HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii — Three visitors from Kazakhstan were cited Wednesday for trespassing in a closed area of Mauna Loa Forest Reserve.

What You Need To Know

  • The three men were seen in an area has been closed for public safety due to the ongoing Mauna Loa eruption

  • According to DLNR, an officer from the department’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement was notified by Dept. of the Army Police assigned to U.S. Army Garrison Pohakuloa Training Area that he’d observed three people walking in the closed and active lava flow area off Daniel K. Inouye Highway

  • All three men are scheduled to appear in Hilo District Court on Jan. 20 on petty misdemeanor charges and could face fines up to $500 and up to 30 days in jail

  • DOCARE is also investigating people and companies who have entered the closed area and posted shots of themselves and lava flows on social media

The area has been closed for public safety due to the ongoing Mauna Loa eruption.

“The Mauna Loa Forest Reserve and active lava zone is closed for a reason,” said DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla. “Eruptive activity can seriously injure or kill people. There are hidden dangers, and when someone enters a closed area, they are also putting first responders at risk if they’re called for help.”

The three men were observed in the area by three different law enforcement agencies, according to a release issued Thursday by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

According to DLNR, an officer from the department’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement was notified by Dept. of the Army Police assigned to U.S. Army Garrison Pohakuloa Training Area that he’d observed three people walking in the closed and active lava flow area off Daniel K. Inouye Highway.

A Hawaii Police Department officer contacted the trio as they walked back to their car in the public viewing area. When the DOCARE officer arrived on scene, he cited them for entering a closed area under Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) 13-104-7.5.

The three cited have been identified as Adibayev Axamat, 31; Daurem Sabit, 23; and Nurz Niyaz, 32.

All three men are scheduled to appear in Hilo District Court on Jan. 20 on petty misdemeanor charges and could face fines up to $500 and up to 30 days in jail.

DOCARE is also investigating people and companies who have entered the closed area and posted shots of themselves and lava flows on social media. Some of those who have posted their unlawful entry on social platforms are receiving death threats.

During a briefing on Wednesday, Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth again called on visitors to be respectful when observing the volcano.

"We've been seeing people being really disrespectful, putting trash out there, throwing marshmallows into the lava," Roth said. "Not only is that bad for the environment and people are trespassing, but it's disrespectful to Hawaiians and their love for Madame Pele and the culture of Hawaii. It’s really bad. So we ask people to be respectful."

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.