Hawaii — Science & Environment

Mauna Loa volcano in Hawai‘i erupts for the first time in 38 years

On Nov. 27, 2022, residents of the Hawaiian Islands were alerted of an impending volcano eruption. Approximately an hour later, lava began to flow from Mauna Loa for the first time in 38 years, The New York Times reported. “Mauna Loa,” which is Hawaiian for “Long Mountain,” is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, according to a report from the U.S. Geological Survey. The volcano stretches over half of the Island of Hawai‘i and measures around 10.6 miles tall, the report said. According to the report, Mauna Loa’s first “well-documented historical eruption” was in 1843, and it has since erupted 33 times, most recently in 1984.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the power dynamics that exist between countries with large tourism economies and the rest of the world. On Aug. 23, the governor of Hawai’i asked travelers to abstain from vacationing on the islands through the end of October in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. These concerns about the impacts of tourism extend also into an ethical debate about the negative effects that large influxes of tourists can have on local communities. As more attention is given to the roles and responsibilities tourists hold in protecting the health of vacation hot spot communities, there is also an opportunity to reflect on the environmental consequences of tourism.