and Natural Resources also has closed Unit J of the Kapāpala Game Management Area, the Kipuka ‘Ainahou Nēnē Sanctuary, the ʻĀinapō Trail and cabin, and the Kapāpala Forest Reserve for at least 90 days due to the eruption of Mauna Loa.

The lava from the Mauna Loa eruption is on the move with flow from its fissure 3 crossing the Mauna Loa Observatory Road overnight, according to USGS Volcanoes.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation reminds the public to use caution and common sense on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway — Route 200, formerly known as Saddle Road — during the ongoing Mauna Loa eruption.

Three fissures have opened and are fountaining lava on the northeast rift zone of Mauna Loa, officials confirmed during a state press conference this afternoon.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park remains open following a new eruption on Mauna Loa volcano that began in the summit caldera late Sunday night and migrated to the northeast rift zone this morning.

The bright red glow in the dark night skies of Mauna Loa erupting on the Big Island made way for an overcast morning, with the skies becoming a beautiful purple and blue as the sun rose.

Big Island Now will provide information about the Mauna Loa eruption as it is made available. This information will be updated regularly.

The first flight over the volcano was conducted at about 6:30 a.m. on Monday and it confirmed that the eruption of Mauna Loa has migrated from the summit to the Northeast Rift Zone.

The National Weather Service has issued an Ashfall Advisory for all districts of Hawaiʻi Island through today. Trace amounts of ashfall and volcanic gas is expected.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory sets the two designations for volcanoes in Hawaii and American Samoa.

More than 8,000 photographs taken before, during and after the eruption, along with satellite imagery, make up the largest available dataset of lava flow impacts in the world.

Ta‘ū volcano in American Samoa experienced volcanic unrest in the form of an earthquake swarm that was felt throughout the Manuʻa Islands (Ofu-Olosega and Ta‘ū Islands) from late July through early September 2022.

Satellites orbiting the Earth can provide normal “pictures” of a place, but can also provide thermal images, measure amounts and types of gases, changes in gravity and topography.

There’s a whole lot of warning going on when no warnings have been issued.

After damaging earthquakes, response and recovery take place under the threat of aftershocks.