According to park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane, it is a “Pele Kalikimaka” in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, referring to the eruption that began early Monday morning in Kilauea volcano’s Halema’uma’u crater.

“It’s spectacular,” Ferracane said Monday afternoon. “You know, I’ve seen so many eruptions since I started here, and this one stands out. There were really huge lava fountains this morning and even in daylight it looked beautiful just from the Volcano House and the areas here near the visitor center.”

According to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the eruption began at about 2:20 a.m. and the plume at one point reached about 6,000 feet above the ground.

By 5:30 a.m., a lava lake covered about 500 acres of the caldera floor, and lava fountains in the southwest corner reached heights of about 250 feet.

According to HVO, the fountains reached a height of nearly 300 feet at one point.

Hawaii County firefighters from Camp Kilauea in HVNP were actually the first on the scene. They received a call after 2am reporting a bushfire. However, as firefighters left the station, they were greeted by a red glow lighting up the sky – evidence of an eruption. The team immediately reported the outbreak to the control center and examined the area.

The holidays are traditionally the park’s busiest time, and it didn’t take long for news of the outbreak to reach potential visitors.

“I know a while back people were waiting at least 20 minutes to get into the park,” Ferracane said. “Everything was full, parking lots and viewpoints.”

Activity also increased in the nearby Volcano Village. The person who answered the phone at Kilauea Lodge and Restaurant, who identified herself simply as Suzy, described the atmosphere there as “super busy.”

“Our phones were busy and we booked every room we opened,” she said.

Steve Lundblad, professor and chair of the geology department at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, said Kilauea “is still considered one of the most active volcanoes on Earth.”

“Since 2018, the eruption behavior has changed and has returned to the peak area with several eruptions since 2021,” Lundblad said. “Unlike the almost continuous Pu’u ‘O’o eruption from 1983 to 2018, these eruptions are shorter and have pauses in between. At least for now, this seems to be the pattern.

“However, Pelé definitely keeps us guessing, so there is always the possibility that something unexpected could happen.

“If the pattern of recent years continues, the outbreak will stay where it is. While it could certainly migrate from the caldera, each of the recent summit eruptions has filled the large collapsed caldera that formed in 2018.”

Those who want to visit the park should expect crowds, Ferracane said. There will be limited or full parking in popular areas. Arrive after 9pm and well before sunrise for a better experience.

The park is open 24 hours a day and after dark it is extremely dark. Therefore, bring a headlamp if you visit after dark.

In a statement, HVO stressed that “the initial stages of eruptions are dynamic.” However, activity is currently limited to the summit area and the risks will be reassessed as the situation develops.

Lava flows are currently limited to Halema’uma’u and the eastern part of the summit caldera. The crater area has been closed to the public since 2007.

Visitors are encouraged to check the HVNP website for updates on access and security measures.

Airborne particles and sulfur dioxide (SO2) levels may increase and fluctuate in various local areas on Hawaii Island, which may result in poor air quality. On Monday, air particle levels were elevated at the Ocean View and Pahala air quality monitoring stations in Ka’u.

The state Department of Health encourages residents and visitors to access the Hawaii Interagency Vog Information Dashboard at www.ivhhn.org/vog/ for the most comprehensive and up-to-date online information about Vog and SO2 from volcanic activity.

Email John Burnett at [email protected].