January 23, 1987
87-7 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Auto Fatality
Location: Not given
Mr. W.C.K. died of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident in which
his car left the road and hit a tree.
June 4, 1987
87-90 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Fatality
Location: Halemaumau Crater
P.K.H., who suffered from severe asthma, was walking on the trail and passed
the warning sign which advises those with respiratory problems to proceed no
further. She passed the sign and immediately, according to witnesses, fell to
the ground, unconscious and not breathing. CPR was started at this time by
other visitors. Several visitors went to notify park rangers. The response
time was approximately 20 minutes. P.K.H.'s body was transported to
Memorial Mortuary in Helo. Next of kin notified.
January 4, 1988
88-1 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Volcanic Eruption Update
Location: Kupapa'u Point
Lava flows from Puuo'o Volcano destroyed a structure yesterday - the 59th
building to burn since the eruptions began on January 3, 1983. Most of the
current flow, however, is heading into the ocean at Kupapa'u Point.
February 12, 1988
88-21 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Volcanic Eruption
Location: Kalapana
The Puu O'O lava flow from the Mt. Kilaue eruption increase its flow last week
and broke out of the main tube system and into the lower Royal Garden
subdivision on Wednesday. Several abandoned homes were destroyed, and five
more probably burned Wednesday night (overflights had not been made at the
time of the report). Ground crews from Hawaii Volcanoes are connecting cold
trails along the boundary to prevent wildfires from developing within the
park. The rate of spread for the flow has increased to one-half mile every
four hours on flat areas. No Park Service buildings are in danger.
March 28, 1988
88-49 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Helicopter Clash
Location: Near Royal Gardens
A Hughes 500-D helicopter which was under contract to the park and being used
to survey the park for illegal marijuana plots crashed in open terrain near
Royal Gardens yesterday afternoon. All four people on board were taken to a
hospital in Hilo for treatment. Pilot T.H. of Pacific Hilo Tours
sustained broken ribs and was trapped in the craft until he was extricated;
ranger John Machado suffered back injuries; ranger Jeffrey Judd received
facial lacerations and a possible broken nose; and ranger Gail Manami had no
visible injuries but was taken in for routine checks. FAA and OAS have been
notified. Cause of the accident is presently unknown and under investigation.
August 4, 1988
88-171 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Evacuations
Location: All Areas
Hurricane Favio was expected to reach the island of Hawaii on August 4th,
bringing with it wind in excess of 70 miles per hour. Winds as high as 100
miles per hour are expected on the slopes of Moana Loa. At the advise of
the U.S. Weather Service, rangers are evacuating the backcountry and NPS
employees are being moved from Kalapana.
Monday, January 23, 1989
89-9 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Death of Park Ranger
Ranger James "Kimo" Cabatbat died of cancer on the afternoon of the 18th.
He was 37. Kimo began his career in the NPS in 1979 at Haleakala, and was
the ranger at Kalapana in Hawaii Volcanoes at the time of his death. He was
also a member of the regional special events team for the last six years.
Kimo is survived by his wife, Non, and their three children, Trahern, 9,
Aislin, 6, and Cavan, 4. (Herb Gercke, WRO).
Monday, May 22, 1989
89-99 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Eruption/Marijuana Arrest
Lava flows at Kalapana broke through their tubes on the 19th and surfaced
within Royal Gardens, a small residential community on the park's boundary.
Crews from the park are assisting local fire crews in "black lining"
(burning out between a fire line and a fire) the area to safeguard
structures, including the Wa'Ha'Ula visitor center. No threats are
anticipated to any park structures. While engaged in the black lining
operation, ranger Sam Kahookaulana discovered a marijuana plantation.
Following an investigation, 332 plants were confiscated and T.B., a
German national, was arrested. The value of the plants has been established
as in excess of $300,000. (Jim Martin, CR, I-LAVO; report via CompuServe from
Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO).
Friday, June 16, 1989
89-134 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Aircraft Accident with Fatalities
On the afternoon of Sunday, June 11th, park rangers were advised that a
Scenic Air Tours flight from Hilo to Kahalui with 11 people on board had
disappeared while flying over the park. On Monday, an emergency locator
signal was picked up from the Waipeo - Waimanu Valley area outside of the
park's boundaries. This area contains steep and highly-vegetated canyons
with water falls over 1,000 feet high at the headwalls. Heavy rains over
the island prevented aircraft from locating the crash scene. Early on
Tuesday morning, the DBA helicopter which is stationed in the park
transported park rangers Jeffery Judd and Scott Lopez to the area to assist
in the search; ranger John Machado drove there with a fuel trailer and SAR
equipment. The crash site was located on the headwall of Waimanu valley,
about half way up its 2,000-foot height. The aircraft had burned and its
remains were hanging from vegetation and rocks on the highly-vegetated cliff
face. Fire department and military units were unable to reach the site and
asked that the rangers evaluate the scene. After an appraisal of the
accident site and some phone consultation with ranger Bob Howard in
Yosemite, a plan was developed that involved long-line insertion of recovery
personnel with a Hughs 500D helicopter. T.H., the pilot of the
Hughs, is considered to be the best tactical pilot in the islands, and was a
key person in the development of marijuana air eradication methods in the
early 80's. The three rangers and two other rescuers were long-lined into
an area adjacent to the crash site; they stabilized the scene with fixed
climbing ropes and spent the rest of the day recovering remains with a water
rescue net. Heavy rains fell during the night, making the crash site
extremely hazardous. On Wednesday, the team fixed cables around the
aircraft and airlifted parts out by helicopter. Three victims were still in
the plane at day's end, however, and recovery coordinators plan to long-line
the rangers into the site again to remove their bodies as soon as weather
permits. The fuselage will be left in place. (Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via
CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO).
Friday, June 16, 1989
89-135 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Volcanic Eruption
Two fingers of a lava flow are threatening park facilities. One is
approaching the archaeologically significant site of Kailiili and will
overcome it unless the flow is diverted. The flow may also cross the road
leading to the Wahaula Visitor Center, which will isolate but not threaten
the building. The second finger is threatening the Kalapana maintenance
area, but should not reach the facility for at least 30 days, if at all.
(Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via CompuServe message from PvAD/WRO).
Thursday, June 22, 1989
89-135 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Follow-up on Eruption: Buildings Lost
During the early hours of Wednesday, June 21st, the lava flow which was
previously reported as moving toward the Kalapana maintenance area (Morning
Report, 6/16) entered that area, destroyed two buildings, isolated but did
not damage three park residences, and advanced slowly toward the Wahaula
Visitor Center. On Tuesday, the park removed 95% of the equipment within
the two maintenance buildings - a generator shed and a garage with an office
and work area - and evacuated the natural history association employee who
was residing in one of the three houses (the other two were vacant). All
exhibits, cabinets, furniture and records were removed from the visitor
center, which was about 1,000 feet from the maintenance area. As of last
report (7 p.m. EOT last night), the flow was within 50 feet of the visitor
center, and park employees were utilizing a pumper truck and two 6,000-
gallon tankers to spray water on the flow's leading edge in hopes of cooling
and hardening it. Since the flow of lava eased up there and began breaking
out further to the east, there is some chance that the visitor center will
be saved, but the superintendent feels that it is more likely that it will
be lost. Visitors are being allowed into the area, as the lava flow is too
slow (about 10 feet per hour) to be immediately threatening, and
interpretive rangers have been assigned to the site to explain the natural
processes at work. (Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via CompuServe message from Herb
Gercke, RAD/WRO; supplemental phone call to Hugo Huntzinger, Superintendent,
HAVO).
Friday, June 23, 1989
89-135 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Follow-up on Eruption: Visitor Center Lost
The lava flow which destroyed two buildings in the Kalapana maintenance area
on Wednesday reached the Wahaula Visitor Center yesterday afternoon, causing
it to burst into flame. The building was totally consumed. Firefighters
had pumped more than 18,000 gallons of water onto the flow in an attempt to
save the building, which will cost about $60,000 to replace. Although it
was feared that the lava would next claim the Waha'ula Heiau temple, which
dates from 1275 A.D. and sits on a bluff 150 feet south of the center, it
now appears that the temple is out of danger due to the westward movement of
the flow. According to the USGS, Kilauea, the world's most active volcano,
is now pumping out about half a million cubic meters of lava per day.
(Report via Associated Press story filed this morning).
Tuesday, June 27, 1989
89-157 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Earthquake
The Manaula Pupuo'o area was hit by an earthquake that lasted between 30 and
40 seconds and reached 6.1 on the Richter scale at 5:30 p.m. on the 25th.
No property damage or injuries were reported within the park. The lava flow
area was temporarily closed to the public to safeguard against the effects
of any possible aftershocks. According to a seismic analyst for the USGS,
the quake was triggered by the release of pressure generated by the movement
of underground magma. The quake also generated a small (no more than 23"
high) tidal wave which caused no damage. (Scott Lopez, DR, HAVO, via
CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO; supplemental information from
AP story).
Thursday, July 20, 1989
89-191 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Hurricane Delilia
Hurricane Delilia was to have struck the coast of Hawaii at 3 p.m. local (9
p.m. EOT) time yesterday. The storm was expected to bring winds in excess
of 70 m.p.h. at a time when the year's highest tides will be coming in,
thereby threatening the south coast of the island. The park has closed the
coastal back country and is monitoring the coastal roads. Closures will
depend on weather conditions. (Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via CompuServe message
from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO).
Tuesday, July 25, 1989
89-191 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Hurricane Delilia
The hurricane, which was headed for the coast of Hawaii on the 19th, did not
make landfall; although there were heavy rains over the island, no damage
was inflicted on the park. (CompuServe message from RAD/WRO).
Friday, August 11, 1989
89-220 - Hawaii Volcanoes - VB? Visit
Reggie Walton, a former District Court judge from Washington, D.C. and
currently the number three deputy under William Bennett, Director of the
Office of National Drug Control Policy, visited the park along with several
DEA agents on the 8th and was shown helicopter rappel techniques and drug
eradication practices employed locally by park rangers. Walton is charged
with the coordination of state and federal agencies in the war on drugs.
(Paul Ducasse, LES, HAVO, via CompuServe message from RAD/WRO).
Friday, August 25, 1989
89-246 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Assist on Helicopter Crash
On August 24th, a Papillon Tours sight-seeing helicopter from Kona, Hawaii,
crashed outside the park boundary. A May Day was sent, and park rangers
Mark Lowry and Greg Herbst in a contract helicopter were the first to
respond and first to arrive at the scene of the accident. The two rangers
were able to stabilize and evacuate two victims with back injuries and
remove the remaining seven uninjured passengers to safety. (Paul Ducase,
LES, HAVO, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO).
Tuesday, January 9, 1990
90-4 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Assault on Ranger
On January 7th, ranger Ralph Cline stopped a 33-year-old Hawaiian man for
driving his vehicle off of the established roadway. During the ensuing scuffle,
he applied a choke hold on Cline while apparently attempting to get his gun,
causing Cline to lose consciousness. He then left the scene of the incident,
but was apprehended later and taken into custody. He will be arraigned in
Honolulu today and charged under 18 USC 111, assault on a law enforcement
office. (Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via CompuServe report from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO,
5 p.m. EST, 1/8/90).
Wednesday, January 10, 1990
90-4 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Assault on Ranger
Further information has been received regarding the assault on ranger Ralph
Cline on January 7th. Cline was on patrol on Chain-Of-Craters Road, now a dead
end because of lava flows, when he saw a four-wheel-drive vehicle being driven
erratically off road in an area where ORV travel is not permitted. When the
vehicle returned to the road, it almost hit several visitors. Cline then pursued
and stopped the vehicle. As he was talking to the driver, Cline smelled an
alcoholic beverage on his breath and saw a cooler beside him. Cline retrieved
the cooler and turned toward his car. As Cline was walking, the man grabbed him
from behind, turned him around, struck him in the chin and knocked him down.
Cline temporarily lost consciousness during the ensuing struggle; it is still
uncertain what specific act caused him to blackout. When Cline came to, the man
was gone. Cline called for assistance and several rangers established a road
block and stopped his assailant. The man, who has no known criminal record, was
arrested and registered a .11 in the test for blood alcohol administered two
hours after the incident. He has been arraigned on charges of assaulting a
federal officer. The park has arranged critical incident debriefing for Cline.
(Telephone report from Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 1 p.m. EST, 1/9/90).
Monday, January 22, 1990
90-13 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Rescue
Around 2:30 a.m. on January 18th, W.G., 28, of New York, was
partying with friends at a home in the town of Volcano when the group
decided to take a sauna at one of the many steam vents in the Steam Bluffs
area of the park. W.G. removed all of his clothes and approached the
vent near the north rim of Kilauea caldera, but lost his footing and fell
in, landing on a ledge about 25 feet below. After several fruitless efforts
to get him out, his friends sought help. Ranger rappelled down to W.G.
and brought him to the surface. He was taken to the dispensary at a nearby
military camp, where he was treated for numerous cuts and bruises and
released. (United Press report, 5 a.m. EST, 1/19/90).
Monday, February 12, 1990
90-27 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Storm Damage
On February 7th and 8th, winds of from 30 to 40 m.p.h. with gusts over 50
m.p.h. inflicted damage at the 4,000' elevation of the park. Trees started
to fall on roadways late on the evening of the 7th. The Namakanipaio
campground and all concession cabins in that area were closed on the
afternoon of the 8th due to the danger of falling trees. At about the same
time, an ohia tree fell on a moving rental vehicle near Thurston Lava Tube,
causing extensive property damage and minor personal injury to one of the
vehicle's passengers. The campgrounds and cabin were to have remained
closed until some time on the 9th. (Paul Ducasse, HAVO, via CompuServe
message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 1:30 p.m. EST, 2/9/90).
Wednesday, February 21, 1990
90-35 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Eruption of Kilauea
Lava from Kilauea Volcano destroyed a vacant home in the Royal Gardens
subdivision on the 17th and encircled another home the following day,
prompting the evacuation of two residents by helicopter. Another finger of
lava east of Royal Gardens crossed the Kalapana Bypass Highway but headed
for the ocean over old flows and did not threaten homes. A separate flow
was reported to be threatening the 125-home Kalapana subdivision yesterday.
The home in Royal Gardens was the 76th destroyed by lava since the eruptions
began in January of 1983. (Associated Press reports on 2/19 and 2/20/90).
Wednesday, April 4, 1990
90-52 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Injury to Park Ranger
During a cooperative drug enforcement mission with the Hawaii
County Police Department on April 2nd, park ranger Sam
Kahookaulana, 34, was suspended from a fixed line under a
helicopter. The safety rig securing Kahookaulana to the
helicopter malfunctioned, dropping him 15 feet to the trees
below. He was transported to a hospital in Hilo, and is
reported to be in stable condition with chest injuries. The
cause of the malfunction is under investigation. (Jim Martin,
CR, HAVO, via telefaxed report from Christine Lee, WRO, 11:30
a.m. EDT, 4/3/90).
Friday, April 6, 1990
90-52 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Injury to Ranger
On April 2nd, park ranger Sam Kahookaulana was injured when he fell 15 feet
from a fixed line under a helicopter to some trees below. He suffered a
slight compression fracture of a vertebra, but is now out of the hospital
and doing fine. (Telephone report from Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 3 p.m. EDT,
4/5/90).
Thursday, April 12, 1990
90-4 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Assault on Ranger
On January 7th, ranger Ralph Clyne was assaulted by B.W.P., 34,
when Clyne stopped him for suspicion of drunken driving on Chain-of-Craters
Road. B.W.P. grabbed Clyne by the throat and choked him into
unconsciousness before fleeing. Clyne was able to call for assistance when
he came to, however, and rangers subsequently established a road block and
stopped and arrested B.W.P. On March 28th, a Federal jury convicted B.W.P.
of assaulting a park ranger. He will be sentenced in U.S. District Court in
Honolulu on July 2nd, and faces a maximum three-year prison term. (Jim
Martin, CR, HAVO, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 11 a.m.
EDT, 4/10/90).
Tuesday, October 16, 1990
90-364 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Drug Eradication Operation
Over the course of the period from early July to late September, park
rangers Jeff Judd and Paul Ducasse participated full time in Operation
Wipeout, a DEA-sponsored marijuana eradication effort. Also participating
were state enforcement officers, Hawaii County police officers and members
of the military. The task force made a dozen arrests for cultivation and
distribution of marijuana and eradicated 500,000 plants. Two of the
arrested suspects were growing about 2,700 plants within an area 200 yards
from the park's jurisdictional boundary but within its legislative boundary.
Observers feel that the task force had a major impact on illegal marijuana
cultivation on Hawaii. (CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO,
10/11).
Wednesday, October 17, 1990
90-366 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Investigation into Employee Death
The Hawaii County Police Department is conducting an investigation into the
disappearance of park Maintenance employee Bruce Shimizu, 56, who may have
been murdered. On October 14th, Shimizu's locked vehicle and broken fishing
gear were found near Hilo Bay, 30 miles from the park, but Shimizu could not
be found. The next day, a juvenile male walked into the county police
department and confessed to killing Shimizu and throwing his body into the
Wailuku River. The suspect said that he had gotten angry with Shimizu,
beaten him up, thrown his body in the river, and destroyed his fishing
equipment. A search for Shimizu is underway, but he has not yet been
located. Shimizu began working in the park in 1978 as a YACC employee.
Since 1983, he had worked in various laborer positions, most recently as a
painter. The incident occurred while Shimizu was on a break in service as a
temporary employee. (Paul Ducasse, HAVO, via CompuServe message from Herb
Gercke, RAD/WRO, 10/16).
Friday, May 17, 1991
91-165 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Serious Visitor Injury
P.Q., 24, of Del Mar, New York, received second
degree burns to his feet and ankles when he waded into the water
near a lava flow in the Wahaula area of the park on the evening
of the 15th. P.Q. told hospital personnel that he'd intended
to jump into the water, but that he'd decided to test it with
his feet first. He was treated at the hospital, then released.
No park personnel were on duty in the area at the time, but
P.Q. had passed a number of warning and cautionary signs
before entering the water. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via
CompuServe message from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 5/16]
Thursday, May 30, 1991
91-182 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Helicopter Crash
A Mambo Kea contract Hughes 500 helicopter crashed while sling
loading on a resource management assignment at 5,500 feet on
Mauna Loa. Initial reports indicate that the pilot, who was the
helicopter's sole occupant, was seriously injured. The aircraft
was totally destroyed. A small fire resulted and was suppressed
by park crews. OAS has been notified. [Jack Minassian, HAVO,
via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 5/29]
Friday, May 31, 1991
91-182 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Followup on Helicopter Crash
The contract Hughs 500 helicopter which crashed in the park was
in the process of sling-loading fencing materials from a staging
area at 4,600 feet to a work site at 7,800 feet. On a return
trip to the staging area, the helicopter's engine failed. The
pilot may have tried to autorotate, but did not have enough
altitude and crashed at the 6,000 feet. Debris was spread for
about 200 feet; the ship itself came to rest against a tree and
burned. The pilot's helmet was caught in the wreckage, but he
managed to free himself from it and walk away from the ship.
His injuries included a slight concussion, fractured vertebrae,
a fractured collarbone, and a compound fracture of the arm. An
investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.
[CompuServe message from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 5/30]
Monday, August 12, 1991
91-386 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Lightning Injury
J.F., 20, of Fern Acres, was struck by lightning upon
entering the U.S. Geological Service building in the park on
August 8th. J.F., who is an employee in a student program,
remained conscious, but was unable to speak. No burn marks or
entry or exit points were discovered on his body. When able to
talk again, J.F. complained of chest and back pains. He
was released in good condition following admittance and
observation in a hospital in Hilo. [Jim Martin, Cr, HAVO, via
CompuServe message from Steve Martin, RAD/WRO, 8/9]
Thursday, August 15, 1991
91-404 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Assist on Fatal Helicopter
Crash
A Hawaii Department of Drug Enforcement helicopter suffered a
power loss and crashed and burned while on an interagency
marijuana eradication assignment outside the park's boundary on
the 13th. The pilot, A.W., 36, was killed; a Kauii police
officer received first and second degree burns on his back and a
DNR officer and National Guard agent each received minor
injuries. Ranger Jeff Judd, who was to have flown with A.W.,
switched to another helicopter at the last minute. Judd and the
second helicopter's pilot, Tom Hopman, rescued the three
passengers from the ship and extinguished the fire. The
helicopter was spotting for two other helicopters that were
spraying sugar cane fields in a marijuana eradication operation.
[Paul Ducasse, LES, HAVO, via CompuServe message from Herb
Gercke, RAD/WRO, 8/14]
Tuesday, August 27, 1991
91-440 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Search and Rescue
On the evening of August 25th, the park received a report that
B.S., 16, and J.F., 15, both of Encinitas,
California, were missing. The two had last been seen entering
the Ola'a Tract, an area of very heavy vegetation. They were
wearing only tank tops and jeans and had neither food nor water.
Rain fell throughout the night, but skies partially cleared the
following morning. A full-scale search was initiated
whichemployed helicopters, grid searches and containment patrols.
The park reported that the two boys were found late yesterday
and that they were in good condition. Details are to follow.
[Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via CompuServe message from Carl
Christensen, RAD/WRO, 8/26]
Thursday, September 12, 1991
91-481 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Search in Progress
M.T.K., an employee of the park's fence contractor,
walked off of the fence project on Mauna Loa on September 1st.
The park was notified that M.T.K. was missing on the 9th. At
present, there is conflicting information on his last known
location. One report places the location at the fence line camp
at 8,000 feet; the other indicates that M.T.K.'s pack and
boots were found in one of the contract employee's vehicles at
the end of the paved Mauna Loa strip road at the 6,000-foot level.
Both an investigation and search are underway. [Jim Martin, CR,
HAVO, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 9/11]
Monday, September 16, 1991
91-481 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Followup on Search
A search was begun on September 9th for M.T.K., an
employee of the park's fence contractor, after the park was
notified that he'd walked off a project on Mauna Loa a week
earlier. A detailed search of all vegetated areas in the
primary search area was conducted on the 12th, but no clues were
found. Air and foot searches centering on lava tubes and open
skylights were equally fruitless. The park's search efforts
have accordingly been suspended until new information is
received. County personnel were to continue searching the area
on the 13th, but planned on suspend their efforts if no signs of
M.T.K. were found. An NPS helicopter search and infrared
radar scan of the area was scheduled for the 13th, but was
canceled due to lack of equipment. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via
CompuServe message from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 9/13]
Friday, September 27, 1991
91-513 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Death of Employee
Jon Erickson, a supervisory interpretive ranger at Hawaii
Volcanoes and the park's public information officer, died of a
heart attack on the evening of Tuesday, September 24th. He had
left work early that day after reporting that he was feeling ill
with unspecified symptoms. He was taking a shower at home
during the evening and apparently suffered a heart attack. His
wife later found him there. No information is yet available
concerning funeral arrangements or other details. Jon was in
his mid40's. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via CompuServe message from
Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 9/26]
Monday, September 30, 1991
91-524 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Successful Rescue
R.G., a 31-year-old worker for a fence contractor in the
park, became lost while working at the 7,000-foot level on Mauna
Loa on September 26th. R.G. and a co-worker started back along
the fence to their vehicles around 11:45 a.m. with R.G. in the
lead. When R.G.'s partner reached the vehicles, though,
R.G. was not there. He searched for R.G. for five hours
without luck, then reported him missing. R.G. was reportedly
no an outdoorsman and not well-suited to taking care of himself
on his own. The location where he became lost was about a mile
from the point where another fence contractor employee had
disappeared a few weeks ago. The park conducted a hasty search
on the morning of the 27th and found R.G. about a mile from
the point last seen. He was unhurt, but suffered from
exhaustion and exposure. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via Carl
Christensen, RAD/WRO, 9/27]
Wednesday, October 16, 1991
91-566 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Falling Fatality
E.R., a 23-year-old seaman from the U.S.S. Worden, was killed on
the evening of October 15th when he fell about 250 feet into the crater of
Mt. Kilauea. E.R. was leading three other Navy men in a hike up the
mountain to an overlook. They were climbing in single file in darkness
without the benefit of flashlights. E.R. apparently didn't see the
crater's lip and walked right over. His body was recovered the following
morning by a team of six park rangers assisted by a helicopter. [AP news
story, 10/12; Paul Ducasse, HAVO, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke,
RAD/WRO, 10/15]
Friday, November 1, 1991
91-599 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Marijuana Eradication
On October 30th, rangers and Hawaii County officers conducted a raid in the
Royal Gardens area on the park and found 4,000 marijuana plants. No
arrests were made. Evidence indicated that the growers were doing research
and development on different strains of marijuana, as about two dozen
varieties were subsequently identified. The growers were apparently
striving for a variety which would grown in a dry environment and shaded
area, thereby minimizing for growers to tend their plants and make
detection by air more difficult. Rangers learned of the plantation from
visitors hiking in the area. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via CompuServe message
from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 11/1]
Monday, January 6, 1992
91-676 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Assault with Dangerous Weapon
Just after 3:00 a.m. on December 23rd, rangers responded to a report of an
assault by a person with a shotgun in the park's concession dormitory and
subsequently arrested R.E.S., an employee of the Volcano House
concession, for possession of a sawed-off shotgun and assault with a deadly
weapon. A .32 caliber revolver and a small amount of marijuana were also
seized during the arrest. Investigation revealed the details of the
incident. Following a concession Christmas party on the 22nd, a number of
employees had continued drinking and playing music in the dormitory lobby.
One employee who had gone to his room objected to the noise. R.E.S.
entered his room with a shotgun, pulled him from his bed, and placed the
shotgun to his head. R.E.S.'s girlfriend intervened, and the victim was
able to lock his room door and escape out the window. R.E.S. was arrested
without incident, and was arraigned later that day in Honolulu. [Paul
Ducasse, HAVO, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 1/3]
Wednesday, February 26, 1992
92-52 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Fatality
Just before midnight on the 24th, J.S., 25, of Seattle, Washington,
and B.M., 24, of Boulder, Colorado, both volunteers with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, were taking a steam bath at the edge of a crack
in a natural vent when a dense cloud of steam hit them. As they attempted
to leave, B.M. slipped on the mud, fell about ten feet into a small vent,
then slid another ten feet further into the vent. J.S. heard her scream
and cry out that she could not breathe; he made several rescue efforts, but
was unable to reach her. J.S. then obtained assistance from Hawaii
Volcano personnel at park headquarters a half mile away. Park, Kilauea
Military Camp and Hawaii County rescue crews eventually recovered her body
after several hours' effort, but were hampered in the process by intense
heat and steam. People often take steam baths at the vents, which are a
half-mile from the crater of Kilauea. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via CompuServe
message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 2/25; additional information from AP news
report, 2/25]
Friday, March 6, 1992
92-66 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Volcanic Activity
A sharp deflation of Kilauea's summit, accompanied by a swarm of small
earthquakes in the upper East Rift zone near Pauahi Crater, occurred at 1:00
a.m. on March 3rd. The area then abruptly inflated, cracking the Chain of
Crater road near the Helina Pali road junction at Devil's Throat Crater. At
the same time, the activity on the west flank of Puu O'o stopped and lava
apparently drained out of the Puu O'o lava lake. A fissure eruption in the
vicinity of these cracks was thought to be imminent, and the park responded
by closing the Chain of Craters road at Crater Rim drive, moving all
vehicles and the mobile visitor center out of the coastal area, and
evacuating visitors and park personnel from the Puu O'o area by helicopter.
At 2:00 p.m., an overflight disclosed that lava had returned to Puu O'o and
that a small active lake was building in the west section. An active lava
flow was also noted on the north edge of the lava flow which had been coming
from the east flank of Puu o'o during the previous week. The origin of this
molten material is unknown. Maintenance crews will be inspecting the
cracked roadway and making necessary safety repairs prior to reopening the
Chain of Craters road. The U.S. Geological Survey feels that it would take
very little push from another summit deflation to cause an eruption. The
park is continuing a fire watch in the area due to drought conditions. [Jim
Martin, CR, HAVO, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 3/5]
Tuesday, June 2, 1992
92-236 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Helicopter Accident
A Hughes 500-D helicopter belonging to Mauna Kea Helicopters experienced
engine failure over Chain of Craters Road on May 30th and autorotated to
hard landing on the road. The helicopter was severely damaged; the pilot
and his four passengers suffered minor injuries. Wreckage of the craft
caused the road to be closed to traffic, but at the time of the report it
was thought that it would be reopened by the following day. Apparently
there was a change in engine sound, followed by chip lights and abnormal
gauge readings, just prior to engine failure. The hard landing at an
estimated 10 mph was necessary to avoid hitting a tour bus on the road. The
accident is being investigated by the FAA. Although not on a departmental
mission, the aircraft was OAS carded and had been frequently used by the
park. OAS has been notified. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via cc:Mail report
from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 6/1]
Friday, June 5, 1992
92-244 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Drug Arrest
On May 29th, D.D., 22, of Keeau, Hawaii, was stopped by a park ranger
for a traffic violation on Highway 11. D.D. initially identified himself
as Anyabuly Watunde and claimed to be a Rastafarian. Although he refused to
provide any identification, he eventually allowed rangers to open a bag that
contained his identification. Rangers also found marijuana in the bag. A
check through Yosemite dispatch revealed that D.D. had been arrested on
drug charges in California and had a no bail warrant on him from Los Angeles
County for cultivation of marijuana. D.D. was to be flown to Honolulu on
June 1st to answer federal charges and await extradition to Los Angeles
County on state charges. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via cc:Mail message from
Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 6/1]
Monday, June 8, 1992
92-247 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Car Clouting Arrests
Starting on May 31st, the park was beset by a series of thefts from visitor
vehicles. All of the involved vehicles were parked in area where visitors
made short walks away from the parking lot; most of the thefts were
occurring in the late afternoon and vehicles were usually entered by
breaking a window with a rock. Rangers accordingly began a stakeout of the
lot at Thurston Lava Tube on June 4th. At 6:30 that evening, they saw
P.J., 19, and B.C., 20, break into a vehicle, remove
property, place it in their vehicle, and drive away. They were stopped and
arrested as they attempted to leave the lot. All of the couple's activities
prior to and during the theft were recorded on video. Rangers recovered
property and cash with a total value of $361 from the observed theft, but
found no property associated with any of the previous thefts. The pair were
to be arraigned at magistrate's court on June 5th. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO,
via cc:Mail message from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 6/5]
Friday, September 11, 1992
92-488 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Hurricane Iniki
As of late Wednesday, Hurricane Iniki was 120 miles south of the park. A
hurricane advisory had been issued for the area, but the storm was not
expected to come any closer to the island. Surf from eight to ten feet high
was expected; at 3 p.m., rangers were reporting surf approaching that height
range breaking into the coconut grove at the Kamoamoa Village at the new
black sand beach. The beach was accordingly closed. A sensitive
archeological site is located under the sands in the coconut grove. [Jim
Martin, CR, HAVO, 9/10]
Wednesday, September 23, 1992
92-516 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Aircraft Accident
Around noon on September 21st, a sightseeing helicopter crashed in the Puu
O'o area of the park, injuring pilot J.K., of Keeau, Hawaii, and his
two passengers, P.H. and S.H. of Manchester, Connecticut.
