How close was the Mauna Loa eruption to Hilo?

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. The 1880-1881 eruption of Mauna Loa produced lava flows that came within 1.7 km (1.1 mi) of the Hilo Bay shoreline. This painting by Charles Furneaux, Night View 1880–1881, Eruption from Hilo Bay, illustrates the first two flows as they would have been in November 1880.



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Hilo is situated on lava flows from two of the five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawai`i. However, most of the surface flows one drives by (and upon) every day are flows from Mauna Loa.

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Most communities that are located near active volcanoes on the Big Island are not in Zones 1 or 2, but rather in the low risk or safe zones. For example, the town of Hilo is in Zone 3, a safe zone despite its proximity to a volcano.

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Is Hawaii Safe to Visit? If you're wondering “is Hawaii safe to visit” the answer is a resounding YES! While Kilauea's lava flow remains powerful after an initial eruption on May 3 and series of subsequent earthquakes, the island is not completely shut down – contrary to popular belief.

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HVNP is located 30 miles southwest of Hilo and 96 miles southeast of Kona. It's open year-round, 24 hours a day. HVNP is home to Kilauea Volcano, the most continuously active volcano in the world, and the park offers the unique experience of walking on land that is younger than you are.

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While the tourist areas are safe, you should avoid straying too far from them. Hilo has a 70 percent higher than average crime rate. You also should never see the area by bicycle due to the drunk drivers on the narrow streets and the frequent rainfall.

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Lava Zone 3 According to the USGS 1% to 5% of Zone 3 has been covered in the last 200 years. The towns of Hilo, Keeau, Waikoloa, and some South Kona areas are all in Zone 3.

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If the park determines that access to the flow is safe you can go on a hike to see the lava. Because viewing conditions change on a daily basis you should look up the most recent information about the active surface flows shortly before you plan to see the lava yourself.

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If the park determines that access to the flow is safe you can go on a hike to see the lava. Because viewing conditions change on a daily basis you should look up the most recent information about the active surface flows shortly before you plan to see the lava yourself.

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Zone 3 includes areas gradationally less hazardous than zone 2 because of greater distance from recently active vents or because the topography makes it less likely that flows will cover these areas.

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