Officials are monitoring renewed volcanic activity at one of Hawaii's most popular tourist destinations as hundreds of earthquakes and rockfall risks prompt temporary trail closures.
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hundreds → monitor → closures
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) issued a volcanic activity notice earlier this week for the Kīlauea volcano at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, reporting renewed spattering at two vents following recent activity beneath the summit.
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Survey → issue → summit
The National Park Service (NPS) announced Wednesday that Halemaʻumaʻu Trail and part of Byron Ledge Trail would temporarily close amid increased seismic activity and concerns about rockfalls.
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Trail → announce → rockfalls
The closures affect a combined 1.3 miles of trails.
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closures → affect → trails
Over 200 shallow earthquakes were recorded beneath Kīlauea's summit during the past week, according to the NPS, citing the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
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earthquakes → record → Observatory
A magnitude-3.4 earthquake on Sept. 30 caused small rockfalls along the caldera's north wall.
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earthquake → cause → wall
Kīlauea remained at an ORANGE aviation color code, the second-highest level on the USGS' four-tier scale, as of Thursday.
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Kīlauea → remain → Thursday
The designation indicates heightened volcanic activity and the potential for an eruption, or an eruption underway with limited hazards to aviation.
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designation → indicate → aviation
The intrusion, which occurred from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1, is believed to have caused new cracks along the caldera floor, according to scientists.
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which → occur → scientists
Scientists said they cannot forecast when — or if — the volcano's 55th episode of lava fountaining will occur.
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episode → say → fountaining
"Forecast windows for episode 55 fountaining can no longer be modeled due to changes in conditions," the USGS advisory said.
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advisory → model → conditions
Officials also outlined several hazards for residents and visitors, including potentially dangerous gas emissions and small, glassy volcanic fragments that can cause skin and eye irritation.
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that → outline → irritation
"Small glassy volcanic fragments may be remobilized during windy conditions following recent eruptive episodes," the statement added.
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statement → remobilize → episodes
"Residents and visitors should minimize exposure to these fragments, which can cause skin and eye irritation.
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which → minimize → irritation
"
Visitors must also stay out of closed areas and away from unstable cliff edges, which can collapse without warning, according to the NPS.
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which → stay → NPS
Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, has erupted dozens of times since 1952, according to the USGS.
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Kīlauea → erupt → USGS
Eruptive activity was nearly continuous along the volcano's East Rift Zone from 1983 to 2018, a 35-year stretch that ended amid significant eruptive activity and a collapse at the summit, the agency said.
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agency → end → summit
The National Park Service has said the number of visits surged during Kīlauea's eruptive episodes, with tourists drawn to opportunities to view the volcanic activity.
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tourists → say → activity
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park recorded more than 1.8 million recreational visits in 2025, according to NPS data.
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Park → record → data
Fox News Digital reached out to NPS for further details and comment.
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Digital → reach → details
The Aporia