Responding officers treated all three for minor injuries and flew them out
of the area. Rangers assisted in the evacuation. An investigation is
underway, but it appears that the crash was caused by mechanical
difficulties. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 9/22]
Friday, October 30, 1992
92-582 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Lava Flow
Early on the morning of October 28th, maintenance employees reported that a
lava flow from the Puu O'o vent had come over the escarpment above Kamoamoa.
Although the flow had been monitored throughout the week, observers had
expected it to pool on the flat land above the escarpment and not proceed
any further. An overflight revealed extensive surface activity, with two
strong flows moving down the cliff and into coastal grass lands. The park
was planning on direct suppression of wildfire occurring along the flow on
Wednesday and black line operations on Thursday to protect the remaining
coastal shrub forest to the east. No threats to facilities are anticipated.
Visitors are attempting to hike into the flow area from numerous points
along the coastal road and rangers have not been able to either monitor or
control them. The flow should provide good viewing for the public in the
evening hours. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 10/29]
Friday, November 6, 1992
92-582 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Lava Flow
The lava flow from the vent on the west side of Pu'o 'O'o continues to pour
over the escarpment in the park's coastal district three miles west of
Kamoamoa. There are several actively moving fingers of lava, the lowest of
which is at the 650-foot elevation; one is within a half mile of the Chain
of Craters Road below Pali Uli. The road has been closed at Lae Apuki due
to fire operations, the danger of lava ignited fire, and concerns that
visitors might become disoriented by heavy smoke or entrapped by fast moving
brush fires. Two dozen firefighters have been deployed in an attempt to
establish a blackline to prevent the spread of wildfire into native coastal
vegetation. They are being supported by three helicopters that are ferrying
crews and dropping water from buckets. [Mardie Lane, PIO, HAVO, 11/4]
Tuesday, November 10, 1992
92-582 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Lava Flow
The lava flow from the Puu O'o vent now covers about a quarter mile of the
Chain of Craters Road. Park crews have black lined much of the associated
fire, which has so far burned about 800 acres. [Jack Minassian, HAVO, 11/9]
Tuesday, November 17, 1992
92-582 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Lava Flow
The vent on the west side of Pu'u 'O'o continues to feed open cascades of
lava over Pali Uli above Lae'apuki in the park's coastal district. Output
has been estimated at over 100,000 cubic yards of lava per day. Lava has
completely surrounded Moa Heiau and has flowed over and covered most of its
surface platform. Six of seven campsites in the campground have been
buried. Lava has also covered rocky outcroppings containing petroglyphs,
almost all of the black sand beach, and many trees. The flow is moving
through tube systems extending over five miles from the vent to the ocean,
and is filling in the bay at Kamoamoa. Over 18 acres of new land have been
added to the island since November 8th. [Mardie Lane, PIO, HAVO, 11/16]
Tuesday, November 24, 1992
92-614 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Helicopter Crash; Three Rescued
On Saturday, November 21st, a Bell Jet Ranger owned by Hilo Bay Air and
carrying the pilot and two passengers crashed on a ledge 150 feet below the
rim of the Pu'u 'O'o vent on Kilauea. Rescue efforts were begun by a park
team comprised of rangers Jeff Judd, Paul Ducasse, Neil Akana, Robin Cooper
and Greg Herbst, with the assistance of county fire and rescue units.
Attempts to reach the three men were hampered by the heavy steaming and
fuming of the vent, which dropped visibility to zero, by the noxious
hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide gases accompanying the steam clouds,
which forced rescuers to wear respirators and self-contained breathing
apparatus, and by intermittent and occasionally heavy rain showers. The
surface around the vent was also found to be extremely unstable and highly
prone to cave-ins and collapses. On Saturday afternoon, a contract
helicopter was able to land inside the crater, allowing Ducasse to rescue
the pilot of the crashed helicopter. It took longer to reach the two
passengers, who had attempted to hike out and had become stranded. The
first was rescued at 3 p.m. on Sunday, the second was extricated yesterday.
No details are yet available on their medical condition or the cause of the
accident. This is the third helicopter crash in the park this year, and the
second on the Pu'u 'O'o vent in the past few months. [Mardie Lane, PIO,
HAVO, 11/21 and 11/23]
Wednesday, December 16, 1992
92-647 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Hazardous Environment
U.S. Geological Survey employees conducting tests at the eruption site with
representatives from the American Lung Association on December 10th noted
that there were periods of high concentrations of hydrochloric acid atomized
in the air at one of the primary viewing areas for the current eruption.
The concentrations were high enough to conceivably exceed the eight-hour
exposure limits OSHA has set for such environments, so employees have been
issued respirators for use when fumes are strong enough to cause irritation.
The park will initiate a study to test employee exposure levels at various
work sites in the eruption area. Adjustments will then be made in schedules
and assignments to keep exposure within OSHA limits. Atomized hydrochloric
acid can cause eye, nose and upper respiratory inflammation. Employees
reporting these symptoms are being referred to doctors for medical
attention. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 12/14]
Monday, January 11, 1993
92-582 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Lava Flow
All lava flow activity stopped completely in the morning hours of January
3rd. No lava could be seen in the Puu O'o vent or in any of the major lava
tube systems leading from the vent to the coastal entry. The summit of
Kilauea began inflating during the day, however, and flows resumed late in
the afternoon in both the tubes and on the surface. On January 5th, lava
suddenly broke out of the tube systems in the area of the old Kamoamoa
campground, covering the remaining portions of the parking lot for the
picnic area and the old stone restroom. As the flow moved into unburnt
fuels, fire activity resumed at several locations. At the time of the
report, that activity was restricted to flow fronts and was being confined
within black lines or trails. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 1/6]
Monday, January 25, 1993
92-675 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Car Clouting Convictions
On January 20th, B.C. and P.J. were each sentenced to ten
months confinement and three years supervised probation after pleading
guilty to three felony thefts from vehicles in the park over the past year.
Following a series of thefts from vehicles in the Thurston Lava Tube,
rangers Jeff Judd and Gail Minami staked out the area and subsequently
videotaped B.C. and P.J. breaking into vehicles. The pair will also be
required to submit to drug testing and reimburse visitors whose vehicle
windows were broken during the thefts. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 1/22]
Tuesday, January 26, 1993
93-34 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Helicopter Crash with Fatalities
A tourist helicopter from Kainoa Aviation in Hilo crashed in the Pacific
Ocean yesterday while flying near the point where the volcano's lava flow
enters the sea in the Kalapana area. There were five people on board; the
pilot survived, but three of his passengers died and the fourth is missing.
The crash occurred just outside of park boundaries, but rangers have been
actively involved in search and rescue operations. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO,
1/25]
Wednesday, January 27, 1993
93-34 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Fatal Helicopter Crash
Despite continuing efforts, searchers have not yet found either the body of
the fourth victim of Monday's crash or any sign of the Fairchild Hiller 1100
helicopter. The only survivor, pilot R.I., is in Hilo Hospital;
his status is not known. At this time, it appears that the helicopter was
on a normal sightseeing flight when the accident occurred, but investigators
have yet to determine the cause of the crash. FAA and county fire and
rescue officials are coordinating the investigation and search. [Gail
Minami, Acting CR, HAVO, 1/26]
Wednesday, February 10, 1993
93-59 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Volcanic Activity
Just after midnight on February 8th, a series of seismic events began in the
park, including rapid deflation of the summit area of Kilauea and hundreds
of tremors and small earthquakes in the Makaopuhi Crater area east of the
Chain of Craters Road and west of the current eruption at the Puu O'o vent.
The flows into the ocean at Kamoamoa stopped, and it appears that Puu O'o
and the tubes leading to the ocean have drained. Significant coastal beach
collapse occurred in the early morning hours after lava drained out from
under it. Activity at Makaopuhi continued throughout the day and the summit
area continued to deflate. U.S. Geologic Service personnel feel that a new
outbreak in the Makaopuhi area is possible at any time. The coastal area,
Chain of Craters Road and Hilina Pali road have been closed so that no
visitors will be entrapped in the area if the outbreak occurs. The
situation is being closely monitored. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 2/9]
Monday, February 22, 1993
93-79 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Pursuit
On February 12th, ranger Talmadge Magno picked up a motorcycle traveling at
74 mph on Highway 11 and attempted to stop him. The motorcyclist, J.R.
of Kealakekua, accelerated, and Magno pursued him. During the ten-
mile chase, Magno reached speeds over 100 mph, but the motorcycle
nonetheless continued to pull away. Ranger Eric Candelario joined the
pursuit, moving his vehicle into a position ahead of the motorcycle and
creating a moving blockade. After two separate orders via the vehicle's
public address system, J.R. finally moved to the side of the road and
stopped. Investigation revealed that J.R. had no warrants against him,
nor was there any indication that he'd engaged in any other illegal acts.
The motorcyclist apologized, stating that he thought he could get away from
Magno and that he did it for the thrill. He also said that he was in the
process of getting a commercial license and fled because he did not want to
lose his driver's license. J.R. is scheduled for a mandatory appearance
before the U.S. magistrate. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 2/16]
Tuesday, February 23, 1993
93-59 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Volcanic Activity
The pause in eruptive activity at the Puu O'o vent has ended. Early on the
evening of February 20th, reports were received of a new fissure opening in
the base of the Puu O'o cone. Fountains of from four to six meters in
height were reported. An overflight on the morning of February 21st
disclosed a rooster tail fountain about four meters high with a small lava
flow at its base. The flows do not appear to extend any great distance from
the fountain. The main tube system from Puu O'o has also become active,
with low volume flows at the edge of Holei Pali and some lava visible in
skylights on the face of the Pali. There is still very little to be seen by
visitors, which has given the park staff some respite from "eruption duty."
The situation is being monitored, and the eruption operational schedule will
be reinstated when visitor safety and interest levels warrant. [Jim Martin,
CR, HAVO, 2/22]
Monday, March 1, 1993
93-59 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Volcanic Activity
The lava flow that began erupting on February 20th has now spread over all
the pali and is approaching visitor contact points. Park personnel are
gearing up to manage the problem. Incidental to the flow are two fires that
have been started by the molten lava. Two crews have been called out to
fight these fires, since they are also close to visitor areas. [Jim Martin,
CR, HAVO, 2/26]
Monday, March 1, 1993
93-90 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Hazardous Materials Spill
While in the process of working on the park water tanks, a park contractor
accidentally spilled some unidentified solvent on the roadway, causing
portions of it to be eaten away. Park maintenance personnel are currently
in the process of tearing up the damaged portion. Efforts are underway to
identify the material. No injuries have been reported. [Jim Martin, CR,
HAVO, 2/26]
Tuesday, March 2, 1993
93-95 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Search
At 2 a.m. on February 26th, the park received a report that 37-year-old
J.O. of Van Nuys, California, was missing and had last been seen
going under the safety barricade wire at the edge of Kilauea Crater and
heading toward Volcano Observatory. When they looked again, they could not
see him. The crater drops vertically 300 feet to a rubble slope at that
point and was the site of a falling fatality last year. A hasty search of
all trail areas leading from the site was made; searchers also followed old
USGS trails down into the crater. After two hours of ground searches, a
helicopter was called to assist. J.O. was found sitting in a picnic
shelter near the point last seen a short time later. He said that he'd
decided to hike down to the crater floor to get a rock and didn't think
anyone missed him. The route he took was extremely unstable and hazardous.
[Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 3/1]
Friday, March 12, 1993
93-111 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Marijuana Eradication
Over recent weeks, activity in the Royal Gardens subdivision suggested that
marijuana cultivation and harvesting activities were continuing in the area.
A surveillance operation was mounted which confirmed this observation.
Three rangers and a county police officer subsequently entered the area and
eradicated 1,300 plants ranging in size from twelve-inch seedlings to mature
plants. If successfully grown and harvested, the entire crop would have had
a market value of over $1 million. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 3/10]
Wednesday, March 31, 1993
93-59 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Volcanic Activity
Over the past week, a finger of lava has been moving towards the Lae Apuki
village site to the east of Kamoamoa. Lava has reached the ocean in front
of the village and covered many major archeological features. There's no
indication that the flows will stop, and it's believed that the site will be
completely covered within a few days. The loss is significant, since it's
the last remaining prehistoric/historic Hawaiian village site east of the
Keahou landing site located on the western boundary of the Kalapana
extension. All the other major village and occupation sites along this 16-
mile stretch of coast have been seriously compromised or covered by lava
flows over the last 22 years. Biological losses have also been substantial,
as significant stands of a dozen native species have been overrun. [Jim
Martin, CR, HAVO, 3/29]
Tuesday, April 20, 1993
93-191 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Explosion; Fatality, Multiple Injuries
Around 9 p.m. local time yesterday evening (3 a.m. EDT), a series of
significant phreatic (steam) explosions occurred where lava is entering the
ocean at Lae Apuki, killing one visitor and injuring 14 others - all of whom
were in an area which was posted as closed to the public. Following an
initial explosion, a bench of lava which extended into the ocean collapsed,
causing more explosions and throwing rocks over a quarter of a mile into the
air. The visitor who was killed had walked out on the bench after the first
explosion, and disappeared into the ocean. Injuries were caused by scalding
ocean water and by the rocks which were thrown into the air. All 14 were
able to make it either to the Volcano House, where they were treated by
rangers, or to a hospital in Hilo. Their condition is not known at present.
A joint park - Coast Guard search is underway along the shoreline to find
the victim who fell into the ocean. The search will be expanded at dawn.
Although the area is again quiet, it has been closed to the public until
further notice. A USGS geologist will inspect the area later this morning
to determine the cause of the explosions. Further details to follow. [Jim
Martin, CR, HAVO, 4/20]
Wednesday, April 21, 1993
93-191 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Volcanic Explosion
The search for victims of the volcanic explosion which took place at Lae
Apuki Village Monday night - including Prem Nagar, 46, of Kealakakua,
Hawaii, who witnesses saw fall into the ocean - continues. Investigation
indicates that as many as 20 visitors were in the closed area on the lava
bench when it collapsed without warning. The collapse was followed by three
distinct earthquake-like events, then the sudden explosion of a lava tube
that had been filling with water. Enough steam pressure was produced to
blow rocks up to a quarter meter across over 100 meters inland from the
shoreline. Many of these rocks were incandescent and burnt visitors who
were trying to escape. Injuries sustained included serious abrasions and
third degree burns from falling rocks, scalding ocean water and lava
fragments. Nagar did not try to leave the area when the first collapse
occurred and was seen falling into the ocean. The sequence is recorded on a
video made by a visitor which has been given to the park. Another camera
was found at the site during the investigation, and its film is being
processed in hopes of obtaining additional information on the event.
Investigators also determined that visitors in the area had not read the
abundant warning and specific closure signs posted there; most stated that
they were just attracted to the active lava areas. Search efforts will
continue for at least two more days. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 4/20]
Thursday, April 22, 1993
93-191 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Volcanic Explosion
Searchers are continuing their efforts to find Prem Nagar, who disappeared
in the ocean after Monday's explosion at Lae Apuki, but no sign of him has
been found. Efforts will continue at least one more day. An investigation
of the site was completed yesterday by rangers and a scientist from the
Geological Survey's Volcano Observatory. They concluded that the lava bench
could collapse again in some manner if lava continues to enter the ocean at
that point and the bench continues to grow. The explosive aftermath of a
bench collapse was observed by scientists several years ago when lava
entered the ocean several miles to the east at Kupapau Point. Park staff
met with a representative from the observatory yesterday morning and
reviewed options for visitor access to the eruption site. They considered
two options - restricting daytime viewing and completely closing the coastal
area at night, or leaving the site open after park staff leaves, but with
reorganization of safety signs and clearer definitions of viewing areas.
After careful deliberation, they decided to keep the site open 24 hours per
day and concentrate on establishing viewing areas that could be considered
reasonably safe, since visitors would ignore barricades and safety signing
after hours and continue to enter hazardous areas. They felt that the
irresponsible actions of a few should not result in unreasonable nighttime
restrictions on visitor use of this expansive and spectacular section of the
park. Lava flows are a vital but inherently dangerous part of the park,
just as seasonally high river flows are in other areas. It was felt that
the manner in which the park has managed visitor access to the lava flows
for the last ten years has been reasonable and has permitted superlative
visitor experiences to thousands of people with relatively few serious
accidents or injuries. The reorganization of safety signs and
barricades was completed yesterday and the site was reopened around noon.
[Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 4/21]
Thursday, June 3, 1993
93-310 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Car Clout Apprehensions
Rangers Jeffrey Judd and Neil Akana and a Hawaii County police officer have
broken an extensive burglary-theft ring which has been responsible for three
thefts in Kilauea Military Camp and at least seven burglaries in the Volcano
Village, Volcano Golf Course, and Mauna Loa Estates subdivisions adjacent to
the park. The investigation stemmed from an incident in which a compact
disc player and discs had been stolen from a car parked at the military
camp. The ring was comprised of six juveniles between the ages of 11 and
15. One was carrying a .38 caliber reproduction weapon which investigators
believe was used in strong arm robberies of younger children on the base and
in the community. The investigation is continuing; more burglary and theft
cases will likely be closed. [J.F. Martin, CR, HAVO, 6/2]
Thursday, June 24, 1993
93-400 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Fuel Spill
An unknown amount of aviation fuel was spilled on a paved heliport in the
park during a refueling operation on the afternoon of June 20th. The spill
covered an area measuring 13 by eight feet. Hawaii civil defense was to be
notified and was expected to take appropriate action. [Jack Minassian,
HAVO, 6/22]
Monday, July 19, 1993
93-491 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Assist; Marijuana Seizure
Following receipt of a report that marijuana had been observed on the power
line that crosses the Mauna Loa Strip section of the park, rangers, park
criminal investigators and a Hawaii County officer conducted an aerial
search of the area on July 13th and spotted a very large marijuana plot
about 100 yards outside the park's boundary on the Kapapala Ranch. There
were numerous growing areas in an a'a' lava field, all connected by a
sophisticated irrigation system powered by a gasoline pump. Adjacent to the
plantation was a camp covered by camouflage netting. After consulting state
and county officials, a decision was made to eradicate the plants because it
would not be feasible to stake out the area. Over 1,000 fully-developed,
five- to six-foot tall plants with mature buds over a foot long were pulled.
No male plants were present in the plantation. A gasoline pump, reels of
hose, frog ponds, tents and other materials associated with the cultivation
process were seized. A .44 magnum revolver was also recovered.
Investigation indicates that the growing operation was staged out of the
park's Mauna Loa Strip road and that the growers had tapped into one of the
ranch's water systems. The plantation appeared to be in its third year of
existence. Due to the quality of plants, their value has been placed at $2
million. As part of this operation, another plantation at Royal Gardens was
hit and another 500 plants were recovered. These had an estimated value of
$500,000. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 7/14]
Wednesday, August 4, 1993
93-564 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Resource Violation
On July 29th, rangers noted a suspicious vehicle in the Kipuku Puaulu (Bird
Park) special ecological area, a location containing a number of rare and
endangered species. They staked out the Bird Park trail and soon saw a
local man come down the trail and throw a large bag into his truck. They
confronted the man, who informed them that he'd been collecting a locally
rare variety of maile, a plant whose leaves and bark are highly valued in
the manufacture of leis. He said that he knew it was illegal, but that he
collected it anyway. Removal of maile not only depletes this locally rare
species, but also endangers the associated native and rare plants in the
area. Legal action will be pursued. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 7/30]
Tuesday, August 17, 1993
93-604 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Hurricane Fernanda
The park began making preparations on Sunday for the possible arrival of
Hurricane Fernanda, which was then on track to strike the islands with winds
over 100 mph. Several roads were closed and all backcountry hiking and
camping was prohibited until further notice. Backcountry rangers flew into
the park's remote backcountry sites during the day and notified campers of
the closure. Two hikers were flown out to help expedite the evacuation.
The park was preparing to close the campground at Namakani Paio on short
notice, and campers were being urged to seek shelter elsewhere. As of this
morning, however, forecasters were predicting that the storm would pass to
the northeast of the islands. [Gail Minami, Acting CR, HAVO, 8/16]
Wednesday, August 18, 1993
93-612 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Fatality
During the suppression of a small fire near the Chain of Craters Road on the
morning of August 16th, a firefighter discovered the remains of an adult
male. Neither the person's identity nor the time or cause of death are yet
known. That stretch of the road had been closed to all vehicle and hiker
access since August 14th, when it appeared that Hurricane Fernando might
strike the park. An investigation is underway. [Mardie Lane, HAVO, 8/17]
Friday, September 24, 1993
92-614 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Helicopter Crash
On Saturday, November 21, 1992, a Bell Jet Ranger owned by Hilo Bay Air and
leased by Paramount Pictures crashed on a ledge 150 feet below the rim of
the Pu'u 'O'o vent on Kilauea. The pilot and two passengers were eventually
rescued by a team comprised of USGS and NPS employees. The National
Transportation Safety Board recently completed its investigation of the
accident, and concluded that it occurred because the pilot deliberately flew
into a volcanic fume cloud, thereby depriving the helicopter's engine of
oxygen and causing partial loss of engine power. The results of the
investigation were not unexpected and confirm the findings of the NPS
investigation. This determination now clears the way for the County of
Hawaii to claim reimbursement for more than $30,000 in direct costs which
they incurred while participating in the interagency rescue effort.
Paramount Pictures and the helicopter's pilot have consistently denied that
there was pilot error in the crash and have not offered to reimburse either
the NPS or the county. The contract pilots whose ships were damaged by
volcanic fumes during the rescue have apparently been compensated, however.
Because of the extreme hazards involved in the rescue, rangers Paul Ducasse
and Jeffrey Judd have been recommended for Valor Awards; contract pilots T.H.
and D.S., who flew the rescue missions, have been
recommended for Exemplary Act Awards; and the team has been recommended for
a Unit Citation. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 9/23]
Tuesday, November 23, 1993
93-812 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Death of Superintendent
Just before midnight on November 21st, Hugo Huntzinger, the park's
superintendent, began experiencing shortness of breath while at his
residence. His wife summoned emergency medical assistance and an ambulance
was sent to their home. Advanced life support measures were initiated, but
Huntzinger died en route to the hospital. Huntzinger was the superintendent
at Haleakala for 14 years before moving to Hawaii Volcanoes six years ago.
He is survived by his wife, Kyung Ja, his son, Lorenz, his daughter,
Francis, and his mother, bother and sister. No information is yet available
regarding funeral arrangements. [Scott Hinson, HAVO, 11/22]
Wednesday, November 24, 1993
93-812 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Death of Superintendent
A small, private memorial service for superintendent Hugo Huntzinger will be
held on November 27th, after which his cremated remains will be scattered
over Kilauea crater. A public gathering will be held thereafter for all
those wishing to remember him. [Scott Hinson, LES, HAVO, 11/23]
Thursday, December 16, 1993
93-855 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Marijuana Eradication
Marijuana plantations were spotted in the Royal Gardens subdivision during a
routine surveillance flight of the park's boundaries on December 14th. The
subdivision has been isolated from any roads by recent lava flows; marijuana
continues to be cultivated there, then transported out through the park.
Investigation led to the discovery of extensive seedling cultivation and
young plants set out in the forest. No suspects were observed in the area,
so a decision was made to eradicate the crop. Over 14,000 plants, ranging
from seedlings to two-foot-high plants, were removed within an hour. [Jim
Martin, CR, HAVO, 12/15]
Thursday, December 23, 1993
93-855 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Marijuana Eradication
When rangers and the DEA agent/pilot who eradicated the 14,000 plants in
Royal Gardens on December 14th returned there on the 21st to clean up the
site, they found that the growers had gotten back before them and had moved
the remaining seedlings and small plants. Several small growing operations
were located near a suspected grower's house, and another 2,400 plants up to
14 inches tall were removed. Other suspicious areas were noted as they flew
from the area. Investigation and eradication efforts will continue. [Jim
Martin, CR, HAVO, 12/22]
Thursday, February 10, 1994
94-58 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Drug Arrests
On February 1st, members of the Operation Wipeout task force, including park
rangers, arrested two men - G.W., 47, and L.O., 25 - for
cultivation of marijuana on Mauna Loa just outside the park. The
investigation which led to the arrests began last September, when task force
members eradicated a large marijuana field on Mauna Loa and recovered a .44
caliber revolver from the area. At that time, rangers had determined that
the cultivators were reaching their fields by traveling through the park.
Within weeks, the operation had started up again. Rangers conducted
surveillance at lookout positions and through remote videos and identified
and documented two of the three suspects involved in the growing operation.
Both had prior felony criminal histories. The investigation also revealed
that a park fence contractor who has been missing for some time would have
been in the area while active growing operations were underway, thereby
making the cultivators potential suspects in his disappearance. After two
days of surveillance, one of the two men was observed entering the growing
area and was documented maintaining and harvesting plants. He was allowed
to return into the park, then arrested. Further investigation disclosed an
active indoor growing operation at his residence, and a second arrest was
made at that location. The remains of a second indoor growing operations
were found at an associated residence located nearby. Task force members
removed 250 plants. The buds harvested in the field by the suspect who was
under surveillance averaged two feet long and up to four inches in diameter.
He also confessed to growing the 1500 plants which were eradicated in
September. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 2/1]
Wednesday, March 30, 1994
94-135 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Helicopter Crash
A tour helicopter operated by Mauna Kea Helicopters, Inc., crashed about 50
feet from an active lava tube skylight on the southeast side of the Pu'u
'O'o Cone on the afternoon of March 25th while on a routine aerial tour of
the eruption site. The accident was initially reported by other tour
helicopters in the area. Responding rescuers found the helicopter, a Hughes
500E, lying on its side; there was no sign of either the pilot or his
passenger. Heavy fumes produced white-out conditions and low visibility at
the crash site, which hindered search efforts. The missing men were located
about two miles downslope from the crash site and were picked up by a county
fire and rescue helicopter. They'd reached that point by following the edge
of an active lava tube. Neither suffered any apparent injuries. According
to the passenger, they'd been hovering about 40 feet above the skylight when
the helicopter got caught in steam clouds and crashed. The helicopter was
destroyed. The FAA was notified and was to arrive on scene last Saturday.
[Gail Minami, HAVO, 3/29]
Monday, May 2, 1994
94-199 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Attempted Assault on Ranger
Ranger Joel Ellis stopped a pickup truck for doing 65 in a 45 mph zone on a
state highway within the park at 8:40 a.m. on the morning of April 29th.
The driver, R.P.D. (P.K.), 46, got out of the truck and
immediately became confrontational. R.P.D. refused to comply with any of
Ellis' requests, continued to escalate the situation, and eventually told
Ellis that he was "coming for him." Ellis drew his weapon at this point,
and, without pointing it at R.P.D., ordered him back into his vehicle.
R.P.D. complied. Backup units arrived and R.P.D. was arrested without
further incident. An unsheathed hunting knife and an unloaded rifle were
found in the vehicle's cab during a search of the truck incident to the
arrest. R.P.D., who is a felon currently on probation, has a long criminal
history of assaults, drug use and weapons violations. He is also an
activist in the Native Hawaiian sovereignty movement, and has had previous
confrontations with rangers and county officers. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO,
5/2]
Friday, June 10, 1994
94-283 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Marijuana Seizure
During the month of May, investigators, rangers and DEA agents eradicated
25,671 sensimilla marijuana plants from the park with a street value in
Hawaii of just over $77 million. The DEA price schedule indicates that
processed marijuana is selling locally for up to $10,000 per pound, and that
a single plant may bring in as much as $4,000. The park's investigators and
rangers are part of the DEA's statewide "Operation Wipeout." [N. Scott
Hinson, CI, HAVO, 6/9]
Monday, June 20, 1994
94-315 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Falling Fatality
R.R., 28, of Pahoa, Hawaii, was killed on the evening of June 17th
when the rocks he was scrambling on near the rim of Halemaumau Crater broke
loose and he fell about 30 feet. R.R. was extracted by helicopter from the
crater. Kilauea Military Camp medics attempted to revive him, but were
unsuccessful. [Norm Hinson, CI, HAVO, 6/17]
Thursday, July 21, 1994
94-405 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Hurricane Emilia
For the last few days, Hawaii County Civil Defense has been monitoring the
path of Hurricane Emilia. Although the storm is still over 400 miles from
the island of Hawaii, it is moving in a northwesterly direction and is
already having some effects on the south coast of the island, including park
coastal areas. Surf is building and was expected to reach 15 feet last
night. This unexpected high surf will present a serious hazard to
uninformed visitors who are camping on backcountry beaches, to motor
vehicles driving the coastal section of the Chain of Craters road, and to
visitors viewing lava at points where it is entering the sea. As a
precaution, no further backcountry permits are being issued for the coastal
area until the storm passes. The coastal road and eruption site were closed
yesterday at 3 p.m., and backcountry rangers flew to coastal camp areas to
give warning to visitors already in the area. At this time winds are not
expected to be at a level which would present any hazards to the park.
