Due to elevated seismic activity on Mauna Loa and as a precautionary measure, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is closing the Mauna Loa summit backcountry until further notice however Mauna Loa Road and the Mauna Loa Lookout at 6,662 feet elevation remain open to the public.

Mauna Loa is not currently erupting and there are no signs of an imminent eruption at this time, however it is currently experiencing heightened unrest.

Earthquake activity has been increasing from 5-10 earthquakes per day since June 2022, to 10-20 earthquakes per day in July and August, and reaching approximately 40-50 earthquakes per day over the past two weeks. Peak numbers of over 100 earthquakes per day occurred on September 23 and 29.

Inflation or expansion of Mauna Loa’s summit is accompanying the earthquake activity and has also increased in the past two weeks. The last time Mauna Loa displayed similar elevated earthquake activity and expansion of the summit region was late-January to late-March of 2021. Additional periods of increased earthquake activity have also occurred during the 38 years since the last eruption of Mauna Loa in 1984.

The Alert Level for Mauna Loa remains at ADVISORY/YELLOW.

Beginning today, HVO will be changing its Mauna Loa updates from weekly to daily reflecting the heightened level of unrest.

HVO is continuing to monitor conditions carefully and will issue appropriate updates if conditions change.

 

(Photo credit: HVNP)