Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Re-Opens again...for a few weeks anyway...


I can’t believe it is February of 2019!  The entire month of January flew by before I could get a blog out about the latest and greatest news happenings here in Volcano.

It seems 2019 didn’t start off much better for those of us on the East side of Hawaii Island.  The partial Government shut down closed off part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for the last 3 weeks.  The park is open again, until at least Feb 15th, 2019 so you might want to plan accordingly if you are coming to visit.  

The good news is, even though parts of the park may be shut down again, there is still quite a bit to see, however flowing lava is not one of those things.  

I’m surprised by the number of guests I continually meet that ask about seeing the active lava flow.  (Where were you guys in 2018??)  The lava flow subsided as did the collapse of the summit crater, Halemau’mau, around August 4, 2018. The USGS and HVO announced the official end of the Kilauea eruption that has lasted for the past 35 years on December 6, 2018.  While there is still magma below the surface another eruption is eminent, but since there hasn’t been any active lava in over 3 months any activity now would be considered a new event.   

While you currently can’t see active lava flows, it is entirely possible to see the remnants of what the last flow left behind.  Obviously inside the park you can see Halemau'mau and the areas that have reopened since September 22nd.  They are constantly working on trying to open new areas to provide more for our guests.  
Leilani Estates in Pahoa is currently open only to residents, but there are a few places where you can drive and come to a 40 or 50 foot lava berm that has dissected the road.  There are no trespassing signs and no parking signs but it is still a sight to see.  Please keep in mind the land beneath the lava flow is still private land and owned by the unfortunate souls who lost their homes due to the lava flow.  Please have some respect while standing in awe of what was a thriving community. 

Drive highway 130/137 to Issac Hale Beach Park and there will be a lot to see!  There is still an area the dissects the highway that is filled with steam and sulfer coming out from under/along side the road.  The county has cleared a two lane road across 2 of the major lava flows on highway 137 so you can access Issac Hale Beach park and see the new life Madam Pele created there. Issac Hale also known as Pohoiki has always been known for it’s amazing surf break and the boat ramp launch.  There never was much of a beach, that is until now!  The boat ramp is all but gone, covered in various courses of black sand.  In its place sit two thermal pools and a long black sand beach.  (Incidentally there have been 7 new black sand beaches added thanks to the lava flow, but this is the most accessible one.) As you drive among the lava flows you can see the fissures in Leilani Estates in the distance (The really big one is Fissure 8 standing at 180 ft tall)

Hours are from 9 am to 6 pm daily.  There is 24 hour security to ensure no one tries to camp or stay after hours.  Remember that surf break I mentioned earlier?  It is still there and there are more surfers than ever before trying their luck on this break.  The dangerous shore break and rip currents do not make this a good swimming beach so unless you are an advanced level surfer, we recommend watching safely from the beach.  Currently, there is no potable water and only portable restrooms are available.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A New Eruption, Different Volcano!

    Madam Pele sure is busy! A new eruption within a different volcano, Mauna Loa, began around 11:30 PM in Sunday November 27th for the first time in 38 years! The eruption began  in Moku‘āweoweo, the summit caldera of Mauna Loa, inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.   This means there are currently TWO eruptions on Hawaii Island in TWO different Volcanoes!   One eruption  is Mauna Loa and a significantly smaller one is Halema’uma’u crater on the Kilauea summit caldera.     As of an hour ago, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) confirms that lava has exited Mauna Loa summit and can be seen in two lobes on the northeast flank and the northern flank.     Currently, the lava is not flowing toward populated areas and does not pose a threat to any communities.   It is headed towards saddle road which is a main throughfare for Hawaii Island residents and tourists alike to go from one side of the island to the other.    It is currently open, but that could change at any time. The Maun
Read more

Glamping is Here! (Almost)

Let the glamping begin!  We are super excited that we can finally see a completion date for our new glamping site   Kahua Ho’omoana.  We have opened reservations to start booking as of June 1st.  Our off-grid glamping site is in the back 3 acres where our goats and donkey spend their days grazing away. We have erected a fence around the glamping site to ensure the animals cannot get into the tent or camp kitchen.  We provide a wagon to take luggage and personal belongings to the glamping site along the lit gravel pathway but do recommend packing light if possible.  Sitting on top of a 20’ x 22’ deck, the 16 ft. diameter bell tent is made of a durable natural cotton fiber suited for all weather use during all 4 seasons.  It is waterproof and windproof up to 30 MPH winds.   The tent is outfitted with a queen size bed with a memory foam & gel mattress, luxurious linens, and fluffy pillows. It features a café table with chairs, a writing desk which doubles as a charging station for p
Read more

What can we do if the park isn’t open?

This is a question we have been getting a lot lately.     We know for most guests the draw to stay in Volcano for a night or two was to experience Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.   We get it!   The park was (is, will be again…someday) an amazing place to visit!   We have hiked many trails, seen many lava flows and enjoyed spending time learning about this amazing Volcano, Kilauea.    Having said that, Volcano and Hawaii are so much more than just a National Park.   Hawaii has always been known for the hospitality of its people.   The locals have always been very welcoming to visitors and willing to share what makes their island home special. One of your best resources to learn about Kilauea and the island are the people here in Volcano Village.   So many of the individuals who live, and work here have been here through one if not multiple eruptions in the last 35 years.   Their knowledge is astounding and the stories they can tell?   W.O.W!   From the host at your B&B,
Read more