When the Mauna Loa eruption started, state conservation officials were initially concerned about lava covering Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa, but it has been spared, according to a Department of Land and Natural Resources news release. 

The 18,706 acre reserve is one of the most intact native forests in the state. The Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve was established in 1981 to protect wet koa and ohia forests and safeguard habitat for rare plant and animal species.

Previous Mauna Loa eruptions in 1942 and 1984 surrounded the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve with lava.

“One of the areas we were most concerned about is the NAR. There’s a lot of endangered species and really good forest habitat in Pu‘u Maka‘ala that we’d hate to see lost,” said Steve Bergfeld, the Hawaii Island Branch Chief with the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, in the news release. 

On Sunday, U.S. Geological Survey scientists reported the Mauna Loa eruption is winding down, so there is no longer a threat to Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve and conservationists can breathe a sigh of relief — for now. 

“We’ve spent a lot of years working with Three Mountain Alliance and its watershed-protection predecessor fencing and removing ungulates from the area. It’s been free of ungulates for many years and the forest is recovering well. We’ve done a great deal of plant and endangered species restoration work and monitoring in the NAR,” Bergfeld added. 

The DLNR news release said once the eruption has fully stopped, they will survey the Mauna Loa Forest Reserve for any impacts. However, from what they know now, most of the current eruption’s lava flows covered former, hardened lava flows.

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