[Gail Minami, Operations Supervisor, HAVO, 7/20]
Friday, July 22, 1994
94-405 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Hurricane Emilia
High surf from Hurricane Emilia was being reported along the park's
coastline yesterday. Based on information gained at a Civil Defense
meeting, the park decided to keep backcountry coastal areas closed, but to
open the coastal section of the Chain of Craters Road and the eruption site
during daylight hours. The eruption site and coastal road were to be closed
again yesterday evening. As the storm moves to the northwest, surf
conditions are expected to improve. [Gail Minami, Operations Supervisor,
HAVO, 7/21]
Wednesday, July 27, 1994
94-425 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Serious Visitor Injury
S.B., 38, of Pasadena, California, entered a posted closed
area where an active lava flow is entering the ocean on July 24th and
received second degree burns when a wave of scalding sea water struck him in
the legs. S.B. was treated by rangers at the Volcano House, but
refused transportation and refused to sign a medical release. He was then
issued a citation for entering a closed area. The park will be issue a
press release regarding the case which will stress the importance of
visitors respecting signs and closures in the active eruption area. [Jim
Martin, Acting Superintendent, HAVO, 7/26]
Wednesday, September 21, 1994
94-558 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Tropical Storm
A tropical storm which struck the island of Hawaii over the weekend and
didn't depart for 48 hours deposited 17 inches of rain in the headquarters
area. During the first 24 hours, the Hilina Pali rain gauge recorded over
14 inches of rain, and the village of Glenwood, which is located between the
park and Hilo, recorded 19 inches of rain. Highway 11 to the west of the
park is still closed. Local flooding occurred in the park and caused about
$6,000 in damage to the Jaggar Museum. One park employee who lives adjacent
to the park had his house hit twice by lightning, which destroyed all
electronics in the residence. [Jim Martin, Superintendent, HAVO, 9/20]
Friday, September 23, 1994
94-565 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Recovery of Stolen Property
On September 22nd, rangers and investigators executed a search warrant at
the residence of John Davis, 28, and seized an $1800 painting and several
other items which had been taken from the Volcano House, a park concession,
over the past year. Information recently obtained indicated that Davis, a
recently fired Volcano House employee, had the items at his home. Also
seized was a small quantity of drugs. Davis was arrested for outstanding
federal warrants that originated from the park, and was also charged with
possession of marijuana and cocaine. Theft and possession charges are
pending further investigation and indictment. [Scott Hinson, CI, PAAR,
9/22]
Wednesday, September 28, 1994
94-576 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Drug Seizure; Arrests
Investigators, rangers and a DEA agent arrested two people for cultivating
marijuana in the parks Kau Desert area on September 24th. They also seized 54
plants, fertilizer, and other cultivation materials. The arrests mark the
culmination of a four-month-long investigation in which various surveillance
techniques were employed. Assistance in the form of personnel and equipment
was also received from Alaska Region and the Washington Office. [Scott Hinson,
WRO, 9/25]
Wednesday, October 5, 1994
94-587 - Pacific Areas - Earthquake
Following the magnitude 8.2 earthquake off northern Japan yesterday morning, a
tsunami alert was issued for coastal areas throughout the Pacific. As a
consequence, the following actions were taken:
* Hawaii Volcanoes - The Hilina Pali Road was closed and the Chain of
Craters Road was closed at the Kealakomo picnic shelter, thereby barring
access to the current eruption site. All coastal backcountry trails and
campsites were closed, including Halape, Keauhou, Apua Point, and Kaaha.
Campers and hikers in those areas were air evacuated to higher ground.
As of 6 p.m. PDT yesterday, no tsunamis had been reported in the islands,
and it appeared that all danger of a tsunami had passed.
[Rich O'Guin, ARO, 10/4; Mardie Lane, HAVO, 10/4]
Thursday, February 16, 1995
95-65 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Aircraft Crash
On the afternoon of February 13th, a Hughes 500 helicopter involved in
blackline fire operations in the park lost power and autorotated 600 feet to
the ground along the coast near Paliuli. The pilot walked away from the crash
and was uninjured. The helicopter was not damaged. The Hughes was one of
three contract helicopters making water-bucket drops on a fire started by a
finger of lava from Pu'u'O'o. L. had just emptied the bucket when his
engine failed. OAS and FAA have been advised. [HAVO, 2/15]
Friday, February 17, 1995
95-70 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Assist; Felony Arrest
On February 9th, R.B., 43, a convicted murderer, escaped from the
minimum security prison at Kulani. R.B. showed up at a store just outside the
park the following day, called county police, and said he wanted to surrender.
County police asked rangers to make the arrest and hold R.B. until they
arrived. R.B. was waiting with his hands in the air when rangers and DEA
agents arrived. He was arrested without incident and turned over to county
police. [CR, HAVO, 2/16]
Wednesday, March 1, 1995
95-82 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Methane Explosion; Two Injuries
On the afternoon of February 25th, resource management ranger A.S., 50,
and visitor D.O., 63, were standing about 50 feet from a sluggish
pahoehoe lava flow at the end of Chain of Craters Road when the flow ignited an
underground pocket of methane gas, causing a subterranean explosion and blowing
them about four feet into the air. There were about 30 other visitors viewing
the lava flow at the time. Two EMT-certified rangers and two physicians in the
group of visitors provided emergency first aid. A.S. complained of neck, back
and wrist pain; D.O. complained of back and shoulder pain. Both were taken to
a nearby hospital and released the following day. The current eruption is
providing exceptionally spectacular viewing for visitors; the park has
accordingly had to supplement regular interpretation and protection staffing in
the area with resource management and maintenance employees to assist with
traffic control and interpretation. Although methane explosions are one of the
unpredictable hazards associated with lava flows, this is the first reported
injury from a methane explosion in the twelve-year history of the current
eruption. [Gail Minami, DR, HAVO, 2/28]
Friday, April 21, 1995
95-169 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Car Clouting Convictions
Three of four people arrested for car clouts in the park last year have pled
guilty to theft and conspiracy charges in federal district court in Honolulu.
The arrests stemmed from 22 larcenies from motor vehicles - all with similar
MO's - that occurred between May and October of 1994. A joint investigation
was initiated by rangers and Hawaii County officers that led to the
identification of a number of suspects in both the car clouting incidents and
in thefts and use of credit and ATM cards. A search was conducted at their
residence and items from 20 of the park cases and from 10 to 15 county cases
were recovered. The four suspects were arrested (a fifth remains at large).
The first arrested, C.C., 20, was five months pregnant at the time.
While being flown to federal marshalls in Honolulu in the company of rangers
and FBI agents, C.C. reported that she was experiencing labor pains. An
ambulance was summoned to the airport, and C.C. was taken to a local
hospital. She did not deliver, though, and the attending physician said that
she had apparently pretended contractions in an effort to avoid going to jail.
M.N., 20, who had earlier assaulted an officer and fled, was
located in Kaneohe; although he again fled on foot, he was caught and arrested.
J.M. and M.K. were apprehended without incident. J.M.,
M.N. and M.K. all pled guilty and will be sentenced in June and July.
C.C.'s case is set for trial in July. [Scott Hinson, HAVO, 4/20]
Tuesday, April 25, 1995
94-58 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Drug Arrests
G.W., who was arrested by park investigators and members of a DEA
task force last February for cultivation of marijuana in and adjacent to the
park, pled guilty to associated charges in federal court in Honolulu and began
serving a ten-year prison sentence on March 27th. NPS and DEA seized a
Willie's Jeep, a residence and two parcels of land from G.W. and his co-
conspirators. [Scott Hinson, CI, HAVO/PAAR, 4/19]
Friday, April 21, 1995
95-176 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Car Clouting Arrests
Rangers received a series of eleven reports of car clouts in the park on April
2nd. All the hits occurred within 90 minutes and all had similar MO's. While
taking reports from the victims, another visitor contacted rangers and advised
them that his vehicle and his son-in-law's vehicle had been broken into, and
that his son-in-law, an off-duty county police officer, was in pursuit of the
suspects in a vehicle without a radio. Park investigators and rangers joined
in the chase and advised the county. The off-duty officer spotted the
suspects' vehicle parked at a diner in Naalehu, about 45 miles from the park.
The vehicle came back as stolen; some of the off-duty officer's property was
seen inside it. Two suspects - O.B., 23, and a juvenile - were
arrested. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of items taken from all
eleven car clouts, a loaded handgun in the driver's seat, evidence of the drug
"ice", and items from about fifteen theft cases that had occurred within the
county. The state is handling the juvenile; O.B. has been arraigned in
federal court and is being held without bail. [Scott Hinson, CI, HAVO/PAAR, 4/19]
Wednesday, May 10, 1995
95-203 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Capture of Escapees
On the morning of May 8th, county police advised that three men who'd escaped
from Kulani Correctional Facility the previous day were in or near the park's
Namakani Paio campground. Six rangers searched the wooded area behind the
campground and apprehended T.M., 24, and B.B., 34, without
incident. The third escapee, B.-g.A.N., 24, was arrested with the
assistance of county officers that evening near the park boundary in Volcano
Village. [Yvette Ruan, CR, HAVO, 5/9]
Thursday, June 1, 1995
95-245 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Rescue
Early on the afternoon of May 21st, rangers received a report of two stranded
hikers who had intentionally left the Halema'uma'u trail in an attempt to take
a shortcut back to the rim of Kilauea. The hikers became lost and began
yelling for help after about three hours of wandering around. Other members of
the group, who had stayed on the marked trail, heard them and advised rangers.
A long-line rescue by helicopter was required to evacuate the pair. [CR, HAVO,
5/22]
Wednesday, June 14, 1995
95-299 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - MVA with Fatality and Serious Injury
K.L.-T., 26, of Hilo, was killed, and Wanda Louis, 28, also of
Hilo, was seriously injured in a single vehicle accident on Highway 11 on the
evening of June 5th. Preliminary investigation indicates that K.L.-T.
was attempting to overtake other vehicles when she lost control of her car.
[Scott Hinson, PAAR, 6/6]
Tuesday, July 18, 1995
95-429 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Assist to Agency
At the request of DEA's Honolulu office, criminal investigator Jeffrey Judd
brought the park's surveillance camera to Honolulu to assist agents from the
Naval Investigative Service film a suspect in his marijuana patch at a naval
weapons storage facility. The suspect has set up a sophisticated growing
operation which utilized PVC piping to tap into Navy water lines and irrigate
his plants. The park's camera, specifically made for this type of operations,
was installed on a tree branch directly over the patch. The camera
successfully taped the suspect tending his plants for 32 minutes. At one
point, he stopped what he was doing and looked directly in the camera lens,
only ten feet above him, but failed to see it. Sufficient evidence was
obtained for further action, but a herd of wild pigs unfortunately entered the
patch and ate about 385 of the plants. The pigs were seen roaming the base
shortly thereafter, and appeared to be in a somewhat mellower mood. The water
system was not damaged, and investigators hope that the suspect will return to
reestablish his operation. [Jeff Judd, CI, HAVO]
Monday, July 24, 1995
95-442 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Rescue
E.M.U., 74, was reported missing from a hike on the Kilauea Iki trail
on the evening of July 16th. E.M.U. and the ten others in her group planned to
hike from the Devastation trail parking lot to Byron's Ledge and across Kilauea
Iki crater to the Thurston Lava Tube parking lot. When the group reached the
intersection of the Byron's Ledge and Kilauea Iki trails, E.M.U. opted to take
the less strenuous route, which terminated at the same parking lot. When she
failed to show up, rangers were notified and a hasty search was initiated in
conjunction with local SAR team volunteers. A Hawaii Army National Guard
helicopter with forward-looking infrared (FLIR) equipment joined the search at
1 a.m. Although FLIR sensors can find people in the night because of the
temperature difference between human bodies and the surrounding environment,
the National Guard effort proved unsuccessful due to heavy vegetation in the
area. Helicopters from two local organizations joined the search at daylight,
and E.M.U. was spotted from one of them shortly thereafter. She had a few
scratches and scrapes, but was otherwise in good condition. [CR, HAVO]
Wednesday, July 26, 1995
95-458 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Drug Arrest
A joint, four-month-long investigation by agents and investigators from the
park, DEA, Naval Investigative Service and Hawaii County vice culminated in
late June with a lengthy stakeout of a known marijuana growing operation in the
Royal Gardens subdivision. Just after 7 a.m. on June 25th, M.H., a
Canadian citizen, entered the area and watered the plants; her companion,
G.G., was known to be out in the field at another patch, but didn't
come to the location under surveillance. Agents subsequently obtained a search
warrant for G.G.'s residence. Although no plants were found in the house, a
trail was found to an area where two trays of seedlings were discovered.
G.G. was arrested for commercial promotion of marijuana. Another 18 trays
with an estimated 5,000 plants which were reported to be at the residence are
missing and believed to be in dense forest in the area. Helirappel and long-
line missions are continuing in the area, locating the plants as they mature.
[CI, HAVO]
Thursday, October 12, 1995
95-676 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - MVA with Fatality
R.K., 22, lost control of her Honda Accord while heading westbound
on Highway 11 on October 5th. The vehicle went off the road, swerved back into
the eastbound lane, and struck a Jeep. R.K. was pronounced dead at the
scene. Her 22-month-old daughter, the only passenger in the Accord, was taken
to the hospital by two motorists who came upon the accident shortly after it
occurred. The driver of the Jeep was medevaced to Hilo Medical Center for
treatment of serious fractures; the three passengers in the Jeep were treated
for minor injuries at the hospital. An investigation is underway. [Gail
Minami, Operations Supervisor, HAVO]
Friday, October 27, 1995
95-706 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Fatality
On October 17th, R.N., 81, collapsed while seated on a tour bus in the
Thurston Lava Tube parking lot. A park maintenance crew was in the area and
notified dispatch. R.N.'s daughter and paramedic T.H.
immediately began CPR; maintenance employee Herb Botelho soon relieved
R.N.'s daughter and continued administering CPR with T.H. until rangers
and Kilauea Military Camp medics arrived on scene. The maintenance crew
remained on scene and provided traffic control until all units cleared. Medics
were unable to revive R.N., who was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
[CR, HAVO]
Wednesday, November 29, 1995
95-757 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Drug Arrests, Seizure
On the morning of November 26th, rangers arrested J.S., 27, and Jose
Brito, 30, both Mexican nationals, for possession of 7.3 grams of cocaine and 3
grams of black tar heroin. The total street value of the drugs has been placed
at over $12,000. Investigators (NPS, DEA and Hawaii County PD) believe that
the two are part of a much larger ring of drug traffickers operating throughout
the state. [CR, HAVO]
Friday, January 12, 1996
96-08 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - MVA with Fatalities and Injuries
On the afternoon of January 8th, K.J., 22, and her 14-month-old
daughter, both from Colorado, were killed in a two-car accident in the park.
Their car, which was being driven by K.J.'s juvenile brother, a local
resident, apparently crossed the centerline and was struck broadside by a car
being driven in the opposite direction by C.R., 44. C.R., and
his passenger, David Trail, were taken to Hilo Medical Center and are both in
intensive care. The juvenile was treated and released. Approximately 20
people from several agencies responded to the accident. Fatigue is believed to
be a factor in the cause of the accident. Charges are pending for both the
accident and for a quantity of packaged marijuana found in one of the vehicles.
[Scott Hinson, WRO]
Friday, February 2, 1996
96-38 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Volcanic Activity
At 8:30 a.m. yesterday morning, staff at the Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory
called the park communications center and reported that earthquake swarms were
occurring under the Keanakakoi area of the summit caldera and that marked
inflation of the summit was occurring. They estimated that a lava upwelling
was just a kilometer below the surface and advised the park to go on eruption
alert. The park did so, implementing ICS (with Yvette Ruan, chief ranger, as
IC). The coastal backcountry was closed and evacuated, and the Chain of Crater
Road and a portion of Crater Rim Drive were closed. Hawaii County Civil
Defense and the FAA closed air space above the summit because of the potential
hazard of eruption debris and because of the need for safe air space for any
needed USGS and NPS air operations. Park liaison was established with USGS and
all cooperators were informed of the eruption emergency. By 11:30 a.m., the
lava was less than a half kilometer below the surface; by 11:47 a.m., it became
evident that the lava was moving toward the Southwest and Southeast Rift zones,
the latter the site of the Pu'u O'o vent which has been active for the past 13
years. At 1:15 p.m., observatory scientists reported that the summit of
Kilauea was deflating, and that most of the lava had moved into the Southeast
Rift zone and Pu'u O'o area. The vent became very active, with a large,
agitated lava pond and flows issuing from the base of the cone. A large number
of surface flows with dome fountains appeared on the slopes below the vent.
The park was advised that it would be safe to reopen Crater Rim Drive and the
summit trail system for visitor use, but that Chain of Craters Road should
remain closed because of seismic activity still occurring in the area between
Chain of Craters and Makaopuhi. These actions were taken, and the air closure
over the summit was lifted. Increased flows in the Pu'u O'o area will not
adversely affect visitation and may in fact enhance visitor viewing of volcanic
activity, particularly in the evening hours after Chain of Craters Road is
reopened. The increased flows will pose a threat, however, to the remaining
endangered Akia shrub land on the coast and to area archeological features,
including the Wahaula Heiau. [Jim Martin, Superintendent, HAVO]
Monday, February 5, 1996
96-38 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Volcanic Activity
The inflated summit area subsided on the afternoon of Thursday, February 1st,
but seismic activity continued along the Southeast Rift through the remainder
of the day. A massive lava flow continued from the Puu O'o vent through the
evening, but eventually stopped at the mountain's 600 foot level. By midnight,
the glow from the vent had faded markedly. Air reconnaissance on Friday
revealed that the lava was actually draining back into the vent from the
surrounding area. USGS scientists at the Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory
advised that it was safe to reopen all areas of the park; that action was
accordingly taken. USGS also cautioned park staff to make a special effort on
Friday to advise visitors that the heavy fumes covering Kilauea's summit area
contained over four parts per million of sulfur dioxide - the highest levels
ever recorded in the summit area. Employees with respiratory or heart problems
were directed to stay inside. Remaining employees were asked to reduce their
physical activity. The superintendent passes on the following accolade:
"Enough can't be said regarding the critical roll the Hawaiian Volcanoes
Observatory of the US Geological Service played in managing this incident and
providing the comfort zone to allow visitors a close up view of the active
vulcanism of Kilauea." [Jim Martin, Superintendent, HAVO]
Wednesday, February 28, 1996
96-80 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Forced Landing by Tour Helicopter
An A-Star 350 helicopter owned by Hawaii Helicopters made a forced emergency
landing on a pahoehoe lava field along Kilauea's east rift near Mauna Ulu at
7:40 a.m. on February 24th. The helicopter's engine pressure warning light
came on, forcing the pilot to take the emergency measure. The helicopter had
six passengers on board. The pilot, D.R., and his passengers were
transferred to another aircraft and taken to Hilo airport. D.R. initially
eluded investigating rangers and refused to cooperate with the investigation.
He was eventually interviewed by a ranger from Kaloko-Honokohau, but said that
his boss had instructed him not to discuss the accident with anyone. No
injuries were reported. The FAA and NTSB have joined the investigation.
[Scott Hinson, CI, HAVO]
Monday, March 4, 1996
96-88 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Storm Damage
The park was subjected to severe tropical storm winds over the weekend.
Winds blew the roof off of the Volcano House, a concession-managed hotel.
There were no injuries, but the roof landed on and damaged several parked and
unoccupied cars. Visitors were relocated to other lodging. Many trees are
reported down and one campground was closed due to the possibility of
injuries to campers. [Jim Martin, Superintendent, HAVO]
Tuesday, March 5, 1996
96-88 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Storm Damage
Heavy rains began falling throughout the Hawaiian Islands on the evening of
Saturday, March 2nd. Over 13 inches fell in the park during the next 24
hours, and winds gusted to over 60 mph. Gusts of wind coming from the crater
lifted sections off the roof of the Volcano House Hotel on Sunday afternoon;
moments later, all the metal roofing on the section over the dining room,
gift shop and bar blew off and into the parking lot in front of the hotel,
damaging two rental cars. The hotel was evacuated and accommodations were
found for stranded visitors. Due to high winds and saturated ground, the
concession cabins and campground at Namakani Paio were closed. At the time
of the report yesterday, park maintenance employees were stabilizing loose
roofing material and interpretive rangers were preparing to remove historic
paintings from the hotel lobby and store them in the collection vault. Power
was restored to most locations by evening, but remained out at one or two
spots. A full damage assessment is underway. [Jim Martin, Superintendent,
HAVO]
Tuesday, April 2, 1996
96-126 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - MVA with Employee Fatality
Russel A. Bickler, 47, an interpretive ranger who had worked at Hawaii
Volcanoes since 1993, was killed in a motor vehicle accident while on his way
to work at 8:30 a.m. on the morning of Friday, March 29th. Bickler's
girlfriend, park VIP Kersten Johnson, 38, was a passenger in the truck and
was seriously injured. T.T., 20, the driver of the other vehicle,
a Mazda 626LX, suffered minor injuries. Just prior to the accident, T.T.
passed ranger Talmadge Magno, who was heading in the opposite direction;
Magno clocked T.T.'s speed at 73 mph. T.T. continued down the road,
lost control of the Mazda on a curve, crossed the center line, and slammed
into the embankment on the opposite side of the road. The Mazda then spun
backwards into an on-coming Pontiac Grand Am, bounced off, went airborne,
landed upside down on Bickler's on-coming Toyota pickup, then slid off and
came to rest near the truck. Magno, who had turned to follow T.T., came
upon the accident scene minutes after it occurred and had to maneuver around
the scene to avoid colliding with the wreckage. The drive of the Grand Am,
Lori Johnson of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, was uninjured; Kersten Johnson
suffered a laceration to her forehead, a broken jaw, a broken clavicle, and
three broken ribs. A search of T.T.'s vehicle led to the discovery of a
plastic pipe containing seven sealed bags of cocaine weighing just over 195
grams and a small amount of crack cocaine. T.T. has been charged with
second degree negligent homicide and possession with intent to distribute a
controlled substance. A preliminary hearing will be held tomorrow. T.T.
told rangers that he had seen Magno pass him, but apparently didn't realize
that the ranger had turned around to follow him. The park has held two post-
traumatic event counseling sessions for park employees. [Gail Minami,
Operations Supervisor, HAVO]
Tuesday, April 9, 1996
96-126 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Employee Fatality
A memorial service for ranger Russel Bickler was held at Camp Minnow Lake,
the park's environmental education center, on April 5th. Bickler was
instrumental in the establishment of the family camp, which provides
environmental education for disadvantaged youths and their families. The
Minnow Lake Foundation has established the Russel A. Bickler Memorial Fund
for Environmental Education in his honor. This non-profit memorial fund is
intended to enable the camp staff to continue his life work - educating
children and families about nature and preservation of the environment.
Contributions to the fund may be sent to the Minnow Lake Foundation, Box 278,
San Marcos, CA 92079-0278 (619-592-9254). The park continues to provide
counseling and support for its employees in the aftermath of the accident.
Three follow-up critical stress debriefing sessions were held yesterday.
Meanwhile, a grand jury has returned an indictment on T.T., the
driver of the car which hit Bickler's pickup truck. T.T. was indicted on
the first count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled
substance. A grand jury hearing has been set for April 24th for the second
count of negligent homicide. His trail is to be held on April 29th. [Gail
Minami, Operations Supervisor, HAVO]
Thursday, May 2, 1996
96-180 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - MVA with Serious Injuries
A Buick sedan with three occupants was heading down Chain of Craters Road
towards the coastal eruption site when the driver struck a rock wall while
approaching a hairpin turn. The car skidded along the shoulder, flipped
over, then came to rest. The driver, M.R., and the front passenger,
J.V.N., 44, were seriously injured and had to be extricated from
the Buick. J.V.N. was transported to a hospital by a rescue helicopter;
M.R., who was considered to be stable, was taken by ambulance. K.L.,
44, the passenger in the back seat, suffered only minor injuries. M.R.'s
condition has since deteriorated and he is now in critical condition. There
was low ground fog and intermittent rain at the time of the accident. Speed
is considered to have been a contributing factor. About 15 park personnel,
including maintenance, fire and patrol staff, responded along with units from
local agencies. [Yvette Ruan, CR, HAVO]
Friday, May 3, 1996
96-180 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on MVA with Serious Injuries
J.N., 44, the passenger in the accident that occurred on Chain of
Craters Road on the afternoon of May 1st, died early on the morning of May
2nd. The driver, M.R., 76, has been transported to Honolulu for further
medical treatment. The road remained closed yesterday due to unsafe
conditions caused by accident debris, but was to reopen as soon as fire and
maintenance crews could clean up the area. [Jim Martin, Superintendent,
HAVO]
Thursday, June 6, 1996
95-757 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Drug Arrests
On November 26, 1995, J.S. and J.R., both Mexican
nationals, were arrested for possession of almost 200 grams of cocaine and a
gram of heroin after they crashed their vehicle while attempting to elude a
ranger who observed them traveling at a high rate of speed. On May 20th,
they pled guilty to charges of possession of the drugs with intent to
distribute; they were sentenced, respectively, to 21 and 18 months in federal
prison. They will be deported to Mexico after they serve their sentences.
[CRO, HAVO]
Thursday, June 6, 1996
96-126 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on MVA with Employee Fatality
On May 22nd, a federal grand jury in Honolulu indicted T.T. on
charges of involuntary manslaughter stemming from the March 29th accident in
which interpretive ranger Russ Bickler was killed. T.T. was also indicted
for causing substantial bodily injury to Kersten Johnson, the passenger in
Bickler's vehicle, and for possession of about 200 grams of cocaine with
intent to distribute, operating a non-insured vehicle without a no-fault
insurance policy, and excessive speed. The trial is set for July. [CRO,
HAVO]
Thursday, June 20, 1996
96-291 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - MVA with Multiple Serious Injuries
On Monday, June 10th, two vehicles were heading west along Highway 11 at a
high rate of speed. One of them, a Volkswagen Jetta, crossed the center
line, left the roadway, hit a tree which took off the driver's side door,
then hit a rock mound head-on and came to rest upside down on volcanic ash.
The driver and all seven passengers were injured; two were ejected from the
vehicle, and one was pinned inside and had to be extricated. They sustained
a variety of injuries, including massive facial trauma, collapsed lungs,
fractured bones, and multiple internal injuries. The driver has undergone
eight hours of reconstructive surgery to his face and jaw and is expected to
undergo additional surgery. Blood tests indicate that he had a blood alcohol
level of .101. His vehicle was neither registered nor insured.
Approximately 30 park, county and military personnel responded to the
accident. [CRO, HAVO]
Wednesday, July 3, 1996
96-126 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on MVA with Employee Fatality
On June 28th, T.T., 20, pled guilty to a charge of involuntary
manslaughter in the March 29th accident which killed interpretive ranger Russ
Bickler. T.T. also pled guilty to charges of excessive speed, driving
without insurance, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack,
and causing substantial bodily harm to park VIP K.J., a passenger
in Bickler's vehicle. He will be sentenced on October 15th. [Yvette Ruan,
CR, HAVO]
Friday, July 19, 1996
96-392 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Geothermal Burn
A ten-year-old boy from Costa Mesa, California, apparently wandered off a
park trail near the Sulfur Banks parking lot and slipped chest deep into a
steaming earth crack just after noon on July 17th. Rangers responded and
provided emergency medical assistance. He was subsequently taken to a
hospital in Hilo with second degree burns over his lower body. The
temperature in the steam crack was between 140 and 145 degrees. [Yvette
Ruan, CR, HAVO]
Monday, August 26, 1996
96-489 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Apparent Heat-Related Fatality
On the morning of August 23rd, the park received a call from the wife of
B.B., 27, of San Leandro, California, advising that he had not
returned on his scheduled flight from Hawaii. Investigation revealed that
B.B. had registered for a solo hike into the backcountry from Hilina Pali
to the coast, and that he was to exit on August 21st. Ranger Jeff Kracht
checked the Hilina Pali trail. He found a cloth cross on the trail at the
base of the pali (escarpment) and saw what appeared to be a pack further down
the trail. Kracht hiked to the location and found B.B.'s body.
Indications are that he died from heat-related problems. Hot, dry and windy
conditions prevailed in the Hilina Pali area throughout last week. [Jim
Martin, Superintendent, HAVO]
Wednesday, November 20, 1996
96-126 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Employee Fatality
On November 18th, T.T., 21, was sentenced to 46 months in prison and
five years of supervised release for the involuntary manslaughter of
interpretive ranger Russel Bickler in a motor vehicle accident which occurred
in the park on March 29th. T.T. was also ordered to perform 300 hours of
community service and had his license suspended for a year. T.T. pled
guilty to additional charges of causing substantial bodily injury to a
passenger in Bickler's vehicle, to possession with intent to distribute just
under 200 grams of cocaine and a half gram of "crack", operating a vehicle
without no-fault insurance, and excessive speed. T.T. was speeding
through the park when he crossed the center line and collided with two
vehicles, one of which was being driven by Bickler. The sentencing marks the
conclusion of a seven-and-a-half month investigation by numerous Hawaii
Volcanoes rangers. [Gail Minami, Operations Supervisor, HAVO]
Monday, December 30, 1996
96-706 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (Hawaii) - Assist; Burglary Arrests
Park dispatch received a call from the county police on December 11th, asking
for assistance in checking out a silent burglary alarm at a residence
immediately adjacent to the park. The alarm indicated a burglary in
progress, and it would take a while for county officers to reach the house.
