Hawai'i's K?lauea Volcano Idle Since Early August; Air Quality Clean and Clear on the Island of Hawai'i

HONOLULU, Sept. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- It has now been a month since the continuous flow of lava ceased from K?lauea volcano on the island of Hawai'i, with the clean and clear air quality island-wide being the most evident sign of the positive impact since then.

Air quality is rated as good in all communities throughout the island of Hawai'i, according to daily reports monitored by the Hawai'i State Department of Health. For the latest updates on air quality ratings and information, visit online at http://www.hiso2index.info.

The U.S. Geological Survey and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory are also reporting that sulfur dioxide emissions at K?lauea summit and in the Lower East Rift Zone in Puna, where lava flows were occurring, have been drastically reduced and are at their lowest combined level since 2007 ? eleven years ago. The alert level for K?lauea volcano was lowered from a warning to a watch level three weeks ago.

K?lauea volcano's latest eruption began May 3 with lava flowing continuously until August 6. The affected area in lower Puna comprises less than one percent of the island of Hawai'i, which measures 4,028 square miles and is larger than all of the other Hawaiian Islands combined. Other areas of the island of Hawai'i were unaffected by lava flows.

George D. Szigeti, president and CEO of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, stated, "After three months of continuous lava flows, we are cautiously hopeful this cessation in activity becomes permanent.

"We encourage travelers from around the world to come and enjoy the incredible diversity of landscapes and natural beauty to be explored on the island of Hawai'i. The island is safe to visit, the air quality is good and, by coming here, travelers will be supporting community economies and helping residents with their recovery."

Ross Birch, executive director for the Island of Hawai'i Visitors Bureau, said, "Travelers can plan trips to the island of Hawai'i with confidence. The air quality is clean and beautiful for all to enjoy.

"The island of Hawai'i is immense and there is so much for visitors to see, do and discover beyond the limited area where the lava flows occurred. Our tourism partners island-wide will ensure travelers have a marvelous experience on an island that has unmatched characteristics, attractions and geography."

Approximately 13.7 square miles of land in the lower Puna area have been covered by lava, with flows into the ocean having added an estimated 875 acres of new land to the island. More than 700 homes were destroyed and many businesses have suffered significant losses in revenue, primarily because many visitors have chosen to avoid the area.

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, the state's most popular visitor attraction, announced plans to reopen more parts of the park on September 22. Because of damage caused by the volcano activity, most of the park has been closed since early May, with only the Kahuku Unit remaining open to the public.

K?lauea has been an active volcano since 1983. Residents and visitors have been drawn to the wonder of seeing nature at work in the creation of new land via tours or visits to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

For the latest information on K?lauea volcano, please see the updates posted by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory / U.S. Geological Survey: https://on.doi.gov/2FEPVBm

For the latest update on air quality in the Hawaiian Islands, please reference the State of Hawai'i Interagency Vog Information Dashboard: http://www.ivhhn.org/vog/

For the latest tourism updates, please visit the Alert page of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority: https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/alerts/

Travelers planning a trip to the Hawaiian Islands who have questions can contact the Hawai'i Tourism United States Call Center at 1-800-GOHAWAII (1-800-464-2924).

About the Hawai'i Tourism Authority
The Hawai'i Tourism Authority is responsible for strategically managing the State of Hawai'i's marketing initiatives to support tourism. HTA's goal is to optimize tourism's benefits for Hawai'i, while being attentive to the interests of travelers, the community and visitor industry. Established in 1998 to support Hawai'i's leading industry and largest employer, HTA continually strives to help ensure the sustainability of tourism's success.

For more information about HTA, please visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org. Follow updates about HTA on Facebook, Twitter (@HawaiiHTA) and its YouTube Channel.

SOURCE Hawaii Tourism Authority