Hawaii
Toddler wanders within feet of 400ft cliff near rim of Kīlauea volcano
Hawaii national park rangers have reissued warnings about volcano tourism after a small child wandered off and came within feet of a 400ft cliff near the rim of Kīlauea volcano, whose latest eruption had begun on 23 December.
“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 in a statement.
“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,” Loh added.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) Hawaiian volcano observatory reported that the eruption had entered its second pause and, as it could restart at any time, toxic gas emissions were still high. Glassy volcanic particulates, called tephra, blanketed the closed portion of Crater Rim Drive downwind of the lava fountains that were active over the last few days.
In an advisory, the park service warned that visitors may encounter unstable ground, sharp volcanic rocks and hidden lava tubes that pose risks of injury. It added that volcanos can produce hazardous gases like sulfur dioxide, and that weather conditions can change rapidly.
The child had wandered off from his family “in a split second”, park officials said, as the family stood at the top of a 400ft cliff, admiring the lava glow within Kaluapele – the Kīlauea caldera – at sunset on 23 December. The ongoing eruptions of Kīlauea, now the fifth since 2020, have sent lava fountains as high as 262ft with molten material.
The toddler ran toward the edge of the cliff before his mother snatched him up just feet away from what likely would have been a fatal fall.
Officials at active volcanos often struggle to balance the spectacle of an eruption with safety. They say it pays to know whether the earth’s expulsion is effusive and explosive.
Effusive eruptions involve a relatively gentle flow of lava, often erupting from a fissure with the lava slowly creating a broad, cone-shaped mountain of hardened lava. Under those conditions, the main risks include lava flows and harmful, invisible gases.
Explosive eruptions carry the risks of ash fall, the potential for landslides and rockfalls, as well as pyroclastic flows – fast-moving and lethal clouds of hot gas and volcanic matter that cause severe burns, fatalities and destruction of anything in their path – volcanic blasts and volcanic mudflows.
Travel insurer World Nomads advises researching your volcano destination, familiarizing yourself with the evacuation routes and procedure, and visiting with a licensed guide.
Gov. Josh Green today issued a statement regarding a federal lawsuit challenging the eligibility requirements within the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act was established to address the historic dispossession of Native Hawaiians and reflects a longstanding commitment to them by both the federal government and the state of Hawaiʻi,” said Green.
“This lawsuit threatens that commitment. I have directed the Department of the Attorney General to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program. We will fight this lawsuit with everything we have,” he said.
The lawsuit was filed by Eric Ryan, an Oʻahu resident who is not Native Hawaiian and tried to apply for a lease, but was denied due to the 50% Native Hawaiian blood quantum requirement, according to Hawaiʻi News Now and court documents published at Courthouse News Service.
The Class Action Complaint argues that the “explicitly ancestry-based requirement” establishes a “permanent government mandate for state officials to engage in outright racial discrimination, perpetuates stereotypes, and limits housing opportunities for most Hawai‘i residents. The blood-quantum requirement thus violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the complaint alleges.
Green said the administration “stands firmly with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the thousands of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries who rely on this program and its promise for future generations.”
Attorney General Anne Lopez also issued a statement saying the state of Hawaiʻi has both a legal and moral obligation to uphold the commitments embodied in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“This lawsuit seeks to dismantle a program that has provided opportunities, stability and hope to generations of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries,” said Lopez.
Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes, who has extensive experience handling complex constitutional litigation on behalf of the state, will lead the legal team in defending the state against the challenge.
“We are prepared to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program and the promises it represents,” said Lopez.
Under the Green administration, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has accelerated the delivery of homestead opportunities and expanded pathways to homeownership for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.
In 2025 alone, DHHL offered more than 2,500 lease awards and continues to advance major housing projects, including Hale Mōʻiliʻili on Oʻahu, which will provide 278 affordable rental units for beneficiaries.
“These efforts reflect the administration’s commitment to reducing wait times, strengthening Native Hawaiian communities and fulfilling the promise of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act,” according to the governor’s announcement.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Concrete fell from the exterior of an Ala Moana Center parking structure Monday afternoon near the Kapiolani Boulevard exit, damaging a vehicle.
No injuries were reported.
Security blocked an exit lane as debris scattered across the roadway. Ala Moana Center said they are grateful no one was hurt, and the lane will remain closed while structural engineers and construction professionals assess the damage and make repairs.
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