**This information is updated as needed. As of 12/16/2022 the eruption has paused.
As many of you have heard by now, the Mauna Loa volcano is currently erupting. The current eruption is currently flowing very far from larger populated areas. Mauna Loa has erupted over 30 times in years past with the last time being in 1984. While every eruption is different, the experts expect it to stay within its current course, which is not towards the Waikoloa Beach and Mauna Lani resorts. Given that the volcano flow should not impact your vacation destination.
The Current State of Waikoloa Beach Resort and Mauna Lani
Typically when the volcanos are active it impacts the southern parts of the island. The Waikoloa Beach and Mauna Lani Resorts are located more on the northern part of the island. Due to this, there are no alerts or warning for the resort areas. We have seen significant lava flows back as recent as 2018. The largest impacts in the resorts then was in air quality. If you are familiar with the island, Saddle Road has almost become a mainland freeway with both locals and vacationers traveling to see the lava flow. You can easily see it if you travel roughly halfway to Hilo on Saddle Rd. This location is very far from the resort areas so there would need to be a significant change for it to even be a consideration that it could go to the resorts.
Air Quality
As long as most vacation rentals have been around on Hawaii there has been an active volcano. The largest concern typically is the air quality. You can view the current air quality here. PM2.5 and SO2 are the two you will want to look at. These typically do have levels on the Big Island just due to the ongoing volcanic activity. You just would want to watch to see if it gets to a level that is unhealthy for you.
Helicopter Tours
In years past when the other volcano was really active helicopter tours sold out quickly. They have been sold out since the volcano erupted. With past eruptions, if you want to see the volcanic activity, a helicopter tour was the only way to do so. While it is still the best way to see the flow, you cant travel on Saddle Rd at night at get a great view. The lava will pass over Saddle Rd. in the not to distant future so that may no longer be an option once that happens. This is roughly what you would see as of today if you took the drive on Saddle Rd. at night. Obviously this will change as the activity continues.
Volcanic Activity and Earthquakes
With almost all volcanic activity there are earthquakes. We have earthquakes of smaller magnitudes on the Big Island hourly. Most of these are located on the southern part of the island. Occasionally there are some closer to the northern part of the island, but have only posed a threat to the resorts once in the past 25 years.
What Happens If It Gets Worse?
Weather it be COVID19 or the prior larger volcanic activities in years past, we have always tried to work with people to make sure they can enjoy their vacation and if that does not seem possible to work with them on booking for a future date, refund, etc. In the event that it looks like we will move to a warning or emergency state or the air quality begins to get unhealthy we will address reservations at that point. As this point, the authorities are not concerned about the resort areas on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Travel Insurance
If you purchased travel insurance through us you are covered in the even that the volcano becomes a natural disaster. If you want to see more information on that, you can view page three of our travel insurance information.
Travel insurance does not cover preventative personal measures you may desire to take. For example if you have asthma and decide that you do not want to travel due to air quality risks it will not be covered. It will be covered in the event the air quality becomes so bad that the island is evacuated.
If you have any questions, please call us at 808-987-4519.
