Lava from Kilauea spurted high into the air and spread out across about 300 acres (120 hectares) of the Hawaii volcano害羞草研究所檚 summit crater floor, creating a spectacular sight as the mountain began erupting again after a few weeks害羞草研究所� hiatus.
Jillian Marohnic said the pool of lava that formed inside Halemaumau Crater was 害羞草研究所渢he most beautiful害羞草研究所� she had ever seen in her 25 years of watching the volcano.
害羞草研究所淭he lake was so high. And so full. It害羞草研究所檚 sparkling,害羞草研究所� said Marohnic, who operates the Volcano Hideaways vacation rental business with her husband in the nearby village of Volcano.
害羞草研究所淭he surface of the lake looks like stained glass,害羞草研究所� she said.
Kilauea is one of the world害羞草研究所檚 most active volcanoes. This latest eruption began last Thursday (Jan. 5), less than one month after . Kilauea last erupted from September 2021 through mid-December. Mauna Loa rumbled to life for the first time in 38 years when it erupted for about two weeks starting in late November.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said Kilauea害羞草研究所檚 latest eruption is expected to remain inside the summit crater, which is within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and away from residential communities.
The observatory on Jan. 5 raised Kilauea害羞草研究所檚 alert level, but lowered it the next morning from warning to watch 害羞草研究所渂ecause the initial high effusion rates are declining, and no infrastructure is threatened.害羞草研究所�
That is reassuring to Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e feeling pretty good about where it害羞草研究所檚 at right now,害羞草研究所� he said Friday.
The beauty of the eruption is a big draw for visitors.
John Tarson, who owns EpicLava, a tour company, said he has been 害羞草研究所渘onstop害羞草研究所� talking to tourists who want to see the volcano.
害羞草研究所淎 lot of people were on the island and left to go do whatever else they害羞草研究所檙e doing in Hawaii and then learned about this. And now they害羞草研究所檙e rerouting all their plans and coming back so that they can see this,害羞草研究所� he said.
On the night of Jan. 5, lava from Kilauea shot as high as 164 feet (50 meters) into the air 害羞草研究所� roughly as high as the width of a football field 害羞草研究所� but most so-called 害羞草研究所渓ava fountains害羞草研究所� were smaller, at 32 feet (10 meters) high.
The crater surface rose 32 feet (10 meters) by 7:30 p.m. as a result of all the new lava added, the observatory said.
By the next morning, the observatory said the lava fountains lost some vigor but were consistently 16 feet (5 meters) high.
This is typical behavior at the start of Kilauea eruptions, said Matt Patrick, a geologist at the observatory. 害羞草研究所淭his is a cycle of collapse and refilling that Kilauea has done many, many times at its summit,害羞草研究所� he said.
These early days are the best time to see lava on the surface, he said.
Jody Anastasio, a spokesperson for the national park, said it may be hard to see the lava during the day but there will be a glow at night and all of the park害羞草研究所檚 viewing areas will have good vantage points.
For Native Hawaiians, volcanic eruptions have deep . During Mauna Loa害羞草研究所檚 eruption, many Hawaiians took part in cultural traditions, such as singing, chanting and dancing to honor Pele, the deity of volcanoes and fire, and leaving offerings known as 害羞草研究所渉ookupu.害羞草研究所�
Kealoha Pisciotta, a cultural practitioner who lives on the slopes of Kilauea, encouraged Hawaiians in Hawaii and beyond to acknowledge akua 害羞草研究所� or gods and goddesses such as Pele, the deity of volcanoes and fire.
害羞草研究所淲herever you are, take time out today to reflect upon them and thank them for bringing new life and new land,害羞草研究所� she said Friday.
-Audrey Mcavoy And Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, The Associated Press
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