Rangers Talmadge Magno and Gail Minami and investigators Jeff Judd and Greg
Jablonski responded, set up a perimeter around the residence, and contacted,
interviewed and held six juveniles and three adults until officers could
arrive. Stolen property and other evidence was discovered which linked
several of the individuals to two burglaries which had just occurred in the
area. All nine were arrested and confessions were obtained which linked all
nine in the two burglaries. Residential burglaries are an on-going and
increasing problem in the areas adjacent to the park due to the minimal
coverage by county police. The park's quick response drew praise from
residents, police and the media, and has led to community support for the
establishment of a police substation for the area. [Greg Jablonski, Acting
CR, HAVO]
Friday, January 31, 1997
97-35 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (Hawaii) - Volcanic Eruption
A series of intense seismic tremors and a massive deflation of the summit of
Kilauea occurred on the evening of January 29th, indicating a magma thrust
into the East Rift zone within the park. The park was notified of a possible
eruption at 10 p.m. A large, shallow earthquake was felt by park residents
at 3 a.m. the next morning; at the same time, a bright glow was seen in the
area of Napau Crater in the Southeast Rift zone. Investigation confirmed
that three eruptive fissures had appeared in the floor of the crater,
producing 50-foot high fountains of lava, and that a large part of the Pu'u
O'o cone had collapsed. The three eruptive fissures shut down around 9 a.m.,
but one of them later resumed erupting. At the time of the report yesterday
afternoon, the summit of Kilauea was still deflating, and seismic tremors at
the summit continued to be numerous. The eruption is in a remote section of
the park and lava flows are not presently threatening populated areas outside
the park. A total of 37 park employees are committed to the incident. This
is the 54th episode in the continuing Pu'u O'o - Kupianaha eruption. [Yvette
Ruan, CR, HAVO, 1/30]
Monday, February 3, 1997
97-35 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Volcanic Eruption
The Napau Crater eruption continues. Six fissures have been intermittently
active, the most recent of which is just a few hundred yards south of the
campsite at Napau. Lava from the fissures covers about 64 acres of mostly
unvegetated ground. The Pu'u O'o cone is collapsing and has generated a
cloud of pulverized red cinder which is blanketing the ground downwind of the
cone. Fires ignited by surface flows are being monitored and suppressed as
appropriate. Chain of Craters road remains closed, but all summit area
trails have been reopened. A total of 48 park employees and two helicopters
have been assigned to the incident. Yvette Ruan is IC. [Yvette Ruan, CR,
HAVO, 1/31]
Tuesday, February 4, 1997
97-35 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Volcanic Eruption
The eruptions occurring in and near Napau Crater waned considerably over the
weekend. About 300,000 cubic yards of lava have so far covered 68 acres of
land. Lava flows from Pu'u O'o no longer course through lava tubes to the
sea, and only residual fuming marks the former path of the underground
labyrinth. Even normal steam plumes produced when lava enters the ocean have
been reduced to an occasional steam wisp. Noxious gases have risen from the
new earth cracks at Napau; depending on the direction of the wind, various
places along the Chain of Craters road can be especially malodorous. It's
not known how long this pause will last or what may happen next. Sandy
Snell-Dobert and Stephen Dobert, both employees of Yellowstone NP, were
evacuated from the Napau campground on the morning of the eruption. The
park's staff has resumed normal duties, but remains on standby for the next
phase of the eruption. All park roads and summit trails have reopened. All
backcountry trails were to be reopened yesterday unless seismic and/or
volcanic activity increased. [Yvette Ruan, CR, HAVO, 2/2]
Monday, May 5, 1997
97-180 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (Hawaii) - Assist; Marijuana Cultivation Arrests
A month-long investigation into marijuana cultivation and transportation of
marijuana within the park initiated by park investigators concluded on April
26th with the arrest of five people and the seizure of two vehicles, 60
marijuana plants, processed marijuana ready for sale, and associated
paraphernalia. The investigation was begun as a joint DEA and NPS operation
after the cultivation site was found a quarter mile from the park boundary
during a marijuana eradication task force operation in which 33,000 plants
were sprayed or eradicated adjacent to the park. After consultation with the
U.S. Attorney's Office, the case was turned over to the Hawaii Police
Department for prosecution in the state court system. Video documentation
recorded by investigator Jeffrey Judd was pivotal in identifying the
suspects, vehicles and cultivation activity within the cultivation site, as
well as documenting the use of park roads for the transportation of processed
marijuana and cultivation supplies. Three suspects were arrested on scene;
the remaining two were arrested when they arrived at the police station to
bail out the first three. Charges are pending against the five and asset
seizure has been initiated on the two vehicles. Rangers Gail Minami and
James Mar assisted. [Greg Jablonski, Acting CR, HAVO, 5/2]
Wednesday, July 23, 1997
97-337 - Hawaii Volcanoes (HI) - Eruption
Lava flows which were confined to the Puu O'o/Napau crater areas this spring
reached the top of the pali (escarpment) above the Waha'ula Heiau area of the
park coast on July 3rd. On the 7th, flows reached the base of the pali and
once again began burning and covering the Akia coastal forest, further
fragmenting this endemic plant community. On Friday, July 11th, the flow
continued across the flats and was less than a half mile above the heiau
area. By July 12th, lava had reached the ocean less than 500 yards west of
the 700-year-old rock-walled structure. The lava flows are located four
miles from the end of the Chain of Craters Road within the park and three
miles from the county side. While providing exciting viewing in the evening,
the event is also attracting visitors who are hiking into the area unprepared
for the heat and rugged terrain. Rangers were busy with visitor safety and
management problems related to visitors trying to access the flow over the
weekend of the 13th and 14th. The greatest concern over this recent activity
is the threat to the Waha'ula Heiau. The last time lava flowed up to and
around the heiau was in December of 1990. It is one of the few remaining
major archeological resources left in the Kalapana coastal section of the
park. Over the last eleven years, flows from the Puu O'o eruption have
covered thousands of archeological features and sites within the Kalapana
extension. [Jim Martin, Superintendent, HAVO, 7/15]
Wednesday, July 23, 1997
97-338 - Hawaii Volcanoes (HI) - Aircraft Accident and Rescue
While doing contract flights for a park resource management project, pilot
David Okita of Volcano Heli-Tours overheard aircraft radio traffic indicating
that a helicopter had just crashed in the Puu O'o vent of Kilauea Volcano.
Okita picked up an initial rescue team of park rangers and flew them to the
Puu O'o vent area. Team members found that a single engine bi-plane had gone
down about a mile northeast of the vent just outside of the park boundary.
Two victims were found near the crash site and were medevaced by helicopter.
The third victim had already been transported to the hospital by a private
tour helicopter that was in the area at the time of the crash. The pilot was
conducting a commercial tour of the active lava area when the plane went
down. The initial investigation indicates that the aircraft lost its prop
near the volcanic vent and was able to make a partially controlled landing on
the lava field. The aircraft sustained major damage. The FAA and Hawaii
county police are investigating. [Jim Martin, Superintendent, HAVO, 7/16]
Monday, August 18, 1997
97-455 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Eruption; Loss of Major Cultural Site
At 3 a.m. on August 11th, park criminal investigator Jeffrey Judd reported
that active lava flows had reached the walls of the Waha'ula Heiau and were
beginning to flow across the floor of the temple. By 7:30 a.m., lava had
covered most of the structures at the site. Waha'ula Heiau contained a
complex of heiau (temples) that tradition associated with the high priest
Pa'ao, who came from Tahiti or Samoa in the 13th century. A more recent
structure in the complex was used by Kamehmeha I and remained in use until
the year 1819, when the Kapu system of government was overturned. The Heiau
is believed to be the origin point of the political and social system that
evolved into the Hawaiian culture described in Captain Cook's visit in the
1700s and has been called the "Classic Hawaiian Culture." Over the past 13
years, thousands of significant archeological features have been covered by
the advancing lava flows from the Puu O'o eruption. The flow continues.
[Jim Martin, Superintendent, HAVO, 8/11]
Wednesday, August 27, 1997
97-506 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Drug and Weapons Arrests
On Friday, August 24th, ranger Neil Akana noted that the ignition switch was
"punched" out in an occupied but unregistered vehicle parked on Chain of
Craters Road. Akana contacted the occupant, who appeared to be under the
influence of narcotics, and attempted to question him about the vehicle.
Akana recognized the occupant as D.A. (no relation) from an earlier
park investigation of a stolen vehicle. D.A. was unable to give
coherent answers to any questions and was arrested for being under the
influence. At the time of the arrest, he was out on bail from the state on
attempted murder charges stemming from a narcotics-related drive-by shooting
which had occurred three miles from the park two weeks earlier. Information
developed by ranger James Mar indicated that a second person was with D.A.
prior to his arrest. A contract helicopter was diverted from a nearby
project and located the woman a few minutes later about a mile from the
vehicle. Ranger Talmage Magno contacted the woman, who admitted that the
vehicle was hers and that she was armed with a handgun. Magno arrested her
for carrying a concealed weapon and recovered a loaded semi-automatic handgun
from her waistband. Narcotics, paraphernalia, narcotics packaging material
and over $700 in cash were recovered. Federal charges are pending, and the
state has moved to revoke D.A.'s bail on the attempted murder
charges. Police detectives determined that the weapon recovered by Magno had
not been used in the state's pending case. [Greg Jablonski, Acting CR, HAVO,
8/24]
Thursday, September 4, 1997
97-525 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Hiking Fatality
Around 9 a.m. on the morning of September 1st, E.R., 38, of
Littleton, Colorado, and her companion, K.D., started hiking down
the park's seven-mile Keauhou Trail en route to a coastal campsite at Halape.
The two had spent the night in the park and had a healthy breakfast before
starting out on their hike. About halfway down the trail, E.R. began to
stumble, became disoriented, and could not speak coherently. The pair
continued to slowly make their way down the trail until E.R. collapsed
around 2 p.m. at a point about two miles from Halape. K.D., a doctor,
recognized that E.R. was suffering from the high heat (93 degrees) and
humidity and made numerous attempts to rehydrate E.R. and keep her
temperature down. K.D. eventually left her and hiked the remaining two
miles to Halape to get help. She contacted two men; one hiked out and
summoned help, the other, R.V., a doctor from New Zealand, returned to
the scene with K.D. and joined her in the attempt to keep E.R. alive.
The park was notified of the incident around 9:30 p.m. and ranger James Mar
flew by helicopter to the area with county fire and rescue personnel,
arriving at 11:20 p.m. K.D. and R.V. advised that E.R. had succumbed
about an hour previously. The body was flown out, and an autopsy will be
performed to determine cause of death. K.D. told investigators that the
pair had prepared well for the hike and that they were both in good physical
condition. They had plenty of food and water and drank about six quarts of
water between them that day. They were not prepared, however, for the
extreme heat and humidity. [Yvette Ruan, CR, Mardie Lane, PIO, HAVO, 9/3]
Tuesday, January 6, 1998
97-773 - Hawaii Volcanoes (HI) - Assist: Drug Eradication and Arrests
Over the last four months of 1997, park personnel were involved in several
cooperative drug interdiction and eradication operations:
On September 25th, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
asked for assistance in detecting and identifying the people who were
cultivating marijuana on nearby state lands. The park's surveillance
video equipment was employed to monitor the site over a three-week
period, during which two suspects were identified. On November 13th, a
multi-agency arrest team comprised of rangers, state officers and DEA
agents arrested the two men after a short pursuit across a lava flow.
The men were wearing ski masks and camouflage clothing in an effort to
conceal their identifies. The pair had just harvested 650 sensimilla
marijuana plants. Search warrants served at their residences produced
$83,000 in cash, 500 marijuana plants being grown indoors, drug
paraphernalia, and evidence that hundreds of additional plants had been
harvested.
The state again requested assistance on December 1st to identify the
suspects at another cultivation site a half mile from the park's
boundary. Surveillance was maintained for several weeks, but proved
fruitless. Rangers and state officers removed 650 sensimilla plants
valued at about $1.26 million.
A joint marijuana eradication operation in December involving park
staff and a county narcotics unit netted an additional 79,833 plants
with an estimated value of $159 million.
A cultivation site was found within the park a mile off a popular
hiking trail in November. The site was monitored, but no suspects were
identified. Fifty plants with a value of about $50,000 were uprooted
and destroyed.
Marijuana cultivation in the state is increasing from last year's record
levels; the number of plantations close to or in the park is increasing as
well. [Greg Jablonski, LES, HAVO, 12/31]
Wednesday, January 14, 1998
98-16 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Eruption
The on-going eruption of Mount Kilauea has again moved into an active cycle.
Over the last few weeks, a number of flows have broken through the surface,
and one near the old visitor center built a pad measuring about 160 by 160
feet and seven feet thick in a matter of hours. Over the Christmas weekend,
an eleven-acre bench collapsed, and a four-acre bench fell apart on January
3rd. Shortly after the latter event, which was observed by a number of
visitors, a huge river-like flow appeared on the surface and flowed into the
ocean. Sulphur dioxide levels have been relatively high, reaching two parts
per million on January 2nd and causing the park to close the visitor center
for a couple of hours. Geologists indicate that there is no sign of activity
slowing in the foreseeable future. This eruption of Kilauea began on January
3, 1983 and constitutes the longest-lived rift activity in the history of the
Hawaiian islands. During that period, the park has lost the Waha'ula visitor
center, tens of thousands of archeological features (including the temple
complex at Waha'ula Heiau), the Kamoamoa campground, and stretches of Chain
of Craters road. The impacts to local communities have also been extensive;
the economic loss has exceeded $100 million. Rivers of lava have consumed
181 homes, a church, a community center, and a grid of power and phone lines.
Lava has covered more than 16,000 acres of lowland and rain forest. Every
minute, another 130,000 gallons of molten rock issue from cracks in Kilauea's
flank; every day, the volcano emits more than 2,500 tons of sulfur dioxide.
USGS scientists have determined that the volcano's emissions are twice as bad
as those of EPA's worst stationary point source polluter. Respirators with
canisters designed to filter out hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide and
airborne glass particles are standard ranger issue. Since 1983, Kilauea has
added more than 550 acres of new land to the island. [Yvette Ruan, CR, and
Mardie Lane, PR, HAVO, 1/12]
Tuesday, January 20, 1998
98-23 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Search and Rescue
The park received a report of a missing hiker at the eruption site on Mount
Kilauea at 2:20 a.m. on January 13th. Paul Souders reported that he and his
friend C.P., 51, had hiked out to one of the lava benches to see and
take pictures of an active lava flow. Around 9 p.m., C.P. decided to hike
back alone. The pair agreed to meet later at the vehicle. Souders continued
taking pictures, and headed back to the car about 90 minutes later. When he
found that C.P. was not there, he used his cellular phone to make a 911
call and report him missing. A hasty team searched the area but found no
sign of C.P. Souders and a team of eight rangers set out later in the
morning and searched the area from both sides of the eruption site. A county
rescue helicopter and a tour helicopter in the area also provided assistance.
An observer in the latter soon spotted a male matching C.P.'s description
standing in a lava field and waving. Ranger Neil Akana and forestry
technician Greg Herbst contacted C.P. and found that he was uninjured. He
said that he'd become disoriented while hiking back to the car. He saw what
he believed were car lights and headed northwest in that direction. The
light, however, was the glow emanating from the lava through "skylights"
(openings) in the lava tube. C.P. became exhausted and decided to stay put
until morning, when he could find his way back to the car. The area of the
eruption site near two active lava benches continues to attract heavy
visitation despite the arduous, seven-mile round-trip hike. The two benches
remain closed to visitors due to the danger of collapse. The most recent
such collapse occurred on January 3rd, when about four acres of the coastline
collapsed into the ocean. [Gail Minami, HAVO, 1/15]
Wednesday, March 18, 1998
98-104 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Structural Fire
The park was notified of a structural fire in the resource management shop at
10:30 p.m. on March 15th. The park's structural fire brigade responded along
with local fire companies. When units arrived on scene, they found the
building's interior engulfed in flames. The fire was quickly extinguished,
but the building suffered about $30,000 in damage. The building was used by
the resource management division to store tools, ammunition, radios and other
equipment. Contents lost included several radios, rechargers, kitchen
appliances and field equipment. The total value of lost equipment has been
placed at $20,000. The county fire department's fire inspector is assisting
with the preliminary investigation, which is focusing on some suspicious
activity. No one was injured in the incident. [Gail Minami, Operations
Supervisor, HAVO, 3/17]
Wednesday, April 29, 1998
98-167 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Search in Progress
Early on the morning of April 28th, the park received a report of a missing
hiker in the area where lava from the volcano's on-going eruption is flowing.
S.-D.T., 26, and S.K. had walked out to the area from
the closed Kalapana Road with some friends around 11 p.m. the previous
evening. S.-D.T. and S.K. decided to get closer to the flow and hiked
out to the west side of a littoral cone. S.-D.T. was in the lead and called
back to S.K. to be careful because the ground was unstable. The steam
from the flows was so intense that it fogged up S.K.'s glasses and he
could no longer see well. He suddenly realized that he was no longer able to
either see or hear S.-D.T.; he called to him, and found that S.-D.T. had
fallen. S.K. called back to him, but this time got no response. He
left the area to get the rest of the group. They returned to the point where
they thought S.-D.T. had fallen, but could not find him and accordingly
opted to seek help. They had difficulty locating their vehicle, though, and
wandered around for about five hours before locating it. County dispatch
received a call from a member of the group at 6:30 a.m. and notified the
park. A county helicopter was airborne within 30 minutes, and rangers Gail
Minami, Neil Akana and Al Aviles responded by land and began a ground search.
Additional rangers, personnel from other agencies, a boat, and other
helicopters soon joined the search. The effort proved fruitless, however,
and the search was called off late yesterday afternoon. Although S.-D.T. is
presumed dead, search operations will resume at first light this morning.
[Yvette Ruan, CR, HAVO, 4/28]
Thursday, April 30, 1998
98-167 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Follow-up on Search in Progress
The search for S.-D.T., 26, who disappeared while hiking near
active lava flows on the evening of April 27th, continued yesterday, but
without result. Rangers flew the area for two hours yesterday morning,
checking all possible caves and cracks along the shoreline. Ranger Jeff Judd
was long-lined into the area where S.-D.T. apparently fell. Judd checked
for footprints and looked for signs of S.-D.T. in cracks and crevices;
although he recovered S.-D.T.'s flashlight, Judd found no other sign of him.
Additional searchers were being deployed at the time of the report, but
consideration was being given to concluding the search effort if nothing else
was found by the end of the day. [Yvette Ruan, CR, HAVO, 4/29]
Friday, May 1, 1998
98-167 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Follow-up on Search in Progress
The search for S.-D.T., 26, of Laupahoehoe was terminated yesterday
due to the lack of any clues as to his whereabouts. It is presumed that he
died and that his body washed out to sea. S.-D.T. reportedly climbed over
the western edge of a cinder cone, lost his footing, and slipped and fell 25
feet onto a lava bench (a shelf of new land created where the lava enters the
sea). Operations yesterday included extensive searches of eleven miles of
park coastline from Apua Point to Kamokuna. [Yvette Ruan, CR, HAVO, 4/30]
Monday, May 4, 1998
98-167 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Follow-up on Search in Progress
As was noted on Friday, the search for S.-D.T., 26, has been
terminated. Both the search and associated investigation have led park staff
to believe that he is dead and that his body will not be found. S.-D.T. was
born and raised in the islands and was said to have been familiar with the
area. USGS personnel who were in the area a few hours before the incident
occurred report that there were active flows on both sides of the bench where
S.-D.T. presumably fell. This entire area is closed to the public, but
visitors continue to disregard the posted warnings in order to get closer to
the lava flows. The remaining members of S.-D.T.'s group were issued
violation notices for entering a closed area. [Yvette Ruan, CR, HAVO, 5/1]
Tuesday, June 30, 1998
98-321 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Assault on Ranger; Pursuit
On Friday, June 26th, a ranger stopped a vehicle being driven by D.R.,
33, for expired license plates and an expired inspection sticker.
D.R. was advised that he would be cited for multiple violations and that
his vehicle would be towed; he became argumentative and repeatedly refused to
get out of his car when ordered to do so. He then started the vehicle and
drove off, pushing the ranger into the traffic lane, where he was nearly
struck by oncoming vehicles. The ranger and a park criminal investigator
pursued the fleeing vehicle for 21 miles at speeds in excess of 100 mph. The
pursuit ended when the D.R. drove his vehicle into a residential area
adjacent to the highway. Rangers and assisting officers were unable to
locate it. The U.S. attorney's office has issued an arrest warrant for
D.R. for assault (18 USC 113); charges of fleeing from an officer and
multiple traffic offenses are pending. [Greg Jablonski, HAVO, 6/26]
Monday, July 13, 1998
98-377 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Tour Bus Accident; Fatality
Park dispatch was notified of a motor vehicle accident on Crater Rim Drive
around 1 p.m. on July 9th. Driver G.P., 55, evidently suffered a
cardiac arrest while operating a tour bus. Passengers initially thought that
he'd dropped something on the floor when he slumped over the wheel. The
first indication that something was seriously wrong occurred when the bus
veered across the center line and into oncoming traffic. The bus ran over
several ten-inch diameter trees, then came to rest 40 feet off the roadway
and up an embankment. The 40 passengers were shaken but uninjured. An
orthopedic surgeon, a physician, and a nurse visiting the park saw the crash
and began emergency medical treatment before rangers and medics arrived on
scene. G.P. was transported to Hilo Hospital by county ambulance and was
pronounced dead upon arrival. The accident occurred just four-tenths of a
mile past 150-foot-deep Keanakakoi Crater, which is immediately adjacent to
the roadway. Rangers, investigators, fire personnel, maintenance employees,
and fee collection staff assisted at the incident. The tour group has
started a fund to donate money to Toys for Tots in G.P.'s name, as he was
very active in local community charities. [Greg Jablonski, CI, HAVO, 7/11]
Tuesday, August 11, 1998
98-480 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Prostitution and Drug Arrest
On August 9th, rangers received a report of a woman soliciting sex for money
at the Namakani Paio concession rental cabin area. They contacted the woman,
who appeared to be under the influence of narcotics and subsequently admitted
to being a heroin addict. R.D., 38, and her male companion, K.C.,
41, were arrested on state warrants. A syringe and a metal pipe
with drug residue were found in R.D.'s possession. The U.S. attorney's
office in Honolulu was contacted; federal charges of prostitution and
possession of drug paraphernalia will be filed and served on R.D. when she
is released from prison by the state. [CRO, HAVO, 8/10]
Wednesday, October 7, 1998
98-16 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Follow-up: Volcanic Activity
Mount Kilauea remains active. This eruption of Kilauea began on January 3,
1983 and constitutes the longest-lived rift activity in the history of the
Hawaiian islands. On the evening of October 4th, residents near the volcano
were shaken by a 4.6 earthquake. The epicenter was only about a half mile
under the surface. There were about a dozen after-shocks, the strongest of
which registered at 4.1. Pu'u O'o has also been fuming heavily. New flows
since August 14th have covered 1,063 acres along the coast; the total bench
area presently covers about 28 acres. [Yvette Ruan, CR, HAVO, 10/5]
Friday, October 30, 1998
98-16 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Follow-up: Volcanic Activity
The eruption of Kilauea Volcano, which began on January 3, 1983, continues.
The following provides both background on the eruption and a report on
activity this month: The eruptive process is very dynamic, and can change
quickly. Over the years, a mosaic of countless flows has buried 10 miles of
coastal highway to a depth of up to 75 feet and created nearly one square
mile of new land. Most of the time, lava is confined to tubes which transport
lava directly from the vent into the sea, a distance of about seven miles.
Deltas of unstable new land are formed at the ocean entries. The lava tubes
may rupture occasionally, producing surface lava flows, and at the same time
stopping or slowing the flow of lava into the sea. At this time, lava is
flowing into the sea at three points at Kamokuna, three miles east of the end
of the Chain of Craters Road in the park's Coastal District. The easternmost
entry has been active since August, 1997, and is slowing dying because
ruptures in the main tube have diverted the lava elsewhere. Such a rupture
in September, 1998, produced a surface lava flow which eventually reached the
sea just west of the August 1997 entry. The September entry has built a
delta of new land 470 feet wide which extends out 560 feet from the former
shoreline. Deltas or benches such as this one are notoriously unstable and
collapse without warning. The largest collapse (25 acres) occurred a few
years ago. Lava from another rupture reached the sea to the west of the
other entries on October 19th. That flow has already built a 980 foot wide
bench which extends out 200 feet. Although three miles distant, this
westernmost delta is now visible from the end of the road. Red lava is
sometimes visible after sundown. The Pu`u `O`o vent is producing all the
lava which is flowing into the sea. The vent area is complex and slowly
changes, with new pits, cracks, and areas of collapse forming. The plumbing
system is not clearly understood by geologists, but they have determined that
the entire area is unstable and hazardous. Recent measurements put the
volume of lava erupted at 550,000 cubic yards per day. [CRO, HAVO, 10/29]
Monday, January 11, 1999
99-3 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Serious Employee Injury
Maintenance worker Larry Moreno was involved in a serious on-the-job accident
at the park's auto shop facility on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 6th.
The shop's roof was being pressure washed prior to painting. Moreno went on
the roof to check on how the pressure washer was working and fell through a
plastic sky light into the shop storage area below. He was treated at the
scene by park personnel and county paramedics, then taken to Hilo Hospital.
Moreno suffered a fractured elbow, fractured wrist, lacerations on one leg,
and a compressed spine. He underwent surgery for the fractures on Thursday,
and will likely be in a traction device for the spinal injury. Additional
details to follow. [Jim Martin, Superintendent, HAVO, 1/8]
Wednesday, February 10, 1999
98-797 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Marijuana Cultivation Convictions
In September, 1998, three marijuana cultivation sites were found in a
frequently used visitor area adjacent to the park's Kaau boundary. A six-
week-long investigation was begun which involved remote monitoring of the
site with video cameras and sensors and the manning of observation posts by
rangers, investigators, and state and DEA agents. Rangers and park
investigators subsequently arrested W.F., 20, J.D., 19,
and D.B., Jr., 22, while they were harvesting plants. A pit bull
belonging to one of the men was sprayed with OC pepper spray after charging
the arresting rangers and was captured without injury to the animal. Under a
plea agreement with the U.S. attorney, the three were allowed to plead guilty
to full misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana in lieu of the felony
cultivation charges. On January 20th, W.F., J.D. and D.B. were each
sentenced to three years of supervised probation, mandatory random drug
testing, and mandatory enrollment in a drug abuse program. There were also
required to find jobs and to serve a total of 450 hours of community service.
A seized vehicle was ordered returned to the mother of one of the men due to
her medical condition and need of transportation for medical treatment. The
park is a member of the joint federal-state domestic cultivation and
eradication and suppression program (DCESP). Park staff provide training,
technical expertise and manpower in joint operations affecting the park. Due
to the volume of plants seized in the state - over 500,000 plants were seized
by DCESP in 1998 - prosecution in state courts is limited. [Greg Jablonski,
HAVO, 2/3]
Wednesday, May 5, 1999
99-161 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Drug Arrests
A marijuana plot containing 18 plants was found in the park last fall and
placed under surveillance. Evidence suggested that the grower had been
watering and tending his plants in the late evening and early morning hours
during periods when the moon was full. The crop was harvested during a full
moon in late November - just 30 minutes before the surveillance team was
going to set up operations. On February 28th, criminal investigator Jeff
Judd, who had been conducting weekly checks of the patch, discovered a new
patch which contained 22 marijuana seedlings. Daily checks indicated that
the second patch was also being tended to at night. Sensors were employed to
establish the grower's entry dates and times. The readings indicated that he
was entering the patch either after 10:30 p.m. or at 5:30 a.m., when there
were no patrols on duty. Judd and a ranger were watching the patch on the
evening of April 25th when a vehicle drove up with its headlights off. A
man, later identified as Adam Rogoff, 27, entered the patch and was observed
watering plants and planting new seedlings. The moon was almost full so he
didn't need any light, thereby avoiding detection by patrol rangers. Rogoff
was arrested and charged with cultivation of marijuana (21 USC 841). He
later gave a full confession and statement and agreed to a consent search of
his house and premises. [Jeffrey Judd, CI, HAVO, 4/28]
Wednesday, July 7, 1999
99-333 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Rescue
At 9:40 p.m. on June 29th, rangers received a report that a woman had fallen
into an earth crack about 75 yards inland from a point where molten lava
currently cascades into the sea. L.H., 19, of Branchport, New York,
and four companions had hiked three miles east along the park's coastline
from the end of the Chain of Craters Road. Group members subsequently
admitted to rangers that they had read but disregarded area closed signs
posted near the lava flow. Soon after entering the closed area, L.H. fell 30
feet into the 75-foot-deep crack, landing on a narrow ledge. Four rangers
and a county firefighter located L.H., who was conscious and alert but
suffering from head and leg injuries. A ranger was lowered into the crack
and outfitted L.H. with a climbing harness and helmet. She was then raised
out of the crack, flown by helicopter to a waiting ambulance, and taken to
Hilo Hospital. Group members were cited for entering a closed area. [Neil
Akana, PR, HAVO, 7/4]
Wednesday, August 18, 1999
99-465 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Hurricane Dora
On Friday, August 13th, the park was notified by county Civil Defense of the
potential hazard developing with Tropical Storm Eugene and Hurricane Dora,
both of which were south of the Hawaiian Islands and moving west. Due to the
threat of high and unpredictable surf, ocean surges and strong winds, the
park activated the incident command system and closed all backcountry trails
and campsites to both day and overnight use. Hawksbill turtle monitoring
sites were also closed. Both storms continued to move west toward the
islands on Saturday. A high surf advisory was issued for all east and
southeast facing shores on the island of Hawaii - including all four of the
park's coastal camping areas. Non-coastal backcountry trails and campsites
were reopened, but coastal areas remained closed. A helicopter was employed
to warn all backcountry users at the coastal sites and urge them to evacuate
by Sunday morning. On Sunday, Tropical Storm Eugene was downgraded to a
tropical depression and passed well to the south of the islands with no
impact. Hurricane Dora reintensified, but was expected to pass 200 miles
south of Hawaii with little impact to the islands. The park planned to
reopen all backcountry sites on Monday. [Jeff Judd, IC, HAVO, transmitted
8/15, received on 8/18]
Friday, September 10, 1999
99-452 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Marijuana Eradication
During the week of August 22nd, rangers participated in a multi-agency
marijuana eradication operation throughout the island of Hawaii. The
operation, under the aegis of the state's Department of Land and Natural
Resources, included officers from Kauai, Maui, Honolulu and Hawaii counties
and agents from DEA. A total of 17,000 plants ranging in height from
seedlings to nine feet were located and destroyed during the six days of the
operation. Eradication efforts were conducted on both side of the park,
almost to the boundary on the east side and close to the Thurston lava tube,
one of the park's most heavily visited sites. No arrests were made, and no
booby traps were found. The operation is part of a fall and early winter
effort to locate and eradicate growers' late season harvests, although
operations continue on the island throughout the year due to the mild
winters. [Jeff Judd, CI, HAVO, 9/7]
Monday, September 27, 1999
99-580 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Aircraft Accident, Ten Fatalities
A Pipe Navaho Chieftain operated by Big Island Air crashed into Mauna Loa on
Saturday, September 25th, killing the pilot and all nine passengers. The
commercial flight flew out of Keahole Airport on Saturday afternoon for a
tour around the island and back to the airport. The plane was last heard
from by air traffic controllers at 5:21 p.m. The Coast Guard began a search
that evening after receiving an overdue flight report from Big Island Air,
but failed to find the aircraft. A county fire and rescue helicopter joined
the search early the following morning and spotted the wreckage of the
aircraft at the 10,500-foot level of the 13,600-foot mountain. The park was
notified at 6:30 a.m. A joint incident command was established to coordinate
the recovery of the victims, facilitate the FAA/NTSB investigation, and
ultimately remove the wreckage from the park wilderness area. At the time of
yesterday's report, family members were still being contacted by the American
Red Cross. The bodies of nine of the ten victims had been removed.
Indications are that the plane made a hard impact, slid about 75 yards,
rolled over and burned. Big Island Air has been in operation for 14 years.
The pilot reportedly had more than 10,000 hours of flight experience. Acting
chief ranger Gail Minami is IC. [Jim Martin, Superintendent, HAVO, 9/26;
Associated Press, 9/27]
Tuesday, November 2, 1999
99-640 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Marijuana Eradication Operation
During the week of October 18th, rangers and state DNR officers conducted a
joint interagency marijuana eradication mission in the Kau and Puna Districts
of Hawaii. Both of these districts border the park along much of their
lengths. A total of 27,000 marijuana plants, ranging in size from seedlings
to seven feet tall, were located and destroyed. Many were in full budding
stages and in the process of being harvested. At the known going rate within
Hawaii, the potential street value was about $54 million. On October 21st, a
very large growing operation was found near South Point Road and destroyed.
It took two people almost two hours to seize all the plants and equipment.
The plantation consisted of a sophisticated watering system that ran to
several hundred pots with marijuana in various stages of growth; also found
were tools, Pro Mix potting soil, solo sprayers, and hundreds of feet of
black coiled tubing used to transport water from an unknown source to the
plants. It appeared that water was pumped from a truck to the plants at
night. An officer in the spotting helicopter unfortunately broadcast his
find over the tactical frequency, rendering a stakeout of the area
unfeasible. The plants were therefore seized the same day. No suspects were
identified and no arrests were made. There were no booby traps at any of the
sites. Marijuana cultivation is on the increase on the island because sugar
cane is no longer being grown and marijuana is now the cash crop. [Jeffrey
Judd, CI, HAVO, 10/27]
Friday, November 5, 1999
99-657 - Systemwide - Special Event: Millennium 2000
Parks throughout the system are making preparations for millennium-related
events which will take place on or around New Years Eve. The Morning Report
will provide continuing updates on those preparations and on the activities
themselves as they occur. Today's initial entry comes from Jerry McCarthy in
Pacific West Region:
o Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - The park has received a surge of requests
for access to the summit of Mauna Loa and to the coastal backcountry.
