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There really is no better route. Either you go around Mamalahoa to the north or to the south. Both are going to add hours to the trip. And the increased traffic from commuters is going to make a bad situation worse. I would avoid any east-west travel entirely. Just stay in whatever area you're visiting.
There are lots of people who live around Hilo but work in Kailua-Kona. They still have to get to work.
Since it's impossible to see lava at Volcanoes NP (just the glow), everyone is flocking to the saddle road to get a glimpse. I'm glad I'm on vacation so I don't have to deal with the increased traffic. My wife said she hopes it's still going when we return -- so she can see lava fountains for the first time in her life.
I hope the eruption dies out just as soon as possible. I'll catch it next time. My neighbor drove the saddle road two days ago. He said it took hours because of all the lookie-lous.
I don’t think this is true. We saw lava at Volcanoes NP in Kilauea back in February and I believe that same vent is still erupting. You park at the devastation trail parking area and walk a half mile or so down a closed portion of Crater Rim Rd to a NPS viewing site.
I don’t think this is true. We saw lava at Volcanoes NP in Kilauea back in February and I believe that same vent is still erupting. You park at the devastation trail parking area and walk a half mile or so down a closed portion of Crater Rim Rd to a NPS viewing site.
The NPS website still lists that site we went to as a great lava viewing site for Kilauea. There was a fence to keep people on the viewing ledge, but it doesn’t block anyone’s view.
I have cancelled our Dec. 17-January 5 Big Island trip. Asthma. Have had 2 years of trouble with smoke from wildfires. The air quality in Kona is good now, but I can't chance it. Sigh. I am pretty close now to being superstitious about me & Hawaii. Out of 5 trips that we've planned, 4 down. Have made it when someone else plans it. But that's just silly thinking, yes?? Still planning on Maui Dec. 10-17 and if I can find something else on another island, at least another week.
Increased traffic on the highway is causing congestion between Maunakea Access Road and Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area as people flock to see the lava flows on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone.
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I have cancelled our Dec. 17-January 5 Big Island trip. Asthma. Have had 2 years of trouble with smoke from wildfires. The air quality in Kona is good now, but I can't chance it. Sigh.
I also saw 2 news stories saying tourism was up. I wondered about that because a lot of people canceled their trip during the 2018 eruption. - No only to the big island but to the other islands as well. I remember Hawaii tourism trying to get through it out that the other islands were just fine to visit.
From my 4 day experience Waikoloa and Kona are less busy than normal. We are at ocean tower currently we have been able to get front row parking all week and there were always multiple spots available. Lines at Island gourmet have been short. Broke da mouth only had a 30 minute wait for food.
From my 4 day experience Waikoloa and Kona are less busy than normal. We are at ocean tower currently we have been able to get front row parking all week and there were always multiple spots available. Lines at Island gourmet have been short. Broke da mouth only had a 30 minute wait for food.
When you say less busy, are you comparing it to other years at this same time or comparing to different times of the year? The few weeks after Thanksgiving prior to the Christmas rush is generally one of their slower periods of the year anyway.
"The [Mauna Loa] lava flow is advancing sideways to the west and east about as fast as it is moving forward," said Ken Hon, Scientist-in-Charge of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
The NPS website still lists that site we went to as a great lava viewing site for Kilauea. There was a fence to keep people on the viewing ledge, but it doesn’t block anyone’s view.
I was just there (it's basically the Keanakako'i Overlook) on Saturday night and saw lava from that location. There is not even a fence, just some traffic bollards with rope run between them. Certainly nothing that blocks the view.
Unfortunately, that site is a favorite for the paid tour groups who equip all of their participants with crazy-bright headlamps. So walking down the closed portion of Crater Rim Dr., you will be constantly blinded (and have your night vision ruined) by light-wearers (there was lots of moonlight and extra lighting was completely unnecessary the night I went.) Some of them even kept their lights on at the viewing site, which was really annoying. My advice is to go as late as possible (11 pm is what I'd suggest) as the tour groups seem to be gone by then.
I didn't try going to the Saddle Road at night for Mauna Loa viewing; they are giving out $1,000 fines for stopping for that purpose. They've now set up a one-way route on the old Saddle Road with the entrance near (but across the highway from) the rest stop that's roughly midway on the route. That's probably good viewing, but it's a long way to drive late at night to get there.
I was just there (it's basically the Keanakako'i Overlook) on Saturday night and saw lava from that location. There is not even a fence, just some traffic bollards with rope run between them. Certainly nothing that blocks the view.
Unfortunately, that site is a favorite for the paid tour groups who equip all of their participants with crazy-bright headlamps. So walking down the closed portion of Crater Rim Dr., you will be constantly blinded (and have your night vision ruined) by light-wearers (there was lots of moonlight and extra lighting was completely unnecessary the night I went.) Some of them even kept their lights on at the viewing site, which was really annoying. My advice is to go as late as possible (11 pm is what I'd suggest) as the tour groups seem to be gone by then.
I didn't try going to the Saddle Road at night for Mauna Loa viewing; they are giving out $1,000 fines for stopping for that purpose. They've now set up a one-way route on the old Saddle Road with the entrance near (but across the highway from) the rest stop that's roughly midway on the route. That's probably good viewing, but it's a long way to drive late at night to get there.
When we were there back in February, we spent a night at Volcano House to eliminate the long night drive. Just left most of our stuff at Kings Land and took an overnight bag plus camera gear and tripod. That works well for Kilauea, but wouldn't work for the Mauna Loa location well outside of the National Park.
Not sure if Mauna Loa will still be pumping when we're there in March 2023 - or if the new Saddle Road will still be open by then.
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