DIRECTION OF FLOW EASES INITIAL CONCERNS;  NO IMMINENT THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY

November 28, 2022 [Hilo, HAWAIʻI] — The current volcanic eruption that originated inside a caldera on the summit of Mauna Loa late last night has shifted to the Northeast Rift Zone, prompting HVO scientists to indicate to county officials that there is no imminent threat to the community at this time. In particular, those near and around the Southwestern Rift Zone. Those communities include but are not limited to Pāhala, Naʻālehu, Oceanview, Mīloliʻi, Nāpoʻopoʻo, Captain Cook, Kealakekua, and Keauhou — all of which are considered high-risk in the event of Mauna Loa eruption due to the steep slope of the rift zone.

“Our team is on full alert and is prepared to respond to whatever situation may arise as a result of the Mauna Loa eruption,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “That said, we’ve been told that the lava is heading in the best possible direction, which is away from our communities. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and will be providing updates to the community regularly. Until then, we thank our State and County partners, departments, and agencies for their quick action and attention to every detail.”

The County of Hawaiʻi Civil Defense Administration and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor the activity happening around the summit and North Eastern Flank of Mauna Loa and will update the public as information relating to the eruption changes.

It is unclear how long the eruption will last or what the volume of output will be. Mauna Loa is a large volcano and is capable of sizeable, long-lasting eruptions. There are not and have not been any road closures beyond the Mauna Loa Access Road, which has been closed since early this morning. Likewise, no evacuations have been called or are eminent at this time. Shelters were opened as a result of reported self-evacuations in the late evening and early morning. Those shelters are in Kaʻū and the Robert Herkes Gymnasium and the Old Airport Gymnasium in Kailua-Kona.