Leave for law enforcement and emergency personnel has been canceled;
all will be on duty from December 29th to January 1st.
Parks making similar preparations are encouraged to submit short summaries to
the Morning Report. [Editor]
Thursday, February 17, 2000
00-051 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Marijuana Eradication
During the week of January 31st, rangers participated in the first of
several multi-agency marijuana eradication missions, finding and
destroying 47,994 plants valued at almost $50 million. The plants
ranged in size from seedlings to six feet high. The operation took
place in the park's Puna and Kau districts, which border the east and
west boundaries. Several sites were within 200 yards of the east
boundary, fairly close to the popular Thurston lava tube. No arrests
or seizures were made; no indoor growing sites or booby traps were
found. This is early in the year for such a large number of plants,
indicating that this will be a busy season for both growers and
eradication teams. [Jeff Judd, CI, HAVO, 2/14]
Wednesday, May 24, 2000
00-220 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Drug Eradication
Rangers assisted in an interagency marijuana eradication mission in
areas near the park's borders between May 7th and 12th. The task force
located and destroyed 17,936 plants ranging in size from seedlings to
fully mature and budding eight-foot plants. The street value has been
placed at $35.9 million. Surveillance continues at one location. No
booby traps were found; no arrests have yet been made. [Jeff Judd, CI,
HAVO, 5/22]
Thursday, September 7, 2000
00-562 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Rescue; Thermal Burn
On September 6th, K.N., 50, sustained second degree burns to
his legs when he fell into a steam vent near park headquarters. K.N.
was traveling off-trail in a signed area when he broke through the
crust over an active steam vent and fell in to his waist. He was able
to pull himself out and walk to the visitor center for help. K.N.
was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Hilo. The ambient air
temperature at the vent site was measured at approximately 204 degrees
Fahrenheit. [Paul Ducasse, HAVO, 9/6]
Thursday, September 21, 2000
00-599 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - MVA with Fatality
The lone occupant of a truck died in an unwitnessed high-speed
accident and fire on Highway 11 at 9 p.m. on September 13th. The
victim's identity has not yet been established. The highway was closed
for over an hour. The park's special agent and rangers are working
with forensic pathologists and others to determine the driver's name.
[Paul Ducasse, CR, HAVO, 9/14]
Friday, November 3, 2000
00-682 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Storm Impacts
The park received over 20 inches of rain during a twelve-hour period
on the night of Wednesday, November 1st. Heavy rains, flash flood
warnings, and lightning were predicted to subside by 2 a.m. Thursday
morning, but persisted until 3 p.m., giving an overall rainfall total
of between 25 and 30 inches. Highway 11 through the park was shut
down due to flooded areas east and west of the park. Only 35 of the
park's 120 employees were able to make it into work due to the
condition of the highway and other flooding. The park went into a
24-hour ICS operation. Park roads and facilities were closed, but the
visitor center was staffed throughout the day for visitors who had
stayed in the park overnight. Eight people who were at numerous
locations in the backcountry between the ocean and the top of Mauna
Loa (13,677 feet) have been accounted for. The park will likely be
back to normal by this evening. [Paul Ducasse, CR/IC, HAVO, 11/2]
Tuesday, November 7, 2000
00-687 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Two Visitor Fatalities
On the afternoon of Sunday, November 5th, the park was notified that
the bodies of two hikers had been found at the point where a lava flow
enters the ocean about four miles west of the end of Chain of Craters
Road. The two hikers were N.E., 41, from Volcano, Hawaii, and
I.S.K., 42, from Washington D.C. Special agent Jeffrey Judd and
ranger Jeff Kracht investigated. There was no indication of a bench
collapse or explosion in the area. Both hikers had severe burns and
cuts and abrasions on their hands and knees. Both were fully clothed
and found in an area not far from where the lava enters the ocean.
They had food, water, flashlights, and raingear with them. The two
had hiked out to the lava flow on the last day of a severe storm which
hit the island of Hawaii especially hard and caused major flooding.
There were reports of severe thunder and lightning in the coastal area
that day. No foul play is suspected. An autopsy will be performed to
determine the cause of death. [Gail Minami, Operations Supervisor,
HAVO, 11/6]
Wednesday, November 15, 2000
00-687 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Follow-up: Two Visitor Fatalities
On the afternoon of Sunday, November 5th, two hikers - N.E.,
41, from Volcano, Hawaii, and I.S.K., 42, from Washington,
D.C. - were found dead near the point where a lava flow enters the
ocean about four miles west of the end of Chain of Craters Road. They
had entered the eruption site early on the afternoon of Friday,
November 3rd. An autopsy revealed that both suffered severe
second-degree burns to much of their body from superheated steam, and
that severe bronchial spasms were a compounding factor. A final report
will be issued once lab results of lung tissue are analyzed. Special
agent Jeffrey Judd flew members of N.E.'s family to the site on
November 10th to provide them with some sense of closure. The cause of
the deaths remains a mystery, and it's possible that the investigation
may never really explain how the incident occurred. There have been
two previous fatalities resulting from visitors getting too close to
the point where the lava enters the ocean. In April, 1993, P.N.
disappeared when the half acre he was standing on collapsed into the
sea. In April, 1998, S.-D.T. disappeared when he slid off a
littoral cone to go body-surfing between the rivers of lava entering
the ocean. Neither body was recovered. [Gail Minami, Operations
Supervisor, HAVO, 11/14]
Wednesday, August 8, 2001
01-421 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Rescue
Navy lieutenant S.L. fell about 100 feet off a cliff into the
caldera of Kilauea Volcano on August 5th. S.L. was on shore leave
and visiting the park with shipmates from the frigate USS Crommelin.
They were taking pictures from the Steam Bluffs overlook when S.L.'s
hat blew off and over the railing. S.L. went over the railing to get
it, lost his footing, and disappeared from sight. He landed in a tree,
stopping what could have been a 600-foot fall to the caldera floor.
Rangers formed a technical rescue team with the assistance of Hawaii
County FD rescue personnel and Kilauea Military Camp firefighters.
S.L. was extracted from the caldera and flown by helicopter to Hilo
Hospital, where he was treated for abrasions, contusions and a broken
toe. [Paul Ducasse, HAVO, 8/7]
Monday, October 22, 2001
01-572 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Falling Fatality
R.S., 48, of Tecumseh, Oklahoma, was found dead at the top
of a talus slope at the base of the crater rim walls of Kilauea Crater
on Saturday, October 20th. Initial indications are that R.S. fell
about 200 feet to her death. She was reported missing by her husband
early on Saturday morning. Rangers, with assistance from the Hawaii
County Fire Department and the Kilauea Military Camp Fire Department,
were able to get to the scene, conduct an on-scene investigation and
remove the body. The fall was not witnessed and an investigation is
currently underway to determine the circumstances surrounding her
death. An autopsy will be held within the next few days. R.S. was a
lieutenant commander in the Public Health Service and a registered
nurse at Wewoka Indian Health Center in Wewoka, Oklahoma. [Paul
Ducasse, CR, HAVO, 10/21]
Thursday, June 20, 2002
02-249 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Volcanic Eruption
The lava eruption which started the Kupukupu Fire (see below) is continuing
to make its way to the sea. When the lava made it to within a mile of the
coast, it became evident that the visitor contact station at the end of
Chain of Craters Road was directly in its path. Park personnel using heavy
equipment were able to move the contact station and associated facilities
about a half mile away from the lava's projected route. The lava has caused
increased visitation during early evening and nighttime hours. Since
there's generally nobody working in the park after 5 p.m., the park has
gone into ICS to handle these thousands of extra nightly visitors. [Paul
Ducasse, HAVO, 6/18]
Thursday, June 20, 2002
02-250 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Multiple Incidents
While in the midst of dealing with the eruption from Kilauea (above) and
the associated fire (below), the park had a number of significant law
enforcement incidents, including a high-speed pursuit of a stolen car, a
thwarted suicide, and a fatal motor vehicle accident. Louis Alana III was
arrested in Kona after he crashed a stolen vehicle following a 65-mile,
high-speed chase. The stolen vehicle was spotted by rangers outside the
park, and Alana took off when rangers attempted to stop him. The pursuit
continued on a dozen miles of highway within the park, then was turned over
to Hawaii County PD after Alana left the park. Rangers working a roadblock
for the Kupukupu Fire discovered a man from Keaau standing on the edge of
Pauahi Crater past the barricades. He was very agitated and threatened to
jump into the crater and kill himself when park personnel approached. They
determined that he was under psychiatric care by the VA and was suffering
from severe emotional distress. DR Gail Minami and special agent Jeff Judd
talked with the man for over five hours, trying to dissuade him from
jumping. During that time, he repeatedly moved toward the crater, showing
no concern for his safety. Minami and Judd were able to coax him from the
crater's edge to a point where rangers hiding in the bushes were able to
tackle and restrain him. He was taken to Hilo Hospital for psychiatric
evaluation. Finally, rangers responded to a rollover accident in which
17-year-old J.A. of Keaau was ejected from the vehicle. J.A. and
one other passenger were taken to a hospital where she subsequently died
from her injuries. The vehicle evidently hydroplaned, and J.A. was not
wearing her seatbelt. The investigation continues. [Paul Ducasse, HAVO,
6/18]
Tuesday, August 20, 2002
02-397 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - EMS Response; Life Saved with AED
The first recorded save with an AED (automated external defibrillator)
in an NPS unit on Hawaii occurred on July 21st. A 67-year-old man was
walking on a paved road near the current eruption site when he suffered
a heart attack. An off-duty nurse and physician who were in the area
began CPR within a few moments. About five minutes later, rangers
arrived on scene with a Lifepak 500 and delivered three series of shocks
to the patient. After the third shock, his pulse and breathing returned.
A county ALS ambulance arrived on scene about 40 minutes after the
incident occurred and transported him to the hospital, where he was last
reported to be in stable condition. [Phil Akers, EMS Coordinator, HAVO]
Thursday, September 12, 2002
02-452 - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HI) - Search and Rescue
Two USGS Biological Resource Division (BRD) volunteers were
completing field work in a dense section of rain forest near the
Thurston lava tube on the afternoon of September 9th when
they decided to separate, then meet back at their vehicle an hour later.
When one of them failed to return by dark, the other notified rangers.
BRD volunteers, volunteer firefighters from a local community,
firefighters from Kilauea Military Camp and rangers began a search for
her shortly thereafter. After about four hours of searching in bad
weather, she was found by ranger Phil Akers and a volunteer firefighter.
They were unable to immediately extricate her from the backcountry,
however, due to the presence of a large earth crack in the area. Ranger
Neil Akana and another volunteer joined them a short time later, and the
two teams were able to carefully and successfully negotiate the
dangerous terrain. The volunteer was tired and wet but uninjured.
[Submitted by John Broward, Incident Commander, Hawaii
Volcanoes NP]
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
02-544 - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HI) - Exposure Death
The body of a middle-aged woman was found about a half mile from
Chain of Craters Road on the morning of Tuesday, October 15. The victim
had some contact burns from cooling lava, but there were no apparent
signs of foul play. Later that day, Hawaii County PD notified the park
that they had a missing person's report from a cruise ship that had
docked in Hilo which they'd received on Monday. Investigators determined
that the victim was that same missing person - J.G., 45, of
Fort Myers, Florida. J.G. had been on a van tour of the park. She'd
failed to meet at the tour bus at the appointed time, and they left
without her after waiting for about a half hour. Evidence indicates that
J.G. died from exposure to the elements, exacerbated by a previous
medical condition. The area where she was found is in open terrain and
within sight of the road. It appears that the lava-caused contact burns
occurred after she'd died. The investigation continues.
[Submitted by Paul Ducasse, Chief Ranger]
Thursday, February 20, 2003
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HI)
Kilauea Lava Flows On The Move Again
A vigorous lava flow that started a wildfire on February 10 buried
another section of Chain of Craters Road last Thursday and forced the
moving of visitor facilities and the evacuation of a family of birds.
Maintenance crews were able to load up a number of portable buildings,
signs and a bulletin board and move them out of the way of the advancing
lava flow. A family of nene, the endangered Hawaiian goose and Hawaii's
state bird, was also relocated, as the mating pair and their offspring
were too close to the molten rock for comfort. Meanwhile, firefighters
worked to prevent the spread of the fire, which was burning upslope and
had covered about 2,000 acres by early this week. Chain of Craters Road
was closed until Sunday because of the brush fire. Within hours of
reopening, several thousand people had driven to the end of the road and
hiked a three-quarter-mile long trail to see the lava flowing into the
ocean. The line of cars parked along the road stretched for more than
two miles. [Submitted by Paul Ducasse, Chief Ranger, and Mardie
Lane, Park Ranger]
Tuesday, June 17, 2003
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HI)
Tour Helicopter Crash with Four Fatalities
A "mayday" distress call was received from an unknown helicopter just
before 10 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, June 15th. Shortly thereafter,
an NPS contract helicopter already working on a fire and another SAR in
the park located the crash site, which was also on fire. Helicopters
working on the large fire were dispatched to provide bucket drops, and
rangers were flown to the site. They determined that none of the four
people aboard that Hughes 500-D had survived the crash. The helicopter
was owned by Tropical Helicopters, which conducts scenic helicopter
tours of the area. NTSB is on scene; the bodies have been removed and
autopsies will be conducted today. District ranger Gail Minami is IC for
this incident, which is one of four incident commands currently
operating in the park. The other three are for a SAR for a missing
person, the 4,500-acre fire previously reported in the Morning Report,
and the current lava eruption. [Submitted by Paul Ducasse, Chief
Ranger]
Monday, June 23, 2003
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HI)
Search for Missing Hiker
Rangers began a ground and air search for a missing hiker in the
eruption area on the morning of June 13th. The park had received a call
from a hotel in Kailua-Kona reporting that a guest was missing and had
not used his room since June 4th. He was identified as T.L.,
44, of Indiana. An hour later, rangers found his rental car at the
eruption site at the end of Chain of Craters Road. T.L. had last been
seen hiking in the area on the morning of June 6th. The search was
suspended for two days after the helicopter accident that killed four
people on June 15th due to the number of people assigned to the crash
scene, then resumed on the 17th. Thirty park employees searched on the
ground and from the air, but no sign of T.L. was found. The search has
now been scaled back to foot patrols in the eruption site.
[Submitted by Phil Akers, IC]
Wednesday, July 09, 2003
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HI)
Car Clouting Arrest
Rangers arrested R.S., 22, for breaking into a vehicle at a
pullout along the 15-mile-long Chain of Craters Road at 4:30 a.m. on
Saturday, July 5th. The park had been hit by a string of 20 car clouts
over the past two weeks, all occurring in the late night and early
morning hours. Based on evidence collected by rangers and according to
his own admission, R.S. is addicted to smoking "ice," a dangerous form
of methamphetamine, and was fueling his habit by breaking into cars and
stealing valuables. R.S. was taken to federal district court in
Honolulu and is facing felony charges. Through identification of R.S.'s
MO and a partial confession, rangers have been able to close all of the
earlier automobile burglaries. [Submitted by Paul Ducasse, Chief
Ranger]
Tuesday, September 02, 2003
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HI)
Hurricane Jimena Causes Park Closures
Hurricane Jimena passed just south of the island of Hawaii on Sunday
and Monday. The entire coastline of the park, the backcountry, and Chain
of Craters Road were accordingly closed. The park is opearting under ICS
with around-the-clock ranger patrols and 24-hour dispatch. At the time
of the report on Sunday evening, it was expected that the headquarters
area would be struck by heavy rains and winds of up to 60
mph. [Submitted by Paul Ducasse, Chief Ranger]
Wednesday, September 03, 2003
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HI)
Follow-up on Hurricane Jimena
Both the park and the island of Hawaii fared well during the
hurricane's passage through the area. Heavy rains, moderate surf and
light rains were reported as the hurricane passed about 50 miles out to
sea from the park. No damage or injuries have been reported. The
hurricane's winds dropped from over 100 mph to around 85 mph upon
arrival and continued decreasing until it became a tropical storm. More
than four inches of rain fell on the park on Sunday night; heavy rains
continued on Labor Day. The park's visitor centers, concessions
operation, and Kilauea summit all returned to normal operations on
Monday. The park's campgrounds, backcountry, eruption site and Chain of
Craters Road remained closed until yesterday morning but have now
reopened as well. [Submitted by Paul Ducasse, Chief Ranger]
Thursday, September 11, 2003
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HI)
Tour Helicopter Crash on Mauna Loa
On the afternoon of Tuesday, September 9th, the park received a
report from the Hawaii County Fire Department of a tour helicopter crash
on Mauna Loa at approximately the 8,500 foot level. The tour helicopter
was an Astar AS 350 helicopter belonging to Sunshine Helicopters flying
from the Kona side of the island. Both the park's contract helicopter
and the county fire rescue helicopter responded. The park contract
helicopter pilot, David Okita of Volcano Helicopters, and park resource
manager Ben Kawakami were flying a resource management mission at the
time of the crash. They diverted and flew to the reported crash
location, but were unable to see the site because of the cloud cover.
The pilot of the crashed helicopter was able to reach the park's
helicopter by radio and guide it to the scene. The pilot of the crashed
helicopter and all the passengers were fine and there were no injuries.
The crash was in the park's wilderness. The helicopter was upright and
intact except for the landing skids. The park's helicopter shuttled all
of the passengers and the pilot to the park's helicopter pad. The NTSB
and FAA have been notified and their investigations are
underway. [Submitted by Paul Ducasse, Chief Ranger]
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HI)
Technical Rescue of Three Lost Juveniles
On March 7th, three juveniles visiting the park during spring break
tried to beat their parents to the top of the Kilauea Iki trail by
shortcutting across switchbacks. They evidently thought that they could
save time by heading straight up from one section of the trail to
another. Much to their dismay, they became disoriented and lost in the
extremely thick vegetation below the Rim Drive near Thurston Lava Tube.
They were able to reach their parents via cell phone, and the parents
drove around honking their horn until they located the general area
where the trio was lost. They notified a passing park firefighter, who
in turn alerted rangers. Several members of the park's SAR team
responded. Due to the number of earth cracks and vertical cliffs in the
area, a ranger was lowered to the kids' location by rope, then escorted
them out via a prusik belay an effort that entailed negotiating
two earth cracks, one of which was very deep and risky to cross without
the safety of a belay rope. They were hauled up the last 20 feet of
vertical cliff via a technical raising system. All three were in good
shape and were reunited with their parents just an hour before
dark. [Submitted by John Broward, IC]
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HI)
New Chapter in Eruption of Kilauea
A new and active lava flow is within three-quarters of a mile from
the end of the park's Chain of Craters Road the first lava flow
in over six months that has been readily accessible to the public. The
numbers of visitors has been increasing daily, as word has gotten around
about the flow. The park has accordingly activated one of its three Type
3 all-risk incident management teams to coordinate its response to the
challenge of managing visitors in a hazardous environment. A trail has
been flagged to the flow to make it easier for visitors to find their
way to a point where they can view the lava. If the flow continues for
the next few weeks, it's likely that the number of visitors will
increase significantly due to the end of the school year and to
nationwide news coverage of the event. The park is running two shifts of
rangers and emergency hires. These employees are scouting around the end
of the road for safe routes to viewing points, establishing trails with
reflectors, answering thousands of questions daily, giving short talks
on how to safely view the lava flow, and handling emergencies as they
arise. [Submitted by Paul M. Ducasse, Chief Ranger]
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HI)
Shorthaul Rescue of Dehydrated Hiker
The park received a cell phone call via 911 reporting an unconscious
girl on the switchbacks on the backcountry Kaaha trail below the Hilina
Pali Road around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 7th. Rangers and Hawaii
County FD paramedics responded. The 12-year-old girl was a member of a
school group that had walked down a difficult trail during the heat of
the day. Many in the group were out of water and had difficulty getting
back up the hill. The girl was conscious but very weak when rangers
arrived. One of the paramedics started an IV and rangers shorthauled her
to a waiting ambulance. She was taken to Hilo Medical Center for
treatment. [Submitted by Paul M. Ducasse, Chief Ranger]
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HI)
Technical Rescue
On the evening of October 21st, a 19-year-old female nursing student
from the University of Hawaii at Hilo went looking for a suitable place
to go to the bathroom near the Kilauea Military Camp, which is inside
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. She jumped over a fence surrounding a
clump of vegetation, then fell 30 feet into an earth crack. There are
perhaps thousands of these cracks throughout the park and vegetation
makes it difficult to see these deep holes. The majority of these cracks
in high visitor use areas are surrounded by railings and/or marked with
signs. One of the woman's nearby friends called for help. Hawaii County
rescue and NPS rangers were notified and responded. One ranger rappelled
down to the woman, who was standing on an old trash can on a ledge, 15
feet above the bottom. The ranger stabilized the young woman as a sked
was lowered to their location. The ranger and a county medic packaged
the patient before she was raised using a mechanical advantage hauling
system. The woman was treated at the scene, transported to Hilo Medical
Center for further evaluation, then released with only a few abrasions
and a sprained ankle.
[Submitted by John Broward, Acting Operations Supervisor]
Tuesday, March 7, 2006
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Visitor's Life Saved with AED
On the afternoon of Sunday, February 26th, an 80-year old male visitor from
Richmond, Virginia, collapsed on the trail after exiting the Thurston Lava Tube.
Two park visitors, both doctors, happened by and immediately began CPR. Within
minutes, three rangers arrived on scene with a portable defibrillator. The
rangers applied electrodes to the unconscious man's chest and the
battery-powered device delivered three powerful jolts. The man's heart responded
and began to beat with a regular rhythm, and he quickly regained consciousness.
He was then transported by county ambulance to Hilo Medical Center for further
evaluation and treatment. This was the second time that rangers had revived a
heart attack victim with an AED. In July, 2002, a 67-year old California man
parked his car at the end of the Chain of Craters Road and started walking
through thick volcanic fumes towards the ocean entry lava flow. He didn't make
it very far before he collapsed and slumped to the ground. Rangers revived him
with an AED, and he was able to return home to California after further
treatment at Hilo Medical Center. [Mardie Lane, Public Affairs Specialist]
Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Storm Seriously Damages Communications Systems
On the afternoon of Sunday, April 2nd, a severe thunder and lightning storm
hit the volcano area of the Big Island of Hawaii. The park's main radio
transmitter and the park communication center's transformer were struck by
lightning, knocking out the phone and radio systems. The communication center
serves as a central dispatching center for Hawaii Volcanoes NP, Haleakala NP,
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau NHP, Kaloko Honokohau NHP, Pu'ukohola Heiau NHS, Kalaupapa
NHP, and the USS Arizona Memorial. Although radio communication was soon
re-established, the phone system remains down parkwide. The repair costs are
estimated at $50,000 to repair the radio system, phone system, and
computer/network infrastructure. Primary communication to the park is by email
and by cell phones. The PWHO/HAVO IT staff are currently working to repair the
phone and radio systems, but it is unknown when the phone system will be up and
running. [Gail Minami-Judd, Acting Chief Ranger]
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Hawaiian Parks
Earthquake Rocks National Parks In Hawaii
A 6.6 magnitude earthquake centered about a mile west-southwest of Waikoloa
on the Kona side of the Big Island of Hawaii rocked the entire island chain just
after 7 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, October 15th. Shortly thereafter, the
islands were shaken by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. These two big quakes were
followed by more than 20 aftershocks, mostly in the 3.0 to 4.5 range. The first
quake caused severe damage to the Kona, Kohala and Hamakua areas of the Big
Island. Power was out throughout much of the state. All major airports were shut
down temporarily until power was restored. All the national parks in Hawaii
immediately began damage assessments. The Pacific Area Communication Center,
which serves as the central dispatching center for all the Hawaii parks,
remained open and functional throughout the disaster. Radio communication and
the phone system remained intact. The following is a roundup of reports from
affected parks:
Hawaii Volcanoes NP - The quake caused no damage to roads, trails, water
lines or buildings and remained open. All backcountry areas were closed as a
precaution and coastal backcountry campers were advised to evacuate as soon as
possible. The eruption site also remained open.
FEMA has assembled a U.S. Forest Service team to document damage to federal
areas. The team is scheduled to arrive on the Big Island sometime this week.
[Sharon Ringsven, Park Ranger, HALE; Gail Minami-Judd, Incident Commander, HAVO;
Kaiini Kaloi, Department of the Interior]
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Hawaiian Parks
Follow-up on Hawaii Earthquake
A 6.6 magnitude earthquake on the Kona side of the Big Island of Hawaii
rocked the entire island chain on the morning of Sunday, October 15th. Between
Sunday morning and late Tuesday, the islands were hit by more than 60
aftershocks, the biggest being near 4.0. The governor has issued a disaster
declaration, and the state has been designated a federal disaster area. The
following report summarizes the status of affected parks as of Tuesday
afternoon:
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (Volcano-Ka'ū, Hawai'i) - The park is
open and fully operational. The Pacific Area Communications Center continues to
monitor all activity related to earthquake response and maintain communications
among all NPS areas in Hawaii. The main highway running through the park was
shutdown on Monday night due to heavy rains, but reopened on Tuesday morning.
[Talmadge Magno, Chief Ranger, Hawaii Volcanoes NP)
Friday, October 20, 2006
Hawaiian Parks
Major Marijuana Eradication Operation
On September 18th, the state of Hawaii's domestic cannabis
eradication/suppression program (DCE/SP) task force conducted its annual
statewide marijuana eradication/suppression "super mission." The operation
continued for ten consecutive days and included Pacific Area law enforcement
personnel from the National Park Service. The operation included all NPS lands
within the state - Hawaii Volcanoes NP, Pu'uhonua O Honaunau NHP, Puukohola
Heiau NHS, Kaloko-Honokohau NHP, Haleakala NP, Kalaupapa NHP and the USS Arizona
Memorial. Statewide, team members eradicated 15,505 plants, seized 17 pounds of
processed marijuana, $8,380 in cash and two firearms, and made ten arrests.
Statistics in each of these categories have trended steadily downward over past
years due to the relentless efforts of the participating agencies, which conduct
bimonthly eradication operations year-round. These operations, coupled with
aggressive prosecutions of cases on federal lands and heavy media coverage, have
collectively become known as the "Hawaii Model" for the so-called "M7" states of
the DCE/SP program - Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, Kentucky,
Tennessee, and West Virginia. The result has been that most marijuana is now
being found outside park boundaries and on adjacent state and private property.
Without this intensive focus on park lands, marijuana growers would undoubtedly
return to the seclusion and isolation of NPS areas within the state.
[Scott Hinson, Special Agent in Charge]
Monday, November 13, 2006
Hawaii Volcanoes
Five Killed In Three-Vehicle Crash
A three-car accident near the park's Hilo entrance claimed the lives of three
women and two men around 10 p.m. on Friday, November 10th. According to chief
ranger Talmadge Magno, excessive speed and alcohol were contributing factors in
the accident. A 2005 Porsche SUV was traveling toward Ka'u when it collided with
two cars heading toward Hilo. All three people in the SUV were killed in the
collision - S.F., 55, L.R., 46, and L.C., 60,
all of Volcano, Hawai'i. Two visitors from British Columbia in a 2006 Chrysler
convertible rental car - C.C., 32, and O.R., 33 - also died.
The third vehicle was a 2004 Chevrolet two-door sedan. The driver, A.G.,
31, of Kea'au, Hawai'i, remains hospitalized at Queens Medical Center. His
passenger, D.F., 43, a resident of Volcano, declined medical treatment
and was released at the scene. Rangers have launched an investigation to
determine the cause of the accident. Anyone with information is requested to
call park dispatch at 808-985-6170. Rangers are being assisted in their
investigation by Hawai'i Police Department's traffic enforcement unit. [Mardie
Lane, Park Ranger]
Monday, June 18, 2007
Hawai'i Volcanoes NP
Roads, Trails Closed Following Earthquake Swarm
On Sunday morning, the park took a number of precautionary
measures to protect visitors after an earthquake swarm shook the upper
east rift of Kilauea Volcano. Most of the park is now temporarily
closed, but Kilauea Visitor Center, Jaggar Museum, Volcano House Hotel,
Kilauea Military Camp, and Volcano Art Center Gallery remain open.
Beginning at about 2:15 a.m., the earthquake swarm shook the upper east
rift of Kilauea Volcano. About 70 shallow earthquakes occurred at an
estimated depth of from one to two miles, centered about one mile
southwest of Mauna Ulu. As of 4:30 a.m., ten of the quakes had
magnitudes greater than three and were felt by nearby residents.
Earthquake activity continues. Scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory are monitoring the situation closely. Rangers have mobilized
to provide for visitor safety and information. To see information on
recent earthquakes in Hawai'i, go the USGS Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory's website at HYPERLINK "http://tux.wr.usgs.gov/".
[Mardie Lane, Park Ranger]
Friday, June 29, 2007
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HI)
Kilauea Eruption Saga Continues
The most recent eruption of Kilauea officially referred to as
Episode 56 in this decades-long eruptive cycle continues. On
Tuesday, June 19th, a small outbreak of lava oozed from a new fissure on
the upper east rift of Kilauea. By Wednesday, the flow was reportedly
stagnant and cooling. The threat of a lava-ignited wildfire from this
lava breakout continues, however. Fire is smoldering and creeping in
layers of decomposed ground vegetation in at least three areas near the
recent lava flow. On Wednesday, firefighters from Hawaii Volcanoes and
Whiskeytown worked to suppress the fires, employing a helicopter with a
100-gallon capacity bucket to drop water on the hotspots. Suppression
efforts were begun in order to protect the surrounding rainforest of
native plants and animals in the park's 2,700-acre East Rift Special
Ecological Area. In anticipation of the need for a water source,
firefighters set up five portable ponds with a capacity of 15,500
gallons of water at the Mauna Ulu parking lot, about four miles west of
the new lava outbreak. Meanwhile, the eruption at Pu`u `O`o remains in a
pause; no lava is flowing on the surface or into the sea. Here's a
status report on park facilities, as of mid-week:
- Chain of Craters Road and Hilina Pali Road are closed.
- The park's eastern boundary in the Puna district near Kalapana is closed.
- All east rift and coastal trails and Captain's Drive trail are closed.
- Pu`u `O`o remains closed.
