Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is temporarily closing Halemaʻumaʻu Trail and part of Byron Ledge Trail by 5 p.m. today due to uncertainty at Kilauea summit and potential rockfalls.

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With continued inflation and increased seismicity, park officials said changes could occur quickly at the summit.

Over the past week, there have been more than 200 shallow earthquakes below the summit, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Six more occurred within the past 24 hours.

On Sept. 30, a magnitude 3.4 earthquake just before 10 p.m. caused small rockfalls along the north wall of the caldera.

“The increased seismicity could trigger additional rock falls and presents a serious safety risk,” said HVNP in a news release. “Both trails descend from the caldera rim to the floor and have been the site of dangerous rock falls in the past.”

HVO also reported additional cracks on the caldera floor between Uekahuna and Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff), likely due to a short-lived magma intrusion to the area between Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

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Scientists believe lava fountains could soon resume within Halemaʻumaʻu crater from the north-south-west vent complex.

The volcano alert level is at watch, and the aviation color code is at orange.

HVNP said the 54th episode occurred on Aug. 25, and the 43 days since then represent the longest pause since the eruptive cycle began on Dec. 23, 2024.

Viewing areas on the Keanakakoʻi side of the caldera were closed for safety last week because the closest parking is about a mile from the overlooks, and would make the area difficult to evacuate quickly.

Park officials remind visitors that they are required to stay out of closed areas and away from cliff edges, which can collapse without warning.

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