Today, as I drove to get my mail ( inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park) there was a sign posted about the poor air quality. This is pretty interesting because the volcano is really not spewing up at the top here, and there has been little earthquake activity. They tell us the air is poor but do not explain why.
For anyone wishing to monitor this the USGS has a great website http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/hvostatus.php
They post daily what the volcano is doing. Right now some lava is advancing towards the old Royal Gardens Subdivision, a place wiped out in the 80's. ( what were they thinking building there in the first place?)
Since we have daily visitors coming to stay we like to monitor the flow. Unfortunately you cannot hike out and see red lava right now like you could last year. The flow field is far away and more hazardous since its going through trees and brush which cause methane explosions. Last year it just flowed over existing lava, and into the ocean.
Still, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has lots to offer even without red lava. The hiking trails are fantastic and varied. The crater is steaming and very much alive.
