The New Eruption of Mauna Loa

On the evening of November 27th at 11:30 p.m., we were just getting ready to sleep when social media became alive with news of a lurid glow over Mauna Loa and that an eruption was in progress. This announcement followed months of increased activity after years of mild tremor recorded by sensitive instruments placed at strategic points on the mountain.

Of course in a very short time the Internet was flooded with pictures from 360 degrees around the mountain of very strong glow.

A quick visit to ever-patient HVO research Webcams on Mauna Loa’s NW corner of the Caldera Rim showed the entire Caldera of Moku’aweoweo flooded with very hot fresh Lava, and for a while it seemed like it would spill out the Southwest corner toward a very steep slope down toward South Kona communities and some residents even evacuated mindful of as little as 3 hours travel time from summit to sea.

In the morning of November 28th, some stunning footage began to appear on official and social media pages, including amazing footage from Paradise Helicopters’ early morning overflight of a breakout eruption on the old fissure line toward the Northeast, which includes historic flows toward the Mauna Kea turnoff and points East, including Hilo and a few miles short of Kea’au.

Everyone was on their devices getting updates as the flow developed and intensified, with high-volume fountaining and many rivers of lava headed downslope more or less toward about the 26 mile mark on the Saddle Road, or a few miles short of the Mauna Kea turnoff on the Hilo side.

As the hours went by, some fountains died while others sped up and a high volume of lava cut the access road to the Mauna Loa NOAA Observatory, a key player in monitoring CO2 in the atmosphere.

As of today, December 2nd, the fountaining has died down and the drain out to a lower 7000ft elevation has the flow stalled almost 3 miles from the highway.

Thousands of residents and visitors (some say 10,000 at a time), flocked to view the once in a lifetime spectacle and some have taken our Mauna Kea Sunset tour which gives a unique perspective from slightly HIGHER than the Eruption 25 miles across the Saddle between the two mountains. The last eruption of Mauna Loa was in 1984, 38 years ago. Right now is the first time in decades that both Mauna Loa and Kilauea are erupting at the same time.

We have seen Photos or Images from Pro Cameras with huge lenses as well as iPhones and Androids, and all are spectacular…definitely as its night, your phone will catch colors but be a bit fuzzy on detail. Professional cameras on a tripod are producing AMAZING images and several webcams on Mauna Kea have been repositioned to catch elements of the eruption.

Here at Arnott’s Lodge we have a few rooms available at more affordable prices than larger fully staffed Hotels AND we have daily space on our Mauna Kea Sunset tours that now include an overview of this amazing Eruption As you visit Hawaii please be aware that the world is short-staffed right now, so be patient with Airport Staff, Stores, Restaurants and yes, even at our Hotel, especially if you are arriving late as we also are short-staffed and may be personally checking you in.

Please also be aware that If Hawaii Island was a football field this eruption is taking up less area than a Hot Dog Stand. There is NO risk to your safety right now.