HILO, Hawaii (AP) 鈥� The spectacle of spewing from Hawaii's Mauna Loa has drawn and is turning into a tourism boon for this Big Island town near the world鈥檚 largest volcano.
Some hotels in and around Hilo are becoming fully booked in what is normally a slower time of the year for business. Helicopter tours of Mauna Loa, which began erupting Sunday after being quiet for 38 years, are also in high demand by tourists and journalists.
鈥淩ight now, it's boomed,鈥� said Marian Somalinog, who staffs the front desk at the Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. 鈥淲e're sold out until after Christmas.鈥�
She attributed the increase to people wanting to watch the rivers of bright orange molten rock gush from Mauna Loa, a shield volcano whose name means 鈥淟ong Mountain鈥� in Hawaiian. can be seen in the distance from parts of the hotel.
This time of year is normally a slow season for Hawaii鈥檚 travel industry, falling between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
But this week thousands of cars have created traffic jams on Route 200, known as the Saddle Road, which connects the cities of Hilo on the east side of Hawaii Island and Kailua-Kona on the west side.
to that main artery but are currently still several miles (kilometers) away and not a danger to any communities. That means onlookers can take in the spectacle while exposing themselves to little danger. Tourists and locals are in the crowds, many snapping photos and taking selfies.
Somalinog hasn't bothered to join them, however.
鈥淭he traffic is crazy,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t's not worth it.鈥�
Brett Steen flew from Oahu to the island of Hawaii with his parents, who are visiting from Florida, on a trip booked months ago. The volcano began erupting right before their arrival on the Big Island.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a bonus part of our trip,鈥� Steen said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e super excited to get out here.鈥�
At Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane said many visitors know about Mauna Loa but aren鈥檛 aware that Kilauea, a smaller volcano, is also erupting 鈥� and that they can see both from multiple spots near the latter鈥檚 caldera.
鈥淭hat hasn鈥檛 happened since 1984. It鈥檚 a really special time to be here,鈥� Ferracane said.
The number of visitors to the park hasn鈥檛 increased since Mauna Loa鈥檚 eruption began late Sunday, but she expects it to rise late next week in line with normal seasonal patterns.
Saddle Road, which is outside the park, might not remain a prime viewing spot for long. The red-hot lava is creeping toward it.
Ken Hon, scientist in charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said the flow has 鈥渟lowed considerably鈥� and on Thursday was 3.3 miles (5.3 kilometers) south of the highway. At that rate, he said, it would be at least a week before it arrives.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 really know which way the lava flow will ultimately go,鈥� Hon said.
A blockage of the road would pose problems, especially for those who use it to commute from Hilo and other parts of the island's east side, where housing is generally more affordable, to jobs on the west side, home to many of the larger beach resorts.
Unless some sort of bypass is constructed, commuters would need to take coastal routes to and from Kailua-Kona, adding at least an hour drive time each way.
Steve Solberg, general manager of Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa in Kailua-Kona, said many guests have headed up Saddle Road to see the eruption. Some people cancelled reservations at the resort because of the volcano, but those were snapped up by others wanting to see the eruption.
鈥淪o it鈥檚 really kind of a wash at this point, but we expect it to be a very positive thing in the next week or so,鈥� Solberg said.
He said that if Saddle Road is closed, the dozen or so employees who live in Hilo will be provided rooms at the resort during their five-day workweek so they don't have to make the long commute every day.
Gov. David Ige has issued an emergency proclamation to allow responders to arrive quickly or limit access as needed. If lava does cross the highway, the Hawaii National Guard can help plan for alternatives and try to set up bypass routes, the governor said.
Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984. The is its 34th since written record keeping began in 1843. Its smaller neighbor, Kilauea, has been erupting since September 2021.
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McAvoy reported from Honolulu, and Selsky reported from Salem, Oregon.
Andrew Selsky, Audrey Mcavoy And Haven Daley, The Associated Press
