#mauna loa forest reserve

The Mauna Loa Forest Reserve will reopen effective immediately, months following the eruption of Mauna Loa.

Although the flow has slowed over flat land over the past several days, fissure 3 in the Northeast Rift Zone remains active with a continuous supply of lava. Hikers are also being warned to stay out of closed areas.

For the first time since 1984, Kīlauea and Maunaloa are erupting side-by-side which is expected to draw an influx of visitors to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park who hope to see this rare event. The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority provided the following updates:

At approximately 11 p.m. Tuesday, the leading edge of the Mauna Loa lava flow crossed Old Kona Highway, a dirt road that crosses the Mauna Loa Forest Reserve. These images show the leading edge of the eruption.

As lava continues to flow into the Northeast Rift zone from Mauna Loa’s summit caldera, the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife has closed additional recreation areas on the mountain. 

Four men from Hawai‘i County were issued cease and desist orders for the illegal removal of lava rock from the Mauna Loa Forest Reserve.