New Hawaii Volcanic Eruption Unlikely to Impact Travel
by Briana Bonfiglio
Photo of the volcano eruption taken at about 4 a.m. HST, Dec. 23, 2024.
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano began erupting Monday morning but is unlikely to impact travel to the Big Island.
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has raised its volcanic alert level to WARNING and aviation color code to RED, meaning that a volcanic eruption “is imminent, underway, or suspected” and that a “significant emission of volcanic ash” is also suspected or imminent.
No flights to Kona International Airport have been reported cancelled or delayed, and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has not issued any alerts on its website since the eruption began at around 2 a.m. HST (7 a.m. EST).
Kilauea is located in a closed-off area of the park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thousands of tourists visit in hopes of catching a glimpse of Kilauea’s volcanic activity, as well as the Mauna Loa volcano. They are two of the world’s most active volcanoes.
Volcano and earthquake hazards are common in Hawaii. Kilauea also erupted in June and September of this year, according to USA Today.
