Hawaii Officials Close Nature Reserve Due to Hot Lava

The Island of Hawaii is known for its two active volcanoes located within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Island of Hawaii (or what the locals term "The Big Island"). The Big Island is constantly growing as the volcanoes spew lava (melted rock) into the air and into the ocean, daily enlarging the island's acreage. It also makes a great tourist attraction as helicopters ferry visitors to Hawaii over giant plumes of molten lava, spraying its firey beauty high into the Hawaiian sky.

Kahaualea Natural Area Reserve Park, found 4,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean, is located at the edge of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. The mountain reserve covers more than 16,000 acres of Native Hawaiian forests made up of ohia trees and ferns, and is usually a beautiful, lush and green forest.

Not so anymore.

Due to recent volcanic activity attributed to the active volcanoes in the East Rift Zone of Kilauea, the State of Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has authorized and ordered a total shutdown of the entire Kahaualea Natural Area Reserve. The reserve is usually open to the public, such as residents of Hawaii as well as tourists to the state. It contains trails and roads that take you through the Native Hawaiian forest, as well as some reportedly nice hikes. However, this has all be roped off by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The public is warned not to enter the reserve until further notice.

The problems arise to recent volcano activity on the Island of Hawaii (the Big Island) that has created cracks in the ground. The danger posed by toxic fumes and wildfire caused by molten surface lava are also reasons that the Department of Land and Natural Resources has cited as factors in their decision to shutdown the Kahaualea Reserve.