- Much of the remainder of the park is still open, including Crater
Rim Drive and summit trails, Mauna Loa Road and trails, Ka'u Desert
Trail from Highway 11, Kilauea Visitor Center, Jaggar Museum, Thurston
Lava Tube, Namakanipaio Campground, Kipukapuaulu Trail and picnic
ground, Volcano House Hotel, Kilauea Military Camp, and Volcano Art
Center Gallery.
Additional information on the eruption and on the park can be found
at a number of web sites, including the following:
Incident status reports http://www.inciweb.org//incident/732/,
www.nps.gov/havo, or
http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/hvostatus.php Photos
http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava_photos_episode56.htm USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory webcam -
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/cam3/
The park has also issued a health advisory for visitors. Sulfur dioxide
is always emitted from the summit of Kilauea and is a gas that can
affect the respiratory system of susceptible visitors, including
infants, young children, the elderly, and those with asthma and other
pre-existing heart and lung disease. When driving along Crater Rim Drive
near the Southwest Rift and Halema'uma'u Crater, visitors are being
advised to stop only at designated pullouts, keep their windows closed,
and set their air-conditioning on recirculation.
[Submitted by Mardie Lane, Public Affairs Officer]
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Park Girds For Arrival Of Hurricane Flossie
As of 2 p.m. Monday (local time), the center of Hurricane Flossie, a
Category Three hurricane, was located about 350 southeast of Hawai'i
Volcanoes National Park, moving west-northwest at about 15 mph. Due to
the potential severe weather hazard posed by Flossie, the park
implemented the following:
All backcountry trails, campsites, and cabins are closed
Mauna Loa Road and Hilina Pali Road are closed
Chain of Craters Road is closed at Kealakomo Overlook
Namakanipaio and Kulanaokuaiki campgrounds are closed
Kipukapuaulu Trail and Picnic Area are closed
All ranger-led hikes have been cancelled.
Flossie packs sustained winds near 125 mph, with gusts of over 160
mph. Little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours.
Hurricane force winds extend 40 miles outward from the center and
tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles. The Central
Pacific Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane watch, flash flood
watch, and a tropical storm warning for the island of Hawai'i. The main
effects from Hurricane Flossie are expected to hit the island Tuesday,
with tropical storm force winds of 40 to 50 mph with higher gusts. Any
shift in the hurricane's track towards the north will result in higher
wind speeds. Thunderstorms could produce 10 inches or more of rainfall
through Tuesday night and 15 to 20 foot surf is forecast for the
island's southeast shore. "This is no time for complacency," said acting
chief ranger Gail Minami-Judd. "We expect strong winds, heavy rain, and
high surf and we're taking steps now to ensure that our visitors and
employees stay safe. If weather conditions intensify, visitors should
anticipate more road and facility closures." For updates on Hurricane
Flossie, go to HYPERLINK "http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/cphc/".
[Mardie Lane, Public Affairs Officer]
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Hawaiian Parks
Parks Close In Preparation For Hurricane Flossie
Due to the potential severe weather hazard posed by Hurricane,
Flossie most of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park closed at 10:00 a.m.
yesterday morning. The following remain open:
Three miles of Crater Rim Drive from Kilauea Visitor Center to Jaggar
Museum
Volcano House Hotel
Kilauea Military Camp
As of 8:00 a.m. Tuesday morning (local time), the center of Hurricane
Flossie, a Category Two hurricane, was located about 190 miles southeast
of the park, moving west-northwest at about 11 mph. The Central Pacific
Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch for
the island of Hawai'i. Flossie packs sustained winds near 110 mph with
higher gusts. Some weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours. The
main effects from the hurricane were expected by mid-morning on Tuesday
as Flossie passed south of the island. Tropical storm force winds of 40
to 50 mph with higher gusts were expected. The park was also looking at
the prospect of Flossie dropping 10 inches or more of rainfall in the
island's Ka'u District through Tuesday night. Twenty to twenty-five foot
surf was forecast for the island's south facing shores. Park employees
not essential to emergency operations were released from work yesterday
morning. Three national parks on the west side of the island - Pu'uhonua
o Honaunau, Kaloko-Honokohau, and Pu'ukohola Heiau - also closed
yesterday. For updates on Hurricane Flossie, go to HYPERLINK
"http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/cphc/" http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/cphc/.
[Mardie Lane, Public Affairs Officer]
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Substantial Quake Rocks Park
A magnitude-5.4 earthquake located beneath the south flank of Kilauea
Volcano rocked the park on the evening of Monday, August 13th. The quake
occurred as park staff were gearing up for the arrival of Hurricane
Flossie. The quake was located about 25 miles south of Hilo at a depth
of six miles and was felt throughout the island. Several aftershocks
were recorded, with the largest having a preliminary magnitude of 3.2.
The largest previous earthquake on the south flank was a magnitude 5.0
that occurred on August 27, 2003. Eleven earthquakes with magnitudes
greater than 5.0 have occurred in this part of the island since 1975,
when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck near Kalapana. Although the quake
gave park and area residents a serious shaking, no significant damage
was reported. For eruption updates and information on recent earthquakes
in Hawai'i, visit the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website at HYPERLINK
"http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov". [Mardi Lane, Public Affairs Specialist]
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Coastal Areas Closed Temporarily Due To Tsunami Warning
All coastal backcountry trails and campsites were closed yesterday
afternoon due to the threat of a tsunami issuing from the magnitude 7.9
earthquake in Peru. All visitors were also evacuated from Chain of
Craters Road and the road was closed at Kealakomo Overlook. The Pacific
Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami advisory for the state of
Hawai'i following the quake, as a tsunami signal on the deep ocean gauge
off northern Chile indicated that a tsunami had been generated. The
advisory was lifted later in the afternoon and all areas were reopened.
[Mardi Lane, Public Affairs Specialist]
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Hawaiian Parks
Park Reopens After Hurricane Flossie Passes
All park facilities, roads, and trails reopened yesterday except for
the Na'ulu Trail and Napau Trail east of Pu'u Huluhlulu and Hilina Pali
Road at the Mauna Iki Trailhead. The threat of severe weather - wind,
rain, and surf - prompted the park's closure late Tuesday afternoon and
the release of those employees not essential to emergency operations.
Hurricane Flossie loomed 150 miles southeast of the island of Hawai'i,
moving west-northwest at about 8 mph. Flossie packed sustained winds
near 100 mph. High winds and thunderstorms were expected as Flossie
passed south of the island, and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center
issued both a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning. In response,
Hawai'i Volcanoes put ICS into effect. Rangers swept and closed roads,
trails, and campgrounds; maintenance crews taped plate glass windows and
secured items easily airborne; and interpreters posted signs informing
visitors of the impending hazards. At 5 a.m. yesterday morning, the
Central Pacific Hurricane Center cancelled the tropical storm warning
for the island of Hawai'i. The park suffered no apparent weather damage.
[Mardie Lane, Public Affairs Officer]
Monday, December 3, 2007
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Driver In Multiple Fatality Accident Was Highly Intoxicated
On November 10, 2006, a three-car accident near the park's
Hilo entrance claimed the lives of three women and two men. A 2005
Porsche SUV was traveling toward Ka'u when it collided with two cars
heading toward Hilo. All three people in the SUV were killed in the
collision; two visitors from British Columbia in a convertible rental
car also died, and one of the two people in the third vehicle had to be
hospitalized. A recently released investigation report revealed that
Samuel Furtado, the driver of the SUV, had a blood alcohol level far in
excess of the legal limit. Toxicology findings show that Furtado's blood
alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time of the accident was 0.27, more
than three times the legal limit of .08. The drivers of the other two
vehicles tested negative for blood alcohol. [Mardie Lane, Park
Ranger]
HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=2979"
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Hawaiian Parks
Storm Rocks Islands, Causes Damage And Closures
A strong storm passing to the north of the Hawaiian Islands yesterday
brought gale force winds, high surf and flash floods. Winds were clocked
at from 40 to 80 mph (with higher gusts) and waves reached heights of 18
to 22 feet on north shores. Parks throughout the islands reported
associated problems. Here's how they stood as of yesterday morning
(local time):
Hawaii Volcanoes - The park still had power, but was being buffeted
by heavy rains and winds ranging from about 35 mph at 4,000 feet and
over 65 mph at the summit. Park management was considering a closure if
conditions worsened.
[Karen Newton, with reports from Hawaiian parks]
Friday, December 7, 2007
Hawaiian Parks
Some Parks Reopen, Others Partly Closed Following Storm
A strong storm passing to the north of the Hawaiian
Islands this week brought gale force winds, high surf and heavy rain to
parks throughout the islands. A current status report follows:
Hawaii Volcanoes - Winds subsided yesterday at mid and lower
elevations, but heavy rain continued to fall. Blizzard conditions were
reported at upper elevations. Some roads are blocked with trees. The
backcountry will be reopened soon.
[Sharon Ringsven, HALE, and Karen Newton, PWRO, with reports from
Hawaiian parks]
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Hawaiian Parks
Some Parks Open, Others Continue Recovery From Storm
Parks throughout the Hawaiian Islands have provided current reports
on their status following last week's severe storm:
Hawaii Volcanoes - Operations have returned to normal. All closures
were lifted on Friday.
[Teri Murphy, Manager, Pacific Area Communications Center]
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Evacuation Planned Due To High Sulfur Dioxide Levels
The already high sulfur dioxide levels in the park have
doubled since a new gas vent opened in Halemaumau Crater on Kilauea's
summit on Thursday, March 13th. The park has been in ICS for about three
weeks to manage this developing incident, but yesterday requested a Type
II team to prepare for the next level of activity. Park staff have been
heavily involved with assisting the county in dealing with eruptive
activity outside the park in the Kalapana area, including visitor
safety, traffic control, public health and EMS. The incident commander
has been working closely with Hawaii County Civil Defense, and plans are
now in the works to evacuate the park, including all employees and
residents. Because of the prevailing and expected winds, the county is
also preparing for an evacuation of the community of Volcano, just
outside the park, due to high sulfur dioxide levels. Since March 13th,
total emissions from the vent have risen from already high levels of 600
tons per day to between 1800 and 2000 tons per day. Sulfur dioxide
levels in the park have been measured at 40 ppm. [Karen Newton,
PWRO]
HYPERLINK "http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/pressreleases/pr03_14_08.html"
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Update On High Sulfur Dioxide Emissions
The park has experienced high levels of sulfur dioxide
(SO2) at the summit of Kilauea Volcano since early January. As a result,
park officials have developed contingency plans for potential evacuation
and have ordered a Type II incident management team to help with
preparations. Neither the park nor the surrounding communities are
currently being evacuated. [Jim Gale]
Friday, March 21, 2008
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Update On President's Day Incident
The park continues to deal with the President's Day
Incident - the previously reported rapid increase in sulfur dioxide
emissions from a new vent on the volcano, plus a small explosive
eruption that occurred on Wednesday. In the latter event, rock debris
from a small explosive eruption inside Halemaumau damaged the crater's
fenced overlook, and rocks fell on Crater Rim Drive and trail and
Halemaumau trail. The area impacted by this explosion has been closed
since February 20th due the elevated SO2 levels. Management of the
incident is transitioning to the Western Incident Management Team, lead
by incident commander Denny Ziemann. Team members heard employee
concerns and were introduced to park staff at an all employees meeting
yesterday, their first full day in the park. The team attended a
briefing by USGS scientists from the Hawaii Volcano Observatory on the
increased sulfur dioxide emissions and the explosive eruption.
Discussions on the transition process were also begun. The transition to
the team is planned for today. [Mardie Lane, PAO, Hawaii Volcanoes NP;
Patti Wold, IO, Western IMT)
HYPERLINK "http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/pressreleases/pr03_19_08.html"
Monday, March 24, 2008
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Update On Volcanic Events
The Western IMT is in the process of preparing short and long term
contingency plans for a variety of scenarios, including elevated sulfur
dioxide levels, explosive events, and lava eruptions. The main concern
at this time is that sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rates from the summit
of Kilauea volcano continue to be elevated at about 1,200 tons/day,
compared to a normal background rate of between 150 and 200 tons/day.
Once the gas is released into the air, the danger it poses to human
health is directly related to its concentration. Higher concentrations
are found downwind of the source, so changes in wind direction and speed
can bring gases at hazardous concentrations into different areas. Trade
(northeasterly) winds keep gas emissions in the south caldera, an area
of the park currently closed to the public. When the winds shift or die
down, SO2 concentrations can rise in areas still open to visitation.
(See the plume venting from the wall of Halema'uma'u crater at HYPERLINK
"http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/cam3/").
There have been no new explosive eruptions since the explosion that
occurred Wednesday morning, March 19th, in Halema'uma'u crater. That
explosion scattered rock debris over an area of about 75 acres, covering
a portion of Crater Rim Drive and trail and damaging the overlook at
Halema'uma'u. No lava was erupted as part of the explosion. Today, the
park will team with the Hawai'i National Guard and Hawai'i County Fire
Department to carry out a joint helicopter flight operation. Throughout
the day, a Hawai'i County helicopter will fly over the volcano to
measure sulfur dioxide levels venting from the summit of Kilauea. The
data obtained will be used to develop maps that depict various scenarios
of sulfur dioxide concentrations relative to wind direction and speed.
On Wednesday, the park will host a media briefing to provide an update
on the elevated SO2 levels, the park's monitoring and communication
efforts, and the impacts of elevated SO2 levels on park operations and
staff and visitor health and safety. Those invited to participate in the
presentation include USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists, park
and IMT staff, the mayor of the county of Hawai'i, and Department of
Health Representatives from the state of Hawai'i. [Patti Wold,
Information Officer]
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Halema'uma'u Gas Plume Becomes Ash-Laden
There is now a continuous emission of ash from the new gas
vent in Halema`uma`u Crater, turning the formerly white cloud of fume a
dusty-brown color. The top of the ash plume, which is currently being
blown to the southwest of the crater, reaches from a half mile to one
mile above ground level. On Sunday night, small incandescent particles
were observed erupting from the vent below the Halema`uma`u Overlook. A
few particles were ejected with sufficient velocity to be deposited on
the rim of Halema'uma'u Crater. On Monday morning, Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory geologists reported finding Pele's hair (thin strands of
volcanic glass drawn out from molten lava named after the Hawaiian
goddess of volcanoes), Pele's tears (small bits of molten lava that
cools quickly and solidifies into glass shaped spheres or tear drops),
and spatter (clumps of molten lava) in the overlook area, indicating
that particles ejected overnight included molten lava - the first
erupted from the new vent, which is now 30 to 35 meters (100 feet) wide.
The largest fragments of spatter, or blobs of molten rock, found on the
crater rim are 10 centimeters (four inches) in size. The amount of lava
erupted from the vent was small, but it represents the first lava
erupted from anywhere in Halema`uma`u since 1982. Previous eruptions
included lava flowing into the crater from fissure eruptions on its
southwest rim in 1974 and 1971 and an eight month eruption in
Halema'uma'u in 1967 and 1968 that created a lake of lava that covered
the entire crater floor. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to
monitor the activity. View the plume on the Halema'uma'u webcam on USGS
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website at HYPERLINK
"http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/cam3/".The park and the Western
IMT continue contingency planning. More information is available on
Inciweb at HYPERLINK "http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1171/". [Patti Wold,
Information Officer]
Friday, March 28, 2008
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Update On Eruption Event
On Wednesday, March 26th, more than a dozen media representatives
gathered at the summit of Kilauea volcano for a briefing by scientists,
park and health officials and the mayor of Hawai'i County. The backdrop
was an ever-changing plume of volcanic ash and toxic gas that billowed
and drifted on the wind. Presentations focused on the hazards of
sustained elevated sulfur dioxide levels and fallout from Halema'uma'u
crater; public health and safety; park operations, including visitor use
and access; monitoring and dissemination of information; and other
issues of public concern. At the park's request, FAA closed airspace
over the crater within a three nautical mile radius at and below 4,000
feet above ground level due to the ash hazard. On Thursday, the park's
Type III incident management team resumed command of the eruption
incident from the Western incident management team. While assigned to
the incident, the Western IMT revised and expanded the park's eruption
operational plans to provide for short and long-term atmospheric (sulfur
dioxide gas) evacuations in addition to the more historical lava viewing
eruptions. The plan provides a comprehensive tool kit to respond to a
multitude of volcanic incidents. Halema'uma'u crater's ash eruption was
temporarily interrupted yesterday morning, resulting in a predominantly
white steam and gas plume with venting sounds audible at the Hawaii
Volcano Observatory, nearly two miles upwind. Overnight, cameras
recorded persistent incandescence reflected at the base of the plume (
HYPERLINK "http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/cam3/"). Sulfur dioxide emission rates
from the volcano's summit continued to be elevated at about 1,500
tons/day compared to a normal background rate of between 150 and 200
tons/day. Trade winds helped sulfur dioxide concentrations remain below
levels of concern in park areas that remain open to the public. In the
closed areas, SO2 concentrations were up to 40 ppm downwind of
Halema`uma`u crater and 140 ppm near the overlook on the crater's rim.
[Mardie Lane, Public Affairs Officer]
Monday, March 31, 2008
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Monitoring Of Halema'amu'a's Plume Continues
The park is currently supporting the Hawaii County Fire Department
and the Hawai'i National Guard Civil Support Team in conducting sulfur
dioxide and particulate monitoring of the Halema'amu'a plume. The
information that is being gathered by the county will be used by the
National Park Service to validate the park's recently revised volcanic
contingency response strategy. Concentrations of sulfur dioxide and
particulates in the plume issuing from the vent are being monitored
regularly. Hazard assessments will model potential risks as the plume is
influenced by changing weather patterns and will be used by the park and
county to ensure public safety. The park has developed a volcanic events
communication strategy which will support dissemination of information
for visitor and employee safety. The county began issuing public service
announcements and will update its response plan based on the final
assessment of the monitoring data. Current levels of sulfur dioxide and
particulates affecting local areas and communities are very low.
Affected areas of the park remain closed to public access. A hazard
assessment on the sulfur dioxide levels issuing from the Pu'u'O'o's
plume was also made to determine its affects on local communities. Go to
the USGS website at HYPERLINK "http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/" to view the
plumes and to obtain eruption reports. More information is also
available on the park's website at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/havo".
[Patti Wold, Information Officer]
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Park Closes Due To Sulfur Dioxide Emissions
Based on weather forecasts and current plume models,
sulfur dioxide levels have reached the designated closure threshold in
areas of the park. Superintendent Cindy Orlando has therefore ordered
the closure of the park until further notice. All park partners were
asked to curtail operations and leave the park until further notice.
This included all employees and lodging guests. Although there was no
immediate threat to the safety of people in the area, all were asked to
move expeditiously. NPS emergency responders were remaining on duty, but
were to leave the park if the situation became elevated. [Holly Bundock,
PAO, Pacific West Region]
Friday, April 11, 2008
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Park Reopens As Sulfur Dioxide Levels Drop
East to northeast winds have returned to the area,
shifting the sulfur dioxide filled plume away from developed and visitor
areas and causing gas levels to drop. The park accordingly reopened at
10 a.m. on Thursday morning. Park programs and activities have returned
to normal operations, including the Volcano House and Kilauea Military
Camp. [Michael Larson]
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Park Again Closes Due To High Sulfur Dioxide Levels
Sulfur dioxide levels have for the second time this month
reached the designated closure threshold in the summit area of the park.
The superintendent has therefore ordered the closure of the park until
further notice. "Our primary concern is for the health and safety of
visitors and employees," said incident commander Joe Molhoek. "We're in
close contact with the National Weather Service and look forward to
favorable winds by week's end." Park operations have been curtailed and
park rangers have closed the park, including Kilauea Military Camp and
Volcano House Hotel. There is no immediate threat to anyone's safety.
NPS emergency responders will remain on duty until further notice. The
park will reopen when favorable winds return and sulfur dioxide levels
diminish. [Mardie Lane, Public Affairs Officer]
Friday, April 25, 2008
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Park Remains Closed Due To High SO2 Levels
The park, which was closed late on Wednesday morning due
to elevated levels of sulfur dioxide gas, remained closed yesterday.
Stagnant weather prevailed again on Thursday, making it unwise and
unhealthy for visitors to be on the summit overlook or on park trails.
The park is situated on two active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea. The
toxic, invisible gas of concern is being emitted from Halema'uma'u
crater at the summit of Kilauea and from Pu'u 'O'o on the volcano's east
rift. This year, SO2 emissions from Halema'uma'u have been as high as
ten times above normal levels. "We're in a new layer of complexity,"
said superintendent Cindy Orlando. "Fortunately, the park has a cadre of
rangers adept at opening and closing areas in the wake of critical
health and safety concerns." A handful of NPS emergency responders
remain on duty. They are equipped with real-time personal SO2 monitors.
The park will reopen when favorable weather returns and the threat of
unhealthy sulfur dioxide levels diminish. Residents and visitors
continue to visit the lava viewing site at the end of Highway 130 near
Kalapana, operated by the County of Hawai'i. [Mardie Lane, Public
Affairs Officer]
Monday, April 28, 2008
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Park Reopens As Winds Blow Sulfur Dioxide Away
Trade winds returned to the area on Friday morning,
blowing the sulfur dioxide filled plume away from developed and visitor
areas. Due to diminished gas levels, it was therefore possible to reopen
the park. The park resumed normal operations at 1 p.m. that afternoon.
It had been closed since last Thursday. [Mardie Lane, Public Affairs
Officer]
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Hawaii Volcano NP
Rangers Locate Body Near Glider Wreckage On Mauna Loa
Park rangers received word from Hawai'i Fire Department
officials late on Saturday that wreckage of a glider missing since
Friday had likely been spotted at the 9,800 foot elevation on Mauna Loa,
about three miles south of Red Hill Cabin. At first light the next
morning, rangers flew to the site in a contract helicopter and confirmed
the wreckage was that of the missing glider. They also found a body
nearby. Located in park wilderness, the wreckage was strewn over a
barren 'a'a lava flow. The victim's remains were taken to Hilo Medical
Center. Positive identification has not yet been made; an autopsy is
pending. [Mardie Lane, Public Affairs Officer]
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Update On Fatal Glider Crash On Mauna Loa
Additional details have been provided on the fatal glider
crash that occurred on Mauna Loa last Friday. D.B., 69, a
former Air Force fighter pilot who flew in Vietnam and commercial pilot
with Continental and Aloha Airlines, was towed in his glider from the
Waimea Airport to the Island of Hawaii on January 16th for an attempt to
set a record by soaring to 40,000 feet. D.B.'s last communication was
just after 1 p.m., at which time he said that he was at 28,000 feet over
Mauna Kea and was heading toward 13,677-foot Mauna Loa. The glider was
reported overdue later that afternoon. Coast Guard, Hawaii Fire
Department, Civil Air Patrol and volunteer aircraft joined in the search
on January 17th. Debris was spotted that afternoon, but weather
conditions precluded a landing at the site. On January 18th, rangers
were flown to the main debris site, found D.B.'s body, and began an
accident investigation. Additional debris was spotted within the park
and residents of Volcano Village have turned in pieces of the glider
found in their yards. The investigation resumed at the site yesterday.
Pieces of the glider were moved to the CAP hanger in Hilo for assembly
and investigation by the NTSB and FAA. [Talmadge Magno, Chief
Ranger]
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Hawaiian Parks
Preparations Underway For Tropical Storm Felicia
Parks in the Hawaiian Islands are preparing for the
impacts of Tropical Storm Felicia. As of yesterday afternoon, Felicia's
center was located about 235 miles east-northeast of Hawai'i Island. The
storm continues to move westward toward Hawaii at 12 mph. On this track,
the center of Felicia is expected to reach the islands sometime today. A
tropical storm watch is in effect for the islands of Maui (site of
Haleakala National Park), Kaho'olawe, Lana'i, Moloka'i (site of
Kalaupapa National Historical Park), and O'ahu (site of World War II
Valor in the Pacific National Monument). Felicia packs maximum sustained
winds near 45 mph with higher gusts. A large ocean swell generated by
Felicia is already affecting coastlines across the state. Two reports
have been received on preparations:
Hawaii Volcanoes NP - Due to the potential severe weather
hazard posed by tropical storm Felicia, Hawai'i Volcanoes closed all
backcountry trails and campsites on Sunday. As a precaution, a dozen
volunteers were also pulled from four beaches where they spend their
days and nights monitoring the nesting of endangered Hawksbill turtles.
Regardless of the intensity of Felicia when it reaches the
Hawaiian Islands, locally heavy rainfall is still expected to occur and
flash flooding remains a possibility. [Mardie Lane, HAVO, and Naaman
Horn, HALE]
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Tropical Storm Felicia Breezes By With Few Impacts
The tropical storm watch issued for all Hawaiian Islands
was discontinued on Tuesday as Felicia's winds diminished and it passed
through the area with few impacts. All backcountry trails and campsites
within Hawai'i Volcanoes - closed Sunday due to the storm threat -
reopened late on Tuesday morning. Volunteers returned to coastal beaches
to resume round-the-clock monitoring of nesting endangered Hawksbill
turtles. The surf was the only thing that developed on Hawai'i Island,
but not at the predicted heights and no damage was sustained. Felicia
was a good "drill" for the park and its employees, a reminder that
hurricane season in Hawai'i continues through November 30th. The
National Weather Service is tracking several more systems in the eastern
Pacific that may turn into tropical cyclones. [Mardie Lane, Public
Affairs Officer, and Talmadge Magno, Chief Ranger]
Friday, April 2, 2010
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Parts Of Park Closed Due To High Winds
High winds with gusts over 50 mph have caused the park to
close several areas in order to protect visitors from falling tree
debris and other hazards. Rangers have closed the following until
further notice:
Mauna Loa Road is closed.
Mauna Loa Trail, Red Hill Cabin, and Mauna Loa Summit Cabin are
closed. No backcountry permits are being issued for those sites.
Namakanipaio Campground is closed.
"We continue to assess real and potential hazards caused
by this wind storm and to do what's necessary to protect people and park
resources," said chief ranger Talmadge Magno. "High fire danger also
exists in these areas and the closure will help reduce the risk of
wildfires." It's expected that the closures will remain in place through
the weekend. [Mardi Lane, Public Affairs Officer]
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Two Charged On Felony Counts In Marijuana Cultivation Case
On April 8th, a grand jury in Honolulu indicted A.V.,
23, and M.W., 20, on three felony charges stemming from a
marijuana cultivation case within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
Arrest warrants were subsequently issued, and on April 11th both were
arrested in Hilo by NPS rangers and special agents. The two Pahoa men
will be arraigned in United States District Court in Honolulu, charged
with conspiring to cultivate/distribute marijuana,
possessing/cultivating marijuana, and intent to distribute marijuana.
The case stems from an incident in December, 2009, when rangers
apprehended the two as they attempted to plant 47 marijuana plants in
the forest along the Mauna Loa Road. The men were released, but an
investigation into the incident continued and the case was later
presented to the United States Attorney's Office, leading to their
indictment and arrest. The Mauna Loa Road is frequently used by local
residents and island visitors. The area where rangers apprehended A.V.
and M.W. is designated by the park as a special ecological area and is
managed to protect and restore Hawaii's native plants and animals.
[Mardie Lane, Public Affairs Officer]
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Man Sentenced For Vehicle Break-in
On April 12th, A.L., 31, was sentenced in United
States District Court to nine months in federal prison and three years
supervised release and ordered to pay $632 in restitution to the victims
of his crime. A.L., of no permanent address, was convicted of felony
unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle with intent to commit a crime
for breaking into a visitor's rental car on January 1, 2008 at the
popular Kilauea Iki Overlook parking lot. Skilled and determined
investigation by park rangers and a special agent led to A.L.'s arrest
and conviction. "Our park rangers and special agent were unwavering in
the investigative efforts that led to the successful prosecution of this
case," said Superintendent Cindy Orlando. "A purpose of the park is to
provide for enjoyment of this wondrous resource by residents and
visitors. We have zero tolerance for those who victimize others."
[Mardie Lane, Park Ranger]
Monday, March 7, 2011
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Closures Instituted Due To New Eruption Of Kilauea
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists flying over
Kilauea on Saturday afternoon saw a new lava outbreak in a remote area
on the volcano's east rift. The park accordingly closed Chain of Craters
Road, all east rift zone and coastal trails, and the campground at
Kulanaokuaiki until further notice. ICS was put into effect (Gail
Minami, IC), operating out of the park's HYPERLINK
"http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=
10148" new Visitor Emergency Operations Center.
For further information, click on these links:
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory HYPERLINK "http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php" eruption updates
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory HYPERLINK "http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/" volcano webcams
Hawaii Volcanoes NP HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm" closure information
[Mardie Lane, Public Affairs Officer]
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
USGS, Park Staff Mobilize In Response To Continuing Eruption
The eruption that began last Saturday continues on the
east rift of Kilauea Volcano. Lava spatters sporadically to heights of
80 feet from a series of fissures that extend more than a mile between
Napau Crater and Pu'u 'O'o. Around the vents, the ground trembles and
molten rock puddles. In response to the change in volcanic conditions,
nearly 30 park personnel have rallied to support this major incident,
meeting and planning for the first time in the park's new Visitor
Emergency Operations Center. Rangers remain vigilant. Seismicity is
ongoing, the volcano's summit continues to deflate, and magma migrates
underground beneath roads, trails, and campsites. Most of the park
remains open, but temporary closures help ensure that hikers and cars
don't get trapped on the 'wrong side' of an outbreak. USGS Hawaiian
Volcano Observatory scientists have seized this opportunity to collect
lava samples, map a changing landscape, and measure surface deformation.
Instruments record sulfur dioxide gas emissions - a breathtaking 7,000
tons a day. Firefighters gauge the threat of lava-ignited wildfires.
Nearly 200 acres have been burned and buried. Fortunately for now,
drenching rains offer a reprieve from potential flare-ups in native rain
forest. Public and media interest has been keen and visitation is up.
Because the eruption is remote and inaccessible, rangers post the latest
information, photos, and videos at Kilauea Visitor Center and Jaggar
Museum. A HYPERLINK "http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/NCcam/" webcam
view is also available online. It's a phenomenal time, and for
some, déjà vu. The volcanic event is located where it all
began 28 years ago. On January 3, 1983, Kilauea's ongoing east rift
eruption opened in this very spot. For further information, click on
these links:
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory HYPERLINK "http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php" eruption updates
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory HYPERLINK "http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/" volcano webcams
Hawaii Volcanoes NP HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm" closure information
[Mardie Lane, Public Affairs Officer]
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Kamoamoa Eruption Continues
The eruption on Kilauea, now being referred to as the
Kamoamoa Eruption, is continuing with considerable intensity, with lava
spatters to heights of 200 feet. Fissures are feeding a lava flow that
extends nearly two miles from its source; near the fissure, the flow is
hot, ropy pahoehoe, but at its terminus, the flow turns to a clinkery
jumble of 'a'a (click on HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava"
this link for Wikipedia descriptions of these
two kinds of flows and other volcanic phenomena). The flow volume is
calculated at 2.5 million cubic meters per day, five times more than
Kilauea has been putting out from the east rift during the past several
years. Lava flows have covered 162 acres of park land. East rift zone
sulfur dioxide gas emissions are at 10,000 tonnes per day, significantly
elevated above the 300 tonnes per day measured during the past several
months and as recently as March 5th, prior to the fissure eruption.
