Hawaii may be renowned for its white sand shores, but the island's coast is also home to some eye-catching black sand beaches. These beaches come about after a volcanic eruption, when the lava flow reaches the ocean and explodes before cooling, causing black shingles that become the shore. Following Kilauea Volcano's eruption last year, now Hawaii has a brand new black sand beach located in Isaac Kepoʻokalani Hale Beach Park. It's only recently opened to visitors; the region was closed for months after the eruption, which caused devastation and forced thousands to evacuate their homes. Less than a year later, the island is already bouncing back, with many new resorts opening as it gets its tourism industry back on track. Isaac Kepoʻokalani Hale Beach Park, also known as Pohoiki Beach Park, re-opened with a blessing ceremony back in December. Although visitors are allowed to visit the beach, they are being advised not to swim in the waters due to the high currents, … [Read more...] about Hawaii’s new black sand beach caused by lava flow opens to tourists
Lava flow big island
Lava from the Kilauea volcano has added nearly 700 acres to Hawaii’s Big Island
The National Guard in Hawaii is warning of new, immediate dangers to people living near the Kilauea volcano some two-and-a-half months after the eruption started. At the same time lava flow is changing the outline of the island itself and creating hundreds of acres of new land where the ocean used to be. The island has grown by nearly 700 acres, the equivalent of more than 500 football fields, reports CBS News' Carter Evans. "In the mandatory evacuation area there's an ever-present, immediate danger. Sulphur dioxide levels, wind shift. The immediate threat from the lava," said Capt. Darren Taylor of the Hawaii National Guard. "Suddenly bedlam": Passenger describes "lava bomb" crashing through Hawaii boat roof The continuous lava flow has now covered about 12.5 square miles of Hawaii's Big Island, or about half the size of Manhattan, and has destroyed more than 700 homes. It continues to threaten more structures. Lava filled Kapoho Bay and … [Read more...] about Lava from the Kilauea volcano has added nearly 700 acres to Hawaii’s Big Island
Lava flies through roof of Hawaii tour boat, injuring 13
HONOLULU (AP) - An explosion sent lava flying through the roof of a tour boat off Hawaii's Big Island, injuring at least 13 people Monday, officials said. A 20-year-old woman suffered major leg trauma, and other passengers had burns and scrapes, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said. The people were aboard a tour boat that takes visitors to see lava plunging into the ocean from a volcano that has been erupting for two months. Several companies operate such tours. FILE - In this May 20, 2018 file photo, people watch a plume of steam as lava enters the ocean near Pahoa, Hawaii. Officials say an explosion sent lava flying through the roof of a tour boat off the Big Island, Monday, July 16, 2018, injuring at least 13 people. The people were aboard a tour boat that takes visitors to see lava from an erupting volcano plunge into the ocean. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) Officials have warned of the danger of getting close to lava entering the ocean, saying the interaction … [Read more...] about Lava flies through roof of Hawaii tour boat, injuring 13
At least 23 injured as ‘lava bomb’ hits tour boat near Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano
Doyle Rice USA TODAY Published 8:50 p.m. UTC Jul 16, 2018 One person was seriously injured and 22 others hurt after a "lava bomb" hit a tour boat near the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island, according to emergency officials. Molten rock running into the ocean exploded and threw chunks of lava onto the Lava Ocean Tours boat, smashing a basketball-size hole through the boat's roof and raining smaller rocks onto the decking. "Of the injured, four were taken by ambulance, one seriously injured with a fractured femur," Hawaii County officials said in a statement. "Most of the injured passengers had superficial injuries and were treated on arrival at Wailoa Harbor in Hilo." Big Island resident Ikaika Marzo told Hawaii News Now there was a “huge explosion at the ocean entry." Hot lava can explode when it flows into the cold seawater. "Eyewitnesses report that it ripped through the tour boat roof and landed on several people – injuring both … [Read more...] about At least 23 injured as ‘lava bomb’ hits tour boat near Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano
Hawaii gets new island as erupting volcanic crater continues to spew lava into sea
Lava flows that have been cascading into the sea have formed a brand new, small island off the coast of Hawaii after a crater at Mount Kilauea exploded with the force of a 5.2-magnitude earthquake. Friday’s crater explosion sparked a slow-moving flood of lava that destroyed hundreds of homes at Kapoho, on the Big Island. A once-scenic bay dotted with idyllic beach homes, parkland, and turquoise water used for swimming and scuba diving was quickly turned into a menacing, steaming dark pool. When the lava cooled, the sea peeled back to reveal a small island jutting out from the depths only a few meters from the mainland. According to Hawaii News Now, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory estimated that the island is about 20 to 30 feet in diameter. The new island formed at the northernmost part of the ocean entry and is “oozing lava similar to the lava oozing from the broad flow front along the coastline.” On Friday at 4.53pm local time, a 2.59-magnitude earthquake was … [Read more...] about Hawaii gets new island as erupting volcanic crater continues to spew lava into sea