PAHALA (HawaiiNewsNow) – A 4.3 magnitude earthquake rattled residents in the Pahala area late Sunday night.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, it happened around 11 p.m. on the southeastern flank of Mauna Loa.

Officials said there are no tsunami threats to the state.

However, residents who live near the area may feel aftershocks.

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The National Park Service has warned people to be more careful when visiting the erupting Kīlauea volcano after a recent close call involving a family visiting the park.

According to a news release from NPS, the scary scene occurred Christmas night in a closed-off area beyond the safety barriers, which are set in place to help visitors avoid hazardous areas. 

While at the Kīlauea overlook, which provides the most dramatic views of the Kaluapele and Halemaʻumaʻu crater, a toddler wandered off from his family, according to the NPS.

The child ran straight toward the edge of a 400-foot cliff. The mother was able to snatch the toddler to safety before the child fell over the edge.

“The hazards that coincide with an eruption are dangerous, and we have safety measures in place including closed areas, barriers, closure signs, and traffic management,” said Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh. “Your safety is our utmost concern, but we rely on everyone to recreate responsibility. National parks showcase nature’s splendor but they are not playgrounds.”

The Hawaii Island park attracts an uptick in visitors during an eruption, according to the NPS.

In addition to the dangers of cliff edges and hazardous terrain, the increase in visitors to the area can escalate hazards. 

According to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the eruption began on Dec. 23.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Following the passing of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on Sunday, many of Hawaii’s leaders shared their condolences and remembered the great impact he had not only on Capitol Hill but also around the world.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz highlighted Carter’s many years of service.

”As president, he worked to protect the environment, expand clean energy, champion human rights, and advance Middle East peace,” Schatz said in a statement.

“After leaving office, he spent decades helping the less fortunate, in America and around the world. His legacy of service, kindness, and generosity will live on. My deepest condolences go out to the entire Carter family.”

Remembering Jimmy Carter

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi also honored his legacy, emphasizing his kindness and continuous strides toward justice.

“Today, we mourn the loss of a remarkable leader, President Jimmy Carter, whose life was a testament to compassion, service and humility,” Blangiardi said in a statement.

“President Carter’s lifelong dedication to peace, justice, and helping those in need resonated long after his time in the White House. His commitment to initiatives like Habitat for Humanity and his relentless efforts to eradicate disease and poverty were reflections of a heart driven by empathy and purpose…His legacy will continue to guide us in our pursuit of a kinder, more just world.”

Carter served as the 39th president of the United States, holding office from 1977 to 1981.

Throughout his long career as a public servant, Carter actually lived in Hawaii during the later 1940′s while serving in the U.S. Navy.

He and his wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, also visited Iolani Palace on Feb. 2, 1984.

Carter lived a long life, becoming the first former U.S. president to turn 100 years old this year.

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