Lava-ignited wildfires have burned 78 acres of rain forest. The forest
downwind of the fissures is choked by volcanic fumes; dieback of some
ferns, shrubs, and trees is certain. Meanwhile, the park continues to
enforce closures and operate under ICS (Gail Minami-Judd, IC). [Mardie
Lane, Public Affairs Officer]
Friday, March 11, 2011
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Eruption Activity On Kilauea Decreases
The Kamoamoa fissure eruption decreased in activity
through Wednesday afternoon and paused late that evening. At the summit,
the lava lake remained deep below the rim of the vent inset within the
east wall of Halema`uma`u Crater. East rift zone seismicity, summit
seismicity, and sulfur dioxide emissions decreased, but all remained
elevated. The park plans to open the upper four miles of Chain of
Craters Road today. The road will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
daily as conditions allow. Permitted backcountry hikers may access
coastal trails from the Ka`u Desert trailhead. The Hilina Pali Road and
Kulanaokuaiki Campground will remain closed. For further information,
click on these links:
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory HYPERLINK "http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php" eruption updates
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory HYPERLINK "http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/" volcano webcams
Hawaii Volcanoes NP HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm" closure information
For a related newspaper article, click on the link below. [USGS, Hawaii Volcanoes NP]
HYPERLINK "http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/Lava_fountaining_pauses_at_Kamoamoa_fissure.html"
Monday, March 14, 2011
Pacific Coastline Parks
Tsunami Causes Little Damage To Parks
The 8.9 earthquake that struck Japan last Friday - the
fifth largest quake in the world since 1900 and nearly 8,000 times
stronger than the one that recently devastated Christchurch, New Zealand
- produced a tsunami that crossed the open and came up on the shores of
park beaches from Guam to the West Coast. No visitor or employee
injuries have been reported. The following summarizes reports submitted
from all affected areas:
Hawaii Volcanoes - No known injuries or damage.
[Dean Ross, Deputy Chief of Emergency Services, WASO;
Karen Gatewood, Acting Regional Chief Ranger, PWRO; Steve Chaney,
Superintendent, REDW; Kim Coast, Acting Chief Ranger, GOGA; John
Quinley, Public Affairs, ARO]
Monday, March 14, 2011
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Section Of Chain Of Craters Road Reopened
A six mile section of Chain of Craters Road, closed due to
the recent eruption on Kilauea, has reopened, as trade winds have helped
reduce sulfur dioxide emissions. Scientists are continuing to closely
monitor the eruption. For further information, click on these links:
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory HYPERLINK "http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php" eruption updates
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory HYPERLINK "http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/" volcano webcams
Hawaii Volcanoes NP HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm" closure information
[Mardie Lane, Public Affairs Officer]
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Man Pleads Guilty To Negligent Homicide
A 20-year-old Hilo man pled guilty to negligent homicide
in U.S. District Court on June 14th. The charge stemmed from an incident
in which he caused a crash in the park that killed his passenger. J.Q.
pled guilty as part of a plea agreement with the prosecutor that
calls for a 24-month prison term. If the judge imposes a higher sentence
in September, J.Q. will be free to withdraw his guilty plea. The
maximum prison term for first-degree negligent homicide is ten years.
The case was investigated by the National Park Service with assistance
from the Hawaii Police Department and FBI and was prosecuted by the
United States Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii. J.Q. was
the driver of a pickup truck on Highway 11 on June 12, 2011 when the
truck left the roadway and crashed into a lava field. J.Q. and his
passenger, 20-year-old B.A., also of Hilo, were thrown from the
truck. B.A. was pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center. Blood taken
from J.Q. at the hospital showed he had a blood alcohol content of
0.13. [Investigative Services Branch]
Friday, January 25, 2013
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Local Man's Body Found In Parked Truck
On January 12th, a resident of Hilo was found dead in his
vehicle alongside Highway 11 in the park. A ranger found the body of the
43-year-old man in his truck. A death investigation is underway. The
park has asked that anyone who noticed anything suspicious with the
truck from the evening of January 11th to the morning of January 12th
call park dispatch. [Gail Minami-Judd]
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Man Rescued Following 115-Foot Fall
On Tuesday, rangers rescued a 73-year-old man who had been
stranded overnight after climbing over a barrier and falling 115 feet
down a sheer cliff behind Volcano House.
Late that afternoon, a hiker told park rangers at Kilauea
Visitor Center that she'd heard someone crying for help from the dense
vegetation along Halema'uma'u Trail, which lies directly below the
hotel. Although she thought it was a prank, she reported the cries
anyway.
Rangers were able to locate the man and arrange a rescue.
Park SAR coordinator John Broward was lowered by helicopter and pulled
him to safety as the sun began to set. The man spoke little English, but
told rescuers that he had fallen on Monday. The exact time is
unknown.
He was transported by ambulance to Hilo Medical Center
with injuries to his pelvis and shoulder. He also had numerous scrapes
and suffered from dehydration.
[Jessica Ferricane, Public Affairs Officer]
Monday, February 3, 2014
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Rangers Rescue Hiker Stranded In Heavy Snow
On the morning of Thursday, January 30th, rangers rescued
a lone hiker who became stranded on Mauna Loa after a winter storm
brought heavy snow and high winds to both the summit and lower
elevations.
A.S., 36, visiting from New York, began a
grueling 18-mile trek from the top of Mauna Loa Road at 6,662 feet
towards the summit of Mauna Loa on Sunday, January 28th. He reached the
13,677-foot summit on Tuesday after dropping off his heavy gear at a
lower elevation. The snowstorm struck on his late-afternoon descent,
creating blinding whiteout conditions, and night soon fell.
A.S. made a few futile attempts to locate his pack and
then decided to hunker down in the snow until daylight. His only
protection consisted of the clothes he had on; supplies were limited to
a bottle of frozen water.
Earlier on Tuesday, park management closed the mountain to
visitors because of the dangerous weather. A.S. was the only
registered hiker. Rangers tried unsuccessfully to call his cell phone;
they then drove up Mauna Loa Road and confirmed his car was there.
Ranger John Broward decided to launch a helicopter search for him when
the car was found to still be there on Wednesday afternoon. A.S. was
located by 9 a.m.
"I've done many crazy hikes, but this one pretty much tops
the bill," said A.S., an experienced hiker who successfully summited
Mauna Loa last winter. After locating his pack Wednesday morning, the
deep snow made it impossible to gain much ground, and he spent a second
frozen night on the mountain. A.S. worried that he'd die on Mauna
Loa, and was astonished when he heard the helicopter.
"Even the most experienced and prepared hikers can get
into trouble in the park," said Broward, who serves as the park's search
and rescue coordinator. "What saved Alex is that he had a backcountry
permit so we knew he was up there, he is extremely fit, and he stayed
calm. We're all fortunate this had a happy ending."
On Thursday afternoon, his face sunburned and
wind-whipped, A.S. applied for another backcountry permit, for the
park's remote coastal area. "This time I'm going to the sunny part of
the park," he said.
[Jessica Ferracane, Public Affairs Officer]
Monday, November 3, 2014
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
New Road Under Construction Due To Lava Flow
A lava flow emerging from Kilauea Volcano's Pu 'u 'Ō 'ō
vent, located 11 miles northeast of the park, is slowly advancing
towards the town of Pāhoa and threatens to cover the community's two
main access routes.
To sustain access in and out of Pāhoa, Hawai'i Volcanoes
National Park is working in cooperation with the State of Hawaii, Hawaii
County, and the Federal Highways Administration to construct an
emergency access route between Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and
Kalapana along the park's historic Chain of Craters Kalapana Road.
Opened in 1965, Chain of Craters Kalapana Road is located
in an active lava flow area. Since its construction, the road has been
covered by three separate flow events, causing the road to be closed for
37 of its 49 year existence. The most recent lava flow event began in
1989 and covered a 5.5-mile stretch of the road. Lava continued to flow
across the road through 2013, covering the road to a depth of up to 150
feet.
In September of 2014, the trajectory of a lava flow from
the Pu 'u 'Ō 'ō vent shifted to the northeast for the first time in
30 years and towards the town of Pāhoa. Working in conjunction with
Pacific West Regional Office and the Service's Environmental Quality
Division, the park completed emergency compliance in accordance with DOI
procedures for emergency actions to construct an evacuation route for
the lower Puna area.
On October 24th, crews began rough grading a route along
the road's historic alignment. To expedite completion of the road within
the next 30 to 45 days, crews are working from both sides of the closed
area at Hōlei Sea Arch and Kalapana.
Impacted residents will be able to access this route only
after lava has blocked the existing access routes and the Chain of
Craters Kalapana Road is safe for vehicle travel. The road will remain
open to local residents and for uses to sustain the community until
another long term viable route is established by the state or county.
Once the road is no longer needed as an emergency access route, it will
be converted into a hiking trail.
For more information, including photos, maps and web cam images,
click on the link below.
HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava2.htm"
[Rainey McKenna]
Monday, February 9, 2015
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Visitor Dies After Hike Up Thurston Lava Tube
On February 5th, a 71-year-old Japanese national with a tour group
was hiking the Thurston Lava Tube. Soon after walking up the steepest
section, he began to experience shortness of breath and felt fatigued.
Shortly after sitting to rest on the ground near the entrance to the
lava tube, he collapsed, lost consciousness and stopped breathing.
Several nurses who were also visiting at that time and a tour
operator began CPR until rangers arrived with an AED and took over care.
Rangers went through three cycles of CPR and AED analysis with "No Shock
Advised" (because his heart was not in a rhythm that the machine could
recognize).
After the three cycles, Hawaii Country Medic 19 arrived and assumed
care. After county medics completed their protocols, a doctor at the
Hilo Medical Center ER pronounced the man dead through on-line medical
control.
[John Broward, Acting Chief Ranger]
Monday, March 23, 2015
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Rangers Find And Rescue Lost Boy
An 11-year-old boy from Canada who took a
shortcut off Kīlauea Iki Trail was located by park rangers and reunited
with his family on the night of Tuesday, March 17th.
The boy left the trail on the crater
floor and attempted to shortcut his way up to the parking lot at
Thurston Lava Tube, but got lost. When his parents reached the parking
lot and found he wasn't there, the father went back down the trail. He
was able to make voice contact with his son, but couldn't locate him.
Another visitor also heard the boy
yelling for help near Crater Rim Trail between the Thurston Lava Tube
and Kīlauea Iki parking lots. The visitor found the boy's mother at the
Thurston Lava Tube parking lot and called park dispatch to report the
missing child.
Five search-and-rescue rangers responded
shortly after sunset. The boy was located off trail about an hour
afterwards, with only minor cuts and scrapes. It took another hour for
rangers to hike him back out to the trail. He was reunited with his
family members, who expressed their gratitude to the rangers.
[John Broward, Acting Chief Ranger]
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Kitchen Fire Temporarily Closes Restaurants In Volcano House
Both restaurants in the Volcano House
have been closed since Tuesday while officials investigate the cause of
a kitchen fire that sent a hotel employee to the hospital that morning.
Both The Rim restaurant and Uncle
George's Lounge were closed so that National Park Service inspectors
could determine the cause of the small blaze. Both restaurants should
reopen today. The Volcano House hotel remained open after the fire.
Park rangers, Hawai'i County medics and
firefighters responded quickly to the fire alarm and calls to park
dispatch around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. A 42-year-old hotel employee
suffered burns to his upper arms and was transported by county medics to
the hospital.
[Jessica Ferracane, Public Affairs Specialist]
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Man Dies In 250-Foot Fall Into Caldera
On Saturday, July 8th, two visitors discovered a backpack on Crater
Rim Trail at approximately 7 p.m. and notified park dispatch. Rangers
searched the caldera rim and floor on foot, but were unable to locate
its owner. The search was suspended due to unsafe conditions at night
and resumed the next morning. Rangers aboard a helicopter soon found the
victim about 250 feet below the caldera rim in an area that is not
currently erupting.
The body has been identified as that of a 38-year-old California man.
A note was found in his backpack, but details concerning the note and
circumstances of the death will not be publicly revealed until the
National Park Service has concluded its investigation and a pathologist
has ruled on the cause of death.
Source: News release, Hawaii Volcanoes NP.
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Women Killed In Fall Into Kilauea Caldera
Park rangers recovered the body of a 63-year-old Kea'au woman from
Kīlauea caldera below Steaming Bluff on the morning of October 29thth.
At approximately 10 a.m. that morning, the park received a report that the
woman had been missing since Friday. Family traced her phone to the park and
rangers located her vehicle at the Steam Vents parking area. They then began a
search for her by ground and air. At around 11:30 a.m., the woman's body was
located by personnel aboard a County of Hawai'i helicopter about 250 feet below
the caldera rim and was removed.
The woman apparently died in a fall from the crater edge beyond Crater Rim
Trail. The area where she fell is not currently erupting. It appeared that she
left the trail and went around several barriers to reach the edge.
Source: News release, Hawaii Volcanoes NP.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Kilauea Eruption Leads To Closure Of Two-Thirds Of Park
The eruption of Kilauea Volcano that began on May 3rd continues with
undiminished vigor. Since this story is being fully covered by all
media, this summary covers only the most recent Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory (HVO) update available (issued Monday) and the park's
status. Useful links are also included.
As of Monday morning, volcanic activity was being dominated by lava
fountaining, explosion of spatter more than 100 feet into the air, and
an advancing lava flow from fissure 17 at the northeast end of the
fissure system. The flow from that fissure had traveled just under a
mile, roughly east-southeast parallel to the rift zone, and was turning
slightly south. Two more fissures 18 and 19 had just
appeared. "This eruption is still evolving and additional outbreaks of
lava are possible," reports HVO. "Ground deformation continues and
seismicity remains elevated in the area. The location of future
outbreaks could include areas both uprift (southwest) and downrift
(northeast) of the existing fissures, or, existing fissures can be
reactivated. Communities downslope of these fissures could be at risk
from lava inundation. Activity can change rapidly."
Most of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park about two-thirds of
the park closed last Friday due to ongoing seismic activity,
summit deflation, and the possibility of a steam explosion at the summit
of Kīlauea Volcano. Those areas of the park will remain closed
until further notice. Only the Kahuku Unit is open; it's about an hour's
drive south of the park's main entrance on Highway 11. At the request of
the park, the FAA has issued a temporary flight restriction that extends
20,000 feet above ground level and a radius of twelve nautical miles
around the volcano's summit.
For more information, go to the following sites:
Hawaii Volcanoes NP https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/
HVO webcams https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_webcams.html
HVO photos/videos https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_chronology.html
HVO maps https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_maps.html
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Kilauea Eruption Continues, Causing Some Damage In Park
The eruption of Kilauea Volcano that began on May 3rd continues with
undiminished vigor and the park remains closed. Since the eruption is
being covered comprehensively and in a more timely manner by all media,
coverage in this newsletter will remain limited to the park's
situation.
Earthquakes emanating from Kilauea's summit have caused cracking in
park roads and some damage to park buildings. Many employees are working
from home, and rangers are currently greeting and serving visitors at
the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in downtown Hilo. An IMT 3 (Robert
Wissinger, IC) is in the park to provide assistance.
A section of Highway 137, located to the east of the park, has been
closed, cutting off one of the access points for those living east and
south of Leilani Estates, the center for much of the rift eruption.
Those communities include Kehena, Kaimu and Kalapana. The residents can
still leave the area through Highway 130; nonetheless, the state
Department of Transportation and National Park Service officials are
working on a plan to reopen Chain of Craters Road as an emergency route
out of the area. Doing so, however, would require the removal of
seven-tenths of a mile of lava, which could take weeks.
For more information, go to the following sites:
Hawaii Volcanoes NP https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/
HVO webcams https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_webcams.html
HVO photos/videos https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_chronology.html
HVO maps https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_maps.html Sources: Email from Superintendent Cindy Orlando; Honolulu Star-Advertiser; above webpages.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Kilauea Eruption Continues, Park Remains Closed
The eruption of Kilauea Volcano that began on May 3rd continues.
Approximately two-thirds of the park is currently closed due to
hazardous and increased earthquakes, corrosive ashfall, and an expected
steam explosion at the volcano's summit. The park will reopen closed
areas only when it is safe to do so. The park has posted a map of the
closed area to its webpage.
Intermittent ash plumes and dangerous debris are being ejected from
Halema'uma'u Crater. If a steam explosion occurs similar to what
happened in 1924, the resulting rock and ash fall will be very
hazardous. The radius of direct ash fall is around two miles, which
includes the Jaggar Museum overlook and areas on Highway 11 within the
park boundaries.
The National Park Service and Hawai'i Department of Transportation
are working together to prepare the Chain of Craters-Kalapana Road as an
evacuation route if Highway 130 is cut off by the Kīlauea eruption.
Work started May 30th to remove a seven-tenths-of-a-mile section of
solidified lava from the 2016-2017 lava flow that covers the road. The
gravel route will be for evacuation purposes only, and will not be an
alternate route for travel to and from the Kalapana area.
Since tourism provides 30 percent of the private sector jobs on the
Big Island, concern has grown over the potential of a long-term hit on
the island's economy. According to an NPS economist, the impact that the
park's closure will have on the local economy is best determined by
breaking down the annual amount that Hawaii Volcanoes brings into the
economy ($166 million in 2017) into a daily average ($455,000 per day)
and multiplying that figure by the number of days the park has been
closed. As of May 28th, that worked out to $7.3 million.
For more information, go to the following sites:
Hawaii Volcanoes NP https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/
HVO webcams https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_webcams.html
HVO photos/videos https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_chronology.html
HVO maps https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_maps.html Sources: New York Times, Hawaii Volcanoes NP.
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Eruption Continues With No Sign Of When It Will End
The eruption of Kilauea Volcano that began on May 3rd continues and
the park remains closed. The
U.S. Geological Survey said last Thursday that the flow is still very
active and there's no way to know when the eruption will end or if more
lava-spewing vents will open.
Here's what's known about damage to the park at present:
A magnitude 5.5 quake on June 3rd left cracks in the overlook deck at the Jaggar Museum.
Layers of acidic volcanic ash coat picnic tables, roads and overlooks.
The park is without water because of broken pipelines.
Roads in the park are fractured and three buildings, including the park's visitor emergency operations center, have been damaged.
Crater Rim Drive and Hilina Pali Road near Kulanaokuaiki Campground are impassable in places.
Along the park's eastern shoreline boundary, earth cracks have been observed near Holei Sea Arch.
Solidified lava that made a park road impassable has been removed so
the road could serve as an emergency evacuation route if needed. Chain
of Crater Road is a 19-mile stretch of road that extends through the
park, starting near the summit of the Kīlauea and winding its way
down to the coast.
Opened in 1965, the road has been blocked by lava for 41 of its
53-year existence. Work began on May 30th to remove a
seven-tenths-of-a-mile section of solidified lava from the lava flow
that covered the emergency road in 2016 and 2017.
"We understand and commiserate with our community and visitors about
the prolonged closure, but we cannot provide safe access to the Kilauea
section of the park as long as these very unpredictable dangers threaten
the safety of park staff and visitors," said Superintendent Cindy
Orlando. "Unlike lava, which you can see coming and avoid, we cannot see
or predict earthquakes, nor can we foresee a summit explosion, but both
threats continue."
For more information, go to the following sites:
Hawaii Volcanoes NP https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/
HVO webcams https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_webcams.html
HVO photos/videos https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_chronology.html
HVO maps https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_maps.html
Sources: Hawaii Volcanoes NP; Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Park Remains Closed As Eruptions Contine
Most of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park remains closed due to
increased and damaging earthquakes, corrosive volcanic ash, and
continuing explosions from Halema'uma'u, the summit crater of
Kīlauea Volcano.
The ongoing seismic activity continues to degrade park buildings and
infrastructure on a daily basis. Earthquakes have cracked parking lots
and roadways, including Highway 11 (open to through traffic), Hilina
Pali Road and more. The outdoor overlook at Jaggar Museum has sustained
significant fractures to its concrete deck and rock walls. The museum
has foundation damage, and other buildings are damaged. Currently the
park is without running water.
For more information, go to the following sites:
Hawaii Volcanoes NP https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/
HVO webcams https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_webcams.html
HVO photos/videos https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_chronology.html
HVO maps https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_maps.html
Source: Hawaii Volcanoes NP.
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Eruption and Closures Continue
Most of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park remains closed due to
increased and damaging earthquakes, corrosive volcanic ash, and
continuing explosions from Halema'uma'u, the summit crater of
Kīlauea Volcano.
Park staff have moved the park's collection of artifacts and exhibit
features from Jaggar Museum due to all of the dramatic changes taking
place at the summit of Kilauea. Although the building is damaged, the
artifacts are now in a safe location.
"The process of removing art, artifacts and informative displays from
Jaggar Museum really drives home how much has changed in the park and at
the summit of Kilauea since late April, and how much damage the recent
activity has done," said Jessica Ferracane, the park's PAO, in an email
to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
The museum and archive collection consists of more than 31,000
objects under the classifications of archeology, ethnology, history,
biology, paleontology and geology, plus 1,350 linear feet of records,
including documents and audio-visual material. Besides park
publications, there are postcards, books, fine art paintings and the
registers for the Volcano House, a hotel located on the park
grounds.
As of Friday, June 24th, it was estimated that the park's closure had
cost the island's economy more than $19 million. Volcano House, a
concession that sits at the edge of Halemaumau Crater, has laid off
nearly 100 people.
For a good and largely current update on the shape of the park and
the status of the eruption, see these two videos:
KHON News a 4-minute news video
Big Island Video News a detailed 31-minute news briefing with the NPS and USGS For more information, go to the following sites or to the "source" links below:
Hawaii Volcanoes NP https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/
HVO webcams https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_webcams.html
HVO photos/videos https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_chronology.html
HVO maps https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_maps.html
Source: Hawaii Volcanoes NP; Honolulu
Star-Advertiser; KHON News; Big Island Video
News.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Eruption and Closures Continue
Most of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park remains closed due to
earthquakes, corrosive volcanic ash, and continuing explosions from
Halema'uma'u, the summit crater of Kīlauea Volcano. There's been
little change since last week's report. For more information, go to the
following sites or to the "source" link below:
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/
HVO webcams https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_webcams.html
HVO photos/videos https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_chronology.html
HVO maps https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_maps.html
Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Damage To Park Infrastructure Increasing As Eruption Continues
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park entered day 66 of the partial park
closure last Thursday, with damage being inflicted on park
infrastructure on a daily basis.
The Kilauea Volcano summit area is shaken every day due to the
ongoing collapse/explosion events at Halema'uma'u and resulting
earthquake activity. More than 18,000 earthquakes were recorded near the
summit over the 30-day period ending July 12th.
Geologists from the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, in cooperation
with USGS's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the park, surveyed some
park trails early last week. Notable damage was observed to Crater Rim
Trail between Kilauea Military Camp and Jaggar Museum near Kīlauea
Overlook, as well as to Crater Rim Trail and Earthquake Trail near
Waldron Ledge, Halema'uma'u Trail and more.
Rockfalls have occurred along Kīlauea caldera walls, disrupting
boulders loosened by the 1983 earthquake on Halema'uma'u Trail.
The geologists were allowed to conduct their work after submitting a
risk assessment to the park's emergency operations team and worked
during periods of reduced seismicity. The team stayed in continual
communication with park dispatch and all members were outfitted with
personal protective equipment.
Source: Big Island Video News.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Eruption Continues Unabated; Most Of Park Remains Closed
Most of the park remains closed due to frequent damaging earthquakes,
corrosive volcanic ash, and continuing explosions from Halema'uma'u, the
summit crater of Kīlauea Volcano. Fissure 8, located outside of the
park, continues to erupt lava into the channel leading northeastward
from the vent and to the ocean. See this map for the current extent of
the flows.
On July 16th, a tour boat operator found out just how dangerous an
eruption can be. A "lava bomb" at the ocean entry in lower Puna injured
23 people aboard a lava tour boat operating outside of park boundaries.
It punctured the roof of the boat and covered it with lava. Four people
were taken by ambulance to the hospital after the boat docked in Hilo;
nine of those injured were able to drive themselves to the emergency
room, and another ten passengers were treated at the harbor for
superficial injuries.
Sources: Hawaii Volcanoes NP; Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory; Hawaii
Tribune-Herald.
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Message From The Superintendent Regarding Closure Impacts
Most of the park remains closed due to frequent damaging earthquakes,
corrosive volcanic ash, and continuing explosions from Halema'uma'u, the
summit crater of Kīlauea Volcano. At the editor's request, Cindy
Orlando, the park's superintendent, composed and sent along a note on
how things are going in the park itself:
"Our volcano continues to erupt and the ground shakes at the summit.
Unlike the lava which you can prepare for and see coming, 600
earthquakes a day in the park have become the norm for us though
slightly less predictable.
"Right now we are managing a closure and the status quo until we can
begin to assess damages, prepare a recovery strategy and begin repairs
to reopen. There's not much else we can do until the eruption/related
earthquakes end.
"All of our permanent staff are working, with sister federal agencies
serving as work sites, venues for outreach opportunities and temp office
space. Only 33,000 acres of the park's 330,000 acres are in the eruption
zone so there are still a lot of places to get things done in the park.
[We're] talking a bit more [about] shuffling of priorities, funding,
etc. and a big concern is there is no fee money coming in. We'll see how
it all goes. Some buildings will have to be relocated or rebuilt."
For more information on the status of the eruption, go to Hawaii
Volcanoes NP and/or Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory.
Source: Cindy Orlando, Superintendent, Hawaii Volcanoes NP.
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Park May Reopen Some Closed Areas As Eruption Quiets
Although most of the park remains closed, a phased reopening is being
considered. That's in part because the summit of Kilauea has been quiet
since the last collapse that occurred there on August 2nd.
Reopening portions of the main park area will depend on the
Geological Survey giving the park confirmation that the collapse events
have ended. There have been 68 such events since this eruption began,
substantially increasing the size of Halema'uma'u crater.
The park will also have to deal with infrastructure issues,
particularly the provision of water to visitors. Repairs to the water
system could cost $40 million.
In order to connect with more people, the park will crowd fund a
mobile visitors center to travel the island while the park is partially
closed. Superintendent Cindy Orlando said it would be crowd-funded
because the eruption has made it harder for the park to secure federal
dollars, noting that the "federal government is skeptical right now in
investing in a park situated on an active volcano."
Postscript: As if the park hasn't had enough to deal with already,
they must now look at the possibility of a major hurricane hitting
Hawaii. As of this writing (Tuesday evening), the odds were increasing
that Category 4 Hurricane Lane would make a direct or indirect hit on
the Big Island, where the park is located, sometime late this week.
Source: Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Partial Reopening Set For Late September
Due to a lull in the eruption and associated earthquakes, the park
will reopen some of its main areas on September 22nd, National Public
Lands Day.
Candidates for probable reopening include Kilauea Visitor Center,
located near the park entrance, and a viewing area where the public can
see firsthand the dramatic changes that have occurred at Halemaumau
Crater. Possibilities include the Kilauea Iki overlook or Keanakakoi,
but no decision has been made yet.
The Jaggar Museum and overlook will not be reopening in September due
to extensive damage. The popular Thurston lava tube, which is still
being evaluated, will also remain closed. A team will also evaluate the
cliffs beneath Volcano House; if they are stable, visitors will be
allowed to return.
At a depth of more than 1,200 feet, the crater is now four times
deeper than it was before the eruption began. Its diameter has more then
doubled.
Meanwhile: Some people just don't get the point of closures (as they
say, what part of 'no' do you not understand?), as attested by this item
from the Big Island Now website.
Eleven people who illegally entered the park last Saturday were cited
by rangers for disobeying a lawful closure and for disorderly conduct.
The group snuck past numerous closure signs and ventured down to the rim
of Halema'uma'u Crater below Jaggar Museum. They were spotted by a park
geomorphologist and trail crew assessing seismic damage across the
caldera at Keanakāko'i.
Members of the group parked their vehicles near Nāmakanipaio
Campground and claimed they did not see the numerous closure signs
between Highway 11, the museum, and the crater's edge. Each of them
ten men and one woman was cited $100 for violating a
lawful closure and $250 for disorderly conduct. There is also a $30
processing fee for each citation.
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, Big Island Now.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Details Of Park's Limited Reopening Announced
The park continues to work toward its goal of reopening some closed
areas by September 22nd, Public Lands Day.
A National Park Service geomorphology team recently began evaluating
the stability of areas damaged or potentially weakened by earthquakes.
Results will determine where it will be safe for visitors to go. On
August 28th, non-potable water was restored to nine park buildings,
including the visitor center. Water has not yet been restored to the
Volcano House and water from the entire park water system remains unsafe
to drink. As of August 29th, 32 park buildings had been inspected for
earthquake damage. The geomorphology team also completed an initial
inspection of Thurston Lava Tube, but further assessments are needed to
determine if the lava tube is safe to reopen.
On August 31st, the park announced that it is preparing to reopen
these specific locations on September 22nd:
Kīlauea Visitor Center
Hawai'i Pacific Parks Association store at Kīlauea Visitor Center
Crater Rim Trail between Volcano House and Kilauea Military Camp
Sulphur Banks Trail
Crater Rim Drive to Steam Vents
Kīlauea Iki Overlook and parking lot
Devastation Trail and Pu'u Pua'i
Crater Rim Drive to Keanakāko'i Crater, for pedestrians and bicyclists only
Mauna Loa Road to Kīpukapuaulu; open to pedestrians and bicyclists past Kīpukapuaulu
Sections of the escape road from Highway 11
Chain of Craters Road
The Volcano Art Center Gallery and Kilauea Military Camp also plan to
open that day, and limited services may be available at Volcano House.
The entrance station will open by 10 a.m. on September 22nd and the park
will go back to being open 24 hours a day.
On September 10th, a team of engineers from the Federal Highway
Administration will begin assessments of park roads. Due to extensive
earthquake damage, no vehicles over 15,000 pounds will be allowed to
enter the park when it reopens.
Source: Big Island Video News.
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Park Reopens Following Months-Long Eruption, Quakes
The park reopened on Saturday, Public Lands Day, following a 135-day
closure caused by eruptions, quakes, ash clouds, and the collapse of the
Halemaumau crater.
