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Securely Travel Brief – Hawaii Special Report - 21 May 2018
This special report on Hawaii is culled from the travel warnings and travel alerts found via news media, government and social networks.
United States - Hawaii - Kilauea volcano lava reaches the sea.
The USGS reports that moderate-level of lava continues from multiple points along the fissure withing the East Rift Zone. Lava flow towards the ocean continues, with multiple active ocean entries. US Coast Guard is monitoring the area.
This is the lava flow this morning in Hawaii. https://t.co/dCqmds5gYo pic.twitter.com/d6jDvPkGMB
— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 21, 2018
The two new active ocean entries within the East Rift Zone are west of Pohoki and east of Opihikao - see diagram below.
The Volcanic Smog (VOG) continues to produce sulfur dioxide gas (SO2) and sulfate aerosol particles (SO4) downwind of the ongoing Kilauea eruption. The diagram below clearly indicates that dangerous levels of gas exist in the East Rift Zone.
The Hawaii Governor’s issued an “update” on 17 May explaining the geography of the State of Hawaii and how the island state is open for business as the summer travel tourist season arrives.
THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS ARE SAFE FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS
AIRPORTS, ACCOMMODATIONS AND ACTIVITIES ARE OPEN STATEWIDE• Hawaii is Open for Business: There is absolutely no reason for visitors planning a trip to the Hawaiian Islands to change or alter their leisure or business travel plans.
• Air Access: All flights into the Hawaiian Islands are operating normally.
• Accommodations and Activities: All accommodations, activities and attractions throughout the Hawaiian Islands are operating normally, with the exception of those in the area affected by the volcanic activity on the island of Hawaii.
• Remote Location on the island of Hawaii’s East Side: None of the Hawaiian Islands are affected by Kilauea volcano except a remote area along the Lower East Rift Zone on the island of Hawaii’s east side, Kilauea Summit and surrounding areas.
• Kilauea Summit Activity: Steam and ash outbursts from Halemaumau crater are occurring in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (approximately 40 miles away from the Lower East Rift Zone) and being monitored. This is a natural occurrence as rocks fall into the crater and magma interacts with the groundwater (water table).
• Air Quality: Air quality remains largely unchanged with this situation. However, air quality near where the volcanic activity on the island of Hawaii is occurring can be hazardous (SO2-sulfur dioxide) and light ash fall may be present. Officials are continuing to monitor air quality.
We previously issued a Special Report on the Kilauea volcano situation on 07 May 2018.
Update - 0846 HST 21 May 2018
Hawaii's Kileaua is generating a plume of "laze" – which officials describe as hydrochloric acid and steam with fine glass particles. https://t.co/C9vLlVy4lW
— NPR (@NPR) May 21, 2018
