Hawaii Volcanoes National Park braces for large crowds as Kilauea erupts

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is boosting its numbers as it predicts thousands will travel to Kilauea to see the lava eruption from Halemaumau Crater.

“We expect the number of visits to increase as word spreads throughout the weekend,” park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane said.

At 3:29 p.m. on Wednesday, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory detected a glow in web cameras from the summit of Kilauea, indicating an eruption in the crater. This new lava flow comes about four months after Kilauea’s last eruption ended in May.

>> RELATED: Lava returns to the Halemaumau crater of the Kilauea volcano

“There appears to be a lot more lava on the surface of the lava lake than before,” Ferracane said this morning.

The park is open 24 hours a day.

Ferracane said they are beefing up staff to help with parking and make sure people avoid closed areas.

Viewpoints to observe the new eruption include Uekahuna (former Jagger Museum parking lot), Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff), Kilauea Overlook, Keanakakoi, Kupinai Pali (Waldron Ledge), and other viewpoints along the Crater Rim Trail.

Ferracane urged people to maintain social distancing. She said there were a lot of people at the park Wednesday night standing side by side at different vantage points. “We strongly urge people to maintain a social distance of six feet and to wear a mask. It is imperative that they do so, ”she said.

Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno said they were in daily communication with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory where scientists are monitoring the eruption. There was no change this morning, he said.

Authorities said the eruption is confined to the crater and does not threaten property.

Magno visited the crater around 5 a.m. today at the Uekahuna lookout point where he observed a red glow reflecting off the crater walls. “It was nice to see that again there.”

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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park officials offer the following safety tips when visiting Kilauea:

>> Maintain a six-foot social distance from others and wear a mask to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Anyone sick should visit another day.

>> Volcanic eruptions can be dangerous and change at any time. Stay on marked trails and viewpoints, and avoid cracks in the dirt and cliff edges. Do not enter closed areas.

>> Dangerous volcanic gases erupt from the crater and pose a danger to everyone, especially people with heart or respiratory problems, infants, young children and pregnant women.

>> Slow down and drive carefully. Expect long waits for parking spots at popular viewpoints like Uekahuna (formerly the Jaggar Museum).

>> At 4,000 feet, the summit of Kilauea can be cold at any time. Bring a rain jacket, wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. Bring a flashlight if you are visiting at night.