Outside the park, lava flows consumed entire neighborhoods, filled an
ocean bay and created miles of new shoreline with fresh black sand
beaches and jagged rocky outcrops, reports NBC News. Inside the park,
molten rock drained from the summit lava lake and vanished from view as
the landscape underwent a monumental change. The summit crater floor
sunk 1,500 feet and the overall Kilauea caldera quadrupled in size as
lava drained out of the active vent. One of the park's biggest draws,
though, has disappeared the red glow from the lava lake inside
Halemaumau,
Public access to the volcano remains limited because of damage to its
infrastructure. But visitors can once again hike around some parts of
the summit area and see the aftermath of the historic eruption.
While volcanic activity has slowed significantly in the past month
and no lava is reaching the surface at Kilauea, scientists aren't ready
to declare the latest eruption over.
The park has prepared a list of FAQs that provide additional
information on the reopening. A video of an illustrated September 12th
USGS lecture showing the changes in the crater can be found at this Big
Island News webpage.
Source: NBC News.
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
National Park System
Follow-ups On Previously Reported Incidents
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this
newsletter:
Hawaii Volcanoes NP Volcano House Hotel resumed its
restaurant service on October 25th after months of closure following the
Kilauea eruption. The hotel was forced to temporarily close at the same
time as the park due to the increased seismic activity brought on by the
eruption. When the park reopened in late September, parts of the hotel
reopened as well, but kitchen services could not resume immediately.
Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
National Park System
Follow-ups On Previously Reported Incidents
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this
newsletter:
Hawaii Volcanoes NP The park's reopening has brought visitors
back, but perhaps not as quickly as some expected. Tourism to the area
is still down from before Kilauea's recent eruption, which began on May
3rd. Businesses reported erratic visitor numbers, as the island's
tourist industry remains sluggish. Source: West Hawaii Today.
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
National Park System
Follow-ups On Previously Reported Incidents
There's not much new being reported these days, so we'll conclude the
year with short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this
newsletter:
Hawaii Volcanoes NP Staff from the U.S. Geological Survey's
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and other scientists have published the
first detailed summary of this year's months long eruption. The report,
entitled The 2018 Rift Eruption And Summit Collapse Of Kīlauea
Volcano, was published in the journal Science this week. It
provides a timeline for the eruption, considered the most destructive in
the volcano's recorded history, and shows that it contained a
combination of volcanic events that has seldom been observed. The New
York Times article on the report also provides "a
summary of key volcanic events in Kilauea's 2018 outburst, in the order
in which they occurred." Source: New York Times.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
National Park System
Follow-ups On Previously Reported Incidents
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this
newsletter:
Hawaii Volcanoes NP The park continues to recover from last
year's extended eruption of Kilauea, and now hopes to be able to reopen
the Thurston Lava Tube this year after improving traffic congestion
issues at the location. The lava tube has been closed to the public
since the eruption out of concern that the thousands of associated
earthquakes might have compromised the tube's structural integrity.
Structural analyses have been conducted on the tube, including one by a
National Park Service mining engineer who created a 3D laser scan of the
tube's interior, and that data is now being compared to a pre-eruption
scan of the tube in order to determine what changes have occurred, if
any. Initial impressions from the analysis have the park's
administration hopeful that the tube can be reopened sometime this year.
Source: Michael Brestovansky, Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
National Park System
Follow-ups On Previously Reported Incidents
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this
newsletter:
Hawaii Volcanoes NP Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, a USGS
facility presently located within the park, may move from the Big Island
to Oahu due to damage incurred in Kilauea's eruption last year. Other
options include a new site within the park or on the campus of the
University of Hawaii at Hilo. The observatory has been located at the
rim of Kilauea's caldera for more than a century; its existence predates
the establishment of the national park. Source: Associated Press via
U.S. News and World Report.
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
National Park System
Follow-ups On Previously Reported Incidents
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this
newsletter:
Hawaii Volcanoes NP Much of the famed Kīlauea Iki Trail
reopened in time for National Park Week nearly a year after
Kilauea's extended eruption. The park was closed for 134 days last year.
While much of the park and two-thirds of trail are now open, some areas
remain closed for safety reasons. Source: Katia Hetter, CNN.
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Man Seriously Injured In Fall Into Kilauea
A 32-year-old man was rescued by rangers and personnel from Hawai'i
County Fire Department on the evening of May 1st after he fell into
Kīlauea's caldera and was seriously injured. The man fell from a
300-foot cliff after climbing over a permanent metal railing at the
Steaming Bluff overlook to get closer to the edge.
Another visitor reported the fall. Search and rescue crews found him
alive but seriously injured on a narrow ledge about 70 feet down from
the cliff around 9 p.m.
The 32-year-old man, whose name has not been released, is an active
duty soldier in the U.S. Army. His unit is on the island for field
training at the Pohakuloa Training Area.
Source: Julio Jacobo, ABC News.
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
National Park System
Follow-ups On Previously Reported Incidents
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this
newsletter.
Hawaii Volcanoes NP The park continues its slow but steady
recovery from last year's eruption. On July 11th, Napau Crater and a
two-mile section of trail in Kilauea's East Rift Zone wilderness
reopened. Pu'u 'O'o vent will remain closed due to its steep and
unstable flanks, but hikers will be able to walk right up to its base.
Source: Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
National Park System
Follow-ups On Previously Reported Incidents
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this
newsletter.
Hawaii Volcanoes NP About two miles of the Kilauea Iki
Overlook and its trailhead were opened back up in May, but some sections
of the trail had been so heavily damaged by last year's eruption that
they couldn't be reopened to the public at that time. Work on those
sections has now been completed and the trail is now fully open. Repairs
cost $100,000. Source: KITV News.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
National Park System
Follow-ups On Previously Reported Incidents
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this
newsletter.
Hawaii Volcanoes NP Recovery from the 2018 eruption continues.
Last week, the park awarded a $3.3 million contract to a construction
company to repair roads and trails that were damaged during the
eruption. Among the areas slated for repair are Crater Rim Drive and
Trail between Kilauea Military Camp and Kilauea Overlook; Waldron Ledge
and Crater Rim Trail between Volcano House and Kilauea Iki; a five-mile
section of Hilina Pali Road between Kulanaokuaiki Campground and the
Hilina Pali Overlook; Chain of Craters Road; a section of pavement near
the entrance station; and a road servicing the park's water-catchment
system. Work is expected to begin by mid-February and will likely
conclude this summer. Source: West Hawaii Today.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
National Park System
Park Operating Status Summary
A summary of recent openings, closures and other changes in the
status of parks and their facilities,
Hawaii Volcanoes NP The Holei Sea Arch overlook at the end of
Chain of Craters Road has been closed until further notice due to new
cracks and instability observed on the coastal cliffs. The park is
consulting with subject matter experts regarding the extent of the
hazard. Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
National Park System
Follow-ups On Previously Reported Incidents
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this
newsletter.
Hawaii Volcanoes NP The recovery from the 2018 eruption
continues, with a benchmark attained on February 21st with the reopening
of the Thurston Lava Tube. One of the three biggest attractions in the
park alongside the already-reopened visitors center and the
indefinitely shuttered Jaggar Museum the lava tube, also called
Nahuku, has been closed for 658 days, ever since the park shut down in
2018 during the Kilauea eruption. Repairs and upgrades required
thousands of hours of labor, coordination with mainland agencies, and
the expenditure of about $170,000. Source: Michael Brestovansky, Hawaii
Tribune Herald.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
National Park System
Follow-ups On Previously Reported Incidents
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this
newsletter.
Hawaii Volcanoes NP The park has opened a new viewing area for
the Hōlei Sea Arch, located about 1,000 feet past the gate at the
end of Chain of Craters Road atop hardened pāhoehoe lava. The
original sea arch viewing area has been closed since January 16th due to
the discovery of cracks and instability in the coastal cliffs in the
area. Source: National Park Service.
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
National Park System
Follow-ups On Previously Reported Incidents
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this
newsletter.
Hawaii Volcanoes NP On August 25th, Kilauea Overlook reopened
following a two year closure to repair eruption damage. The 2018
Kīlauea eruption and summit collapse created unsafe conditions at
the overlook and caused numerous earth cracks and gaping sink holes on
Crater Rim Trail leading to the overlook. The trail has been repaired
and post-and-cable barriers near the crater's edge have been upgraded.
Extensive repairs to Crater Rim Drive near Kīlauea Military Camp
and to the road leading to Kīlauea Overlook have also been
completed, and the parking lot has been resurfaced and striped. Source:
Big Island Video News.
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Two Hikers Rescued From Apua Point
Two experienced hikers, ages 82 and 72, were rescued by county
helicopter after becoming lost overnight in the park and running out of
water.
The men reportedly got off to a late start Wednesday afternoon from
the Mau Loa o Mauna Ulu trailhead to Keauhou and wandered off trail
during a rigorous 7.6-mile downhill hike through the Ka'u Desert. The
men didn't reach the campsite and bedded down off trail overnight.
On Thursday, they found a familiar landmark but because of the rough
terrain and lack of water were unable to make much distance. They called
an emergency contact listed on their backcountry permit by 4 p.m., who
called the park to report them lost.
Hawaii County Fire Department found the men on a rough, hardened lava
field above Apua Point and the helicopter rescued them.
Both men were mildly hydrated but didn't require further medical
attention. Source: West Hawaii Today.
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Kilauea Roars Back To Life
Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island erupted again on Sunday night,
with lava shooting into air, boiling away a water lake and sending a
massive plume of steam, gas and ash soaring into the atmosphere.
In the first hours of the eruption, lava mixed rapidly with water in
the summit's crater lake to create steam. The sky above the eruption
turned shades of orange and red as people lined up to watch the
billowing column of gas and vapor rise above the volcano in the middle
of the night. All the water evaporated out of the lake and a steam cloud
shot up about 30,000 feet into the atmosphere.
The eruption began late Sunday within the volcano's caldera. Because
of the location of the erupting lava, no homes were evacuated and there
was little risk to the public. The crater, named Halemaumau, is located
within the park and was home to a longstanding lava lake that was
present for years before a 2018 eruption caused it to drain.
Cars are lining up at the park entrance to get a glimpse of the lava
and there's a long wait to get out to Kilauea overlook, where parking is
scarce.
A magnitude 4.4 earthquake hit about an hour after the volcano began
erupting. The USGS said it received more than 500 reports of people who
felt the earthquake but significant damage to buildings or structures
was not reported.
Source: Caleb Jones, Associated Press.
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
National Park System
Follow-ups On Previously Reported Incidents
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this
newsletter.
Hawaii Volcanoes NP The eruption of Kilauea volcano has
entered its second week. Scientists continue to monitor the activity
within the rising lava lake at the summit. The U.S. Geological Survey's
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says the activity is confined to the summit
caldera, with lava erupting from vents on the northwest side of the
crater. HVO says there is no indication that additional magma is
currently moving into the rift zones beyond the summit area. Meanwhile,
rangers have cited dozens of people who have gathered to watch the
volcano's eruption. Rangers said that those cited had ventured into
dangerous areas to take photos and videos of the volcano eruption. Full
story (and images) on eruption; full story on citations. Sources: Big
Island Video News, Associated Press.
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
National Park System
Follow-ups On Previously Reported Incidents
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this
newsletter.
Hawaii Volcanoes NP Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to
closely monitor Kīlauea's seismicity, deformation, and gas
emissions for any sign of reactivation, and maintains visual
surveillance of the summit and the East Rift Zone. Lava activity is
confined to Halema'uma'u with lava erupting from a vent on the northwest
side of the crater. As of this past Monday, the lava lake was about 205
meters (673 feet) deep and only the western half is active. SO2 emission
rates remained elevated. The summit tiltmeters are on an inflationary
trend; seismicity remains elevated but stable, with steady elevated
tremors and a few minor earthquakes. There is no seismic or deformation
data to indicate that additional magma is currently moving into either
of Kīlauea's rift zones. SO2 and H2S emissions from Pu'u
'Ō'ō were below instrumental detection levels when measured on
January 7th. Please see following for additional technical information.
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
National Park System
Follow-ups On Previously Reported Incidents
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this
newsletter.
Hawaii Volcanoes NP Kīlauea Volcano is erupting. Lava
activity is confined to Halema'uma'u with lava erupting from a vent on
the northwest side of the crater. As of the morning of February 9th, the
lava in the western, active portion of the lake in Halema'uma'u was
about 700 feet deep, with the eastern portion of the lava lake
solidified at the surface. SO2 emission rates remain elevated. Geodetic
monitors indicate that the upper portion of the East Rift Zone (between
the summit and Pu'u 'Ō'ō) contracted while the summit deflated
at the onset of this eruption. There is no seismic or deformation data
to indicate that additional magma is currently moving into either of
Kīlauea's rift zones. Source: USGS.
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Follow-up: Kilauea Eruption Continues
Kilauea Volcano continues to erupt, but there's been no significant
change in activity since last reported in this newsletter.
Lava activity is confined to Halema'uma'u, with lava erupting from a
vent on the northwest side of the crater. As of the morning of February
13th, the lava in the western, active portion of the lake in
Halema'uma'u was about 700 feet deep, with the eastern portion of the
lava lake solidified at the surface. SO2 emission rates remain elevated.
The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurements are lower than
the emission rates from the pre-2018 lava lake.
The summit tiltmeters show inflationary tilt continuing. Seismicity
remains elevated but stable, with elevated tremor and a few minor
earthquakes.
Source: USGS Hawaii Volcano Observatory.
Wednesday, September 8, 2021
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Series of earthquakes hits park
On August 23, a series of over 140 earthquakes hit the park, nine of
which were at least 2.5 magnitude, raising questions about whether
Kilauea might be erupting. Officials have since confirmed that it is not
erupting, but they are monitoring it closely. They believe it could
indicate shallow movement of magma beneath the south part of the Kilauea
caldera. Source: WKRN
Wednesday, November 3, 2021
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
3 nene killed by a cars in two weeks
On October 21, a male nene (Hawaiian goose) was struck by a car on
Chain of Crater Road near the Mau Loa o Maunaulu trailhead. It was the
third nene killed on the road in two weeks; the second was the female
mate of the third. The nene is Hawai'i's official state bird and is the
rarest goose in the world. Once on the brink of extinction, the nene
have blossomed to 3,500 individuals state-wide. Source: The Honolulu
Star-Advertiser
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
100 coconuts illegally dumped
NPS staff found about 100 coconuts illegally dumped in Kipu-Kaki off
Mauna Loa Road. The coconuts came with little fire ants which can be
highly disruptive to the local ecosystem. Staff are working to treat to
the area to get rid of the fire ants. Source: KHON2
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Visitor dies from fall
On January 3, a 75-year-old visitor was reported missing by family
members. The victim's body was found by NPS staff and Hawai'i County
firefighters after dark 100 feet below the crater rim, west of the
Uēkahuna viewing area at the summit of Kīlauea volcano. The
body was recovered by helicopter the next morning and an investigation
is currently underway. Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
May 4, 2022
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Fatal motorcycle crash
On April 19, a motorcycle headed north on Highway 11 crashed into the side of an SUV
that was turning left into the park. The 21-year-old motorcyclist passed away from
injuries sustained in the crash. Source: Big Island Video News
July 13, 2022
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Wildfire closes road
On July 11, a wildfire started on a powerline road on the southeast
flank of Mauna Loa. The cause is unknown and under investigation. The
park closed the Mauna Loa Road from the gate at the Kīpukapuaulu parking
lot. As of July 12, the fire was estimated at 46 acres with several
dozen personnel assigned. 1,760 feet of ungulate-proof fence was
damaged, but no homes or other structures were considered to be
threatened as of July 12. Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
July 27, 2022
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Sea arch damaged, may fall soon
On July 20, the park reported on its Facebook page that the iconic Hōlei
Sea Arch lost a key part of its base due to "historic" 20-25-foot swells
coming off Hurricane Darby and is now at risk of collapse. Source: The
Sacramento Bee
July 27, 2022
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Follow-up on Previously Reported Incident: Update on wildfires
As of July 19, the Power Line Fire was 100% contained at 42.5 acres.
Source: KHON
August 10, 2022
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Growing fractures in lava tube
On August 1, the park closed Nāhuku lava tube after a crackmeter
measured a fracture that has narrowed 2.47mm over the course of two
days. The fracture is near a large overhanging rock slab at the apex of
the lava tube, creating potentially dangerous conditions for visitors.
The park is monitoring the lava tube and will consider reopening when it
is considered safe to do so. Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
August 24, 2022
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Follow-up on Previously Reported Incident
The Nāhuku lava tube was reopened on August 17. It had been closed
since July 30, when scientists utilizing a crackmeter found that a
fracture was moving quickly and could trigger a rockfall. Since then,
the movement in the fracture has returned to previous levels and the
site has been inspected. Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
October 19, 2022
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Elevated seismic activity
On October 5, the park closed the Mauna Loa summit backcountry due to
elevated seismic activity. Mauna Loa Road and Lookout remain open to the
public. The alert level remains at advisory and the closure is a
precautionary measure. Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
October 19, 2022
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Fire
On October 9, a fire was observed in the park's newly acquired
Kahuku-Pōhue parcel. Personnel from Hawai'i County Fire Department and
the NPS responded and were able to contain the fire. The fire came close
to two active honu'ea (Hawaiian hawksbill turtle) nests, but did not
harm them. The cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation by
the park. Public access to the area is currently restricted. Source:
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
November 2, 2022
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Earthquakes
On October 28, the Hawai'i County Civil Defense Agency issued a
volcano advisory alert after 36 small earthquakes were detected near
Mauna Loa over 24 hours. The agency said that there are "no signs of an
imminent eruption at this time" and that the earthquakes are likely from
a renewed input of magma two to five miles beneath the volcano's summit.
Elevated seismic activity has been noted since mid-June. The summit has
been closed to all backcountry hikers since mid-September and continues
to be closed. The main section of the park remains open. Source: ABC
News 12
November 16, 2022
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Area closed for nēnē
On November 9, the park closed the Uēkahuna overlook, restrooms, and
parking lot to protect breeding and nesting nēnē in the area.
Nēnē are endangered, with only 30 existing in the wild in
1952, and close to 200 now living in the park. Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes
National Park
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Volcanic eruption
On November 27, Mauna Loa erupted for the first time since 1984. The
eruption began in the summit caldera, then migrated into the northeast
rift zone. The park has closed Mauna Loa Road from the gate at
Kīpukapuaulu, as well as the Mauna Loa Observatory Road (outside
the park). A temporary flight restriction for a five-mile radius around
Mauna Loa summit was enacted by the Federal Aviation Administration. The
park expects an influx of visitors to witness the rare dual eruption of
both Mauna Loa and Kīlauea, which has been erupting since September
2021. Neither eruption is threatening homes of infrastructure at this
time, and visitors are advised to be cautious, informed, and prepared.
Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
December 28, 2022
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Brush fire
On December 20, lightning sparked a wildfire in a remote wilderness area
of the park below Hilina Pali Lookout. The Hilina Pali Road was closed
from Kulanaokuaiki Campground to Hilina Pali Lookout, and the Ka'aha
Trail was also closed. As of December 23, the wildfire was 100%
contained at five acres and the road and trail were reopened. Source:
Big Island Now, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (12/21, 12/23)
December 28, 2022
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Follow-up on Previously Reported Incident
On December 16, the park reopened the Uēkahuna area. It had been closed
since November 9 due to the presence of breeding and nesting nēnē, which
are endangered. Park biologists observed that the nēnē family is no
longer in the area. The westernmost overlook at Uēkahuna remains closed
in case the individuals are nearby. Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National
Park
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Kīlauea erupts again
On January 5, Kīlauea began erupting inside its summit crater,
Halemauau. It has been a little under a month since the volcano and
neighboring volcano Mauna Loa stopped erupting most recently. The U.S.
Geological Survey raised the alert level earlier in the day because
there were signs of magma rising that indicated it might erupt. The
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor both volcanoes for
further activity. Source: Nation World News
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Visitor urinates at volcano viewing site
On January 7, a picture was posted on social media, showing a person
urinating at a Kīlauea eruption viewing area in the park. The post
received heavy backlash, and the individual tagged in the photo
deactivated their social media account. The park made a statement that
said, "Not only does it seem to depict the improper disposal of human
waste in a developed area, which is in violation of Title 36 of the Code
of Federal Regulations, but it also demonstrates a lack of
understanding and disregard for the cultural significance of Kīlauea."
Source: Hawaii News Now
January 25, 2023
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Visitor death
On January 15, a 70-year-old was at the Keanakakoi lava viewing overlook
when they experienced a medical emergency. Bystanders called 911 and
performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until medics arrived. Medics
performed further CPR, but the individual was pronounced dead and taken
to the Hilo Medical Center. Source: Hawaii News Now
January 25, 2023
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Art theft
On January 13, someone stole a replica of a traditional feather helmet
from the Volcano House Hotel. The helmet was made by renowned artist
Rick San Nicolas, and was displayed in a case near the front desk.
Surveillance cameras captured images of two individuals in the lobby
around the time of the theft. The park is looking for any information
the public might have about the incident. Source: KHON2
June 21, 2023
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Volcano eruption
On June 7, Kīlauea volcano began erupting from the Haleama'uma'u crater.
Scientists are monitoring hazards from volcanic gas and volcanic glass
fragments that can fall downwind. No infrastructure is currently
threatened and the eruption took place in an area already closed to the
public. Source: National Parks Traveler, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Facebook page
July 26, 2023
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Tropical storm closure
Most of the park was closed preemptively on July 18 ahead of the
landfall of Tropical Storm Calvin, which was expected to bring heavy
rainfall, flooding, damaging wind, and high surf for several days. The
park received relatively minimal damage in the storm and most areas
reopened on July 19. Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (7/18,
7/19)
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Fire risk closures
On August 6, the park closed vehicle access on Mauna Loa Road past the
gate at Kīpukapuaulu and Hilina Pali Road beyond Kulanaokuaiki
Campground due to severe fire weather conditions in the forecast.
Pedestrians and bicyclists may still access the closed sections.
Campfires and open flame cooking fires are also prohibited in the park.
Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
October 18, 2023
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Volcanic activity
On October 7, the park closed several trails, viewing areas, and parking
lots due to increased seismic activity and inflation at the summit of
Kīlauea volcano. The park and the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano
Observatory are monitoring the area. Source: Hawaii News Now
November 1, 2023
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Volcanic activity
On October 25, the park closed the Mauna Iki Trail and the Ka'ū
Desert/Footprints Trail, past the Footprints exhibit to the Mauna Iki
Trail intersection due to volcanic "episodic unrest" in the area south
of the Kīlauea summit. Source: Big Island Video News
November 29, 2023
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Volcano activity closures
On November 21, the park closed Chain of Craters Road at the
intersection near Devastation parking lot, as well as the Devastation
Trail and the Keanakāko'i Crater side of Kīlauea caldera, due to
increased seismic activity in the upper East Rift Zone near Puhimau
Crater on Kīlauea volcano. Seismic activity subsided that evening and
the areas reopened on November 22. The Mauna Iki Trail and a section of
the Ka'ū Desert Trail have been closed since October due to volcanic
activity, and they remain closed. Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National
Park (11/21, 11/22)
December 13, 2023
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Nesting nēnē
The park has temporarily closed part of the parking lot at Uēkahuna and
a short stretch of Crater Rim Trail to protect a nesting pair of nēnē.
Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
December 13, 2023
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Follow-up on Previously Reported Incident
Pepeiao Cabin and the Ka'ū Desert Trail have reopened. They closed in
October due to increased seismicity in the area south-southwest of
Kīlauea caldera. Unrest in the volcano continues, mostly southeast of
Kaluapele, the Kīlauea summit caldera. The Mauna Iki Trail remains
closed. Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Follow-up on Previously Reported Incident
On December 28, the park reopened the Maunaiki Trail from the
trailhead to the Ka'ū Desert Trail intersection. It has been closed
since October 2023 due to increased seismicity in the Southwest Rift
Zone of Kīlauea volcano. Seismic activity has since lessened. Source:
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
January 24, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Hikers rescued
On January 14, two hikers called 911, saying they were out of food and
water and their phones were running out of power. They were located
around 11,000 feet on the slopes of Mauna Loa. The mountain was closed
at the time above 10,000 feet due to severe winter weather and high
winds. The individuals had not checked in and picked up their permit, so
they did not know about the closure. A helicopter was deployed and was
able to locate and land near the two hikers. Both individuals were
uninjured. An NPS staff member gave the individuals food, water, and a
satellite communication device, as well as directions to the nearest
shelter. The elevation and gusty winds made transportation of the two
individuals too risky. That evening, the hikers sent a message saying
they had lost the trail in bad weather near 10,300 feet. The following
morning, the hikers were extracted by helicopter, one-by-one. The
hikers, along with two others they had hiked with (who self-extricated
safely after separating), were cited for entering the area without a
permit. Source: Spectrum News
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Inappropriate offerings
The park recently made an announcement on its social media asking
visitors to not leave non-traditional offerings that "harm the
environment and detract from the natural beauty of Kīlauea," such as
meat and fish, which can rot and attract animals. It is a traditional
practice by Native Hawaiians to leave offerings (ho'okupu) to pay
respect to Pelehonuamea at the volcano. The park asks that visitors
consider more traditional offerings or other types of expression, such
as prayer, chants, or dance. Source: Big Island Video News
May 1, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Earthquakes
On April 29, Kīlauea volcano experienced a "significant spike" in
earthquakes. It is not erupting, but the park has closed several areas
that would put visitors and staff at risk if an eruption occurs.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory,
is not possible to know if this increase will lead to an eruption in the
near future or remain confined below ground. Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes
National Park
May 15, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Follow-up on Previously Reported Incident
On May 4, the park reopened the areas of the park that were closed due
to increased seismicity in the area (see 5/1/24 Coalition Report).
Seismic activity has returned to normal levels. Source: Honolulu Star
Advertiser
June 12, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Volcanic eruption
On June 3 around 12:30 AM, Kīlauea volcano began erupting in an
already-closed area of the park. Temporary closures of nearby roads,
trails, and campgrounds were put into place for safety. On June 7, many
of the closures were lifted because the eruption halted. The Maunaiki
Trail and Ka'ū Desert Trail past the Footprints Exhibit remain closed
due to "elevated gases and other volcanic hazards." Source: Hawai'i
Volcanoes National Park (6/3, 6/7)
June 26, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Follow-up on Previously Reported Incident
On June 18, the Ka'ū Desert Trail and Maunaiki Trail reopened. They had
been closed since a fissure eruption on Kīlauea volcano on June 3.
Visitors are warned to stay on trail due to hazards and pay attention
for new cracks that may have bisected the Maunaiki Trail. Source:
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
July 10, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Seismic activity
On July 1, the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
recorded a sudden spike in earthquakes southeast of the summit of
Kīlauea volcano in the vicinity of Chain of Craters Road between Puhimau
and Luamanu craters. No park closures were enacted, but the park warned
that temporary closures could occur if seismicity increases. Source:
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
July 24, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Fire risk closures
On July 16, the park closed Mauna Loa Road to vehicles from the gate
past Kīpukapuaulu to Mauna Loa Lookout, as well as the Hilina Pali Road
from Maunaiki Trailhead to Hilina Pali Lookout, due to elevated fire
risk. Pedestrians and bicyclists may continue to utilize both roads, and
"backcountry permit holders will be provided access to trailheads."
Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
July 24, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Increased seismic activity
On July 22, the park experienced a sudden increase in earthquakes and
ground deformation in the East Rift Zone of Kīlauea. The park closed
several roads and trails for public safety. Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes
National Park
August 7, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Follow-up on Previously Reported Incident
On July 26, the seismic activity in the Upper East Rift Zone of Kīlauea
volcano (see 7/24/24 Coalition Report) ended. On July 26, the park
reopened the Chain of Craters Road to bicycles and pedestrians. On July
29, the road reopened to vehicles. The Maunaulu parking lot and access
road remain closed due to significant cracks and buckling in the
pavement. Other roads and backcountry areas are also open. Source:
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (7/26, 7/29)
September 4, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Seismic activity
On August 21, seismic activity caused the widening of cracks on the
Chain of Craters Road between Hilina Pali Road and the Maunaulu parking
lot. The cracks originally formed during previous seismic activity on
July 21 (see 7/24/24 and 8/7/24 Coalition Reports). The park closed the
road to vehicles from the intersection of Crater Rim Drive East to the
coast to assess the damage. The road remained open to bicycles and
pedestrians. On August 28, the road reopened due to diminished
seismicity in the area. Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (8/21,
8/28)
September 4, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Tropical storm
On August 23, the park closed the coastal and Mauna Loa summit
backcountry areas to day hiking and overnight camping due to the
prediction of tropical storm winds. They have since reopened. Source:
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
September 4, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Air tour plan petition
Vertical Aviation International, a trade group representing U.S. air
tour operators, and Safari Helicopters Hawaii have filed a petition for
review with a federal court of appeals for the park's air tour
management plan. The plan heavily reduces the number of helicopter
sightseeing flights allowed over the park, in addition to operating
restrictions. The plan was finalized in December 2023. The petition
argues that the plan is unsafe for pilots, blocks access for visitors
with mobility issues, and is economically unfeasible for air tour
companies. They argue that the Federal Aviation Administration and NPS
violated the Administration Practices Act by not meaningfully evaluating
aircraft safety and accessibility after they were questioned in public
comments, and therefore the plan is "arbitrary and capricious." As noted
in the article, the Coalition served as an intervenor for the FAA and
NPS in a separate legal suit brought by Vertical Aviation International
regarding the air tour plans for Badlands National Park and Mount
Rushmore National Memorial. The court found that the FAA and NPS had
followed procedure. Source: Honolulu Civil Beat
September 18, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Volcanic unrest
On September 15, an intrusion of magma began in Kīlauea's middle East
Rift Zone. On September 16, the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian
Volcano Observatory measured heightened gas emissions and volcanic
unrest, causing it to raise its Volcano Alert Level from "advisory" to
"watch." The park closed Chain of Craters Road due to the potential of
an eruption in the region. Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
October 4, 2024
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Follow-up on Previously Reported Incident
Volcanic unrest remains variable (see 9/18/24 Coalition Report). On
September 18, the park reopened Hilina Pali Road and Kulanaokuaiki
Campground because eruption hazards in the middle East Rift Zone of
Kīlauea volcano had eased. However, that afternoon, the middle East Rift
Zone eruption significantly increased in volume. The Maunaulu Trail and
parking area, Nāpau Trail, Nāulu Trail, and Kealakomo Overlook were
again closed to all use due to continued eruption hazards, including gas
emissions and the potential for wildland fire. On September 30, the park
reopened the Maunaulu Trail and parking lot, Pu'uhuluhulu, the Nāulu
Trail, and the Nāpau Trail to the junction with Nāulu Trail. As of
September 30, Nāpau Trail past Makaopuhi crater, Nāpau campground and
Nāpau crater all remain closed. The Nāpau campground was inundated with
lava over "four eruptive episodes between September 15 and 20," and a
wildfire ignited by an eruption burned about 90 acres of forest. Only
one campsite remains at Nāpau. Source: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
(9/18, 9/19, 9/30)
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