The Mauna Loa eruption continued on Wednesday, with one active fissure feeding the lava flow that is heading towards Saddle Road (also known as Daniel K. Inouye Highway).

What You Need To Know

  • Currently, the Northeast Rift Zone has one active fissure feeding a lava flow downslope

  • The lava flow from fissure 3 is heading toward Saddle Road

  • The flow front is 1.8 miles from Saddle Road as of 7 a.m. Wednesday morning

  • The County warned people not to wander off Old Saddle Road, and said they are upset to see people throwing marshmallows into the lava on social media

As of Wednesday morning, the flow front is 1.8 miles from the highway, according to David Phillips, the deputy scientist-in-charge for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, who spoke at a media briefing.  

The flow front is moving very slowly, as it spreads out across a flat area. The flow is advancing at an average rate of about 68 feet per hour. This rate is about twice as fast as the rate for the past several days.

“We're not seeing any decline in the output at this time,” said Phillips. 

Phillips said there was also a “breakout” lobe of lava, about 2.5 miles up slope from the active flow front, which is diverting some lava away from the flow front. 

“That is further away from the highway, so it does not pose any significant impact at this time,” said Phillips.

HVO field crews and USGS analysts have accurately mapped some of the most active flows, displayed in red here, along with older flows further uprift, in part of Mokuʻāweoweo Caldera, and in the upper summit region southwest of the caldera. (Map courtesy of USGS)
HVO field crews and USGS analysts have accurately mapped some of the most active flows, displayed in red here, along with older flows further uprift, in part of Mokuʻāweoweo Caldera, and in the upper summit region southwest of the caldera. (Map courtesy of USGS)

Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth said about 17,000 vehicles have gone through the one-way Traffic Hazard Mitigation Route, which is along Old Saddle Road, in order to view the lava. 

He reiterated that people should not leave Old Saddle Road when they pull over to view the lava. The land near Old Saddle Road is under jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the U.S Military and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.   

“We got some reports of people going out, trying to get to the front. Very dangerous,” said Roth. 

He said the fact that people are venturing out onto the lava flow will be a factor in the County’s decision about when to close Daniel K. Inouye Highway. Before the lava reaches the highway, he said the County may first restrict the road to only allow government vehicles and 18-wheelers trucks to traverse it.  

“We've also seen people who have been really disrespectful, who've been putting trash out there, throwing marshmallows into the lava,” said Roth. “Not only is that bad for the environment, and people are trespassing, but it's really disrespectful to Hawaiians and their love for Madame Pele and the culture of Hawaii. So we ask people to be respectful and always and to stay by their cars not to go out and venture out.”

Roth said that they had accepted a request from the Royal Order of Kamehameha, an order of knighthood established by Kamehameha V in 1865, who will be preparing in the Mauna Loa Access Area for Pele’s arrival. He said the County planned to assist, including with a rubbish drop-off point. 

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her ideas and feedback at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.

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