Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says the eruption began early Monday, about 1 mile south of the Kīlauea caldera inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Black History Month tends to focus on people and events on the continent. But did you know the 30-mile Mauna Loa Trail that stretches from the summit of Kīlauea to the summit of Maunaloa was built in 39 days by African American soldiers in 1915? The Conversation's Russell Subiono has more.

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Maunaloa on the Big Island on Friday, knocking items off shelves in nearby towns but not immediately prompting reports of serious damage. Some shaking could be felt about 200 miles away in Honolulu on Oʻahu.

A demolition and construction project at the summit of Kīlauea is underway nearly six years after an eruption damaged Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory facilities.

A surge of earthquakes at Kīlauea’s summit is prompting scientists to raise the alert level for the Hawaiian volcano. But any eruption is unlikely to threaten homes. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says it has detected 25 to 30 small earthquakes per hour since 3 a.m. Wednesday at the southern part of the volcano’s caldera.

Winter weather conditions have resulted in the closure of all areas on Maunaloa. Permits for backcountry hiking and overnight stays were canceled because of adverse conditions.

The Maunaiki Trail was closed due to increased seismicity, but has reopened due to low risk.

Nearly 10,000 fewer helicopter and air tours are expected annually at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park under a new federal plan. The regulations are the result of a federal appeals court finding three years ago. Critics have argued that chopper blades drown out the sound of nature, disrupting the visitor experience.

One of the strictest plans was announced at Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park, where tour flights will be banned from getting within a half mile of the South Dakota sites starting in April.

Monday marked the one-year anniversary of the 2022 Maunaloa eruption. The dormant volcano on the Big Island came to life in the middle of the night on Nov. 27, 2022 — for the first time in 38 years. Jessica Ferracane, the spokesperson for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, spoke to The Conversation about the latest seismic news.