Sorry Tiger, you heard it wrong. The ocean is very rough and choppy in that area, not to mention the ocean temperature! :) No charters going in there at all. There is no change in the hiking either.

Thanks for debunking the rumor!

TT is correct the hike is now longer to the closed area as the park moved the end of the road back so it is now a 4 mile hike to the view area one way. I think they did this to cut down on the number of visitors who thought they could do it. the actual lava area is closed to entry you can get to within about 1/4 mile ( after your 4 mile hike ( 8 rt... and not on a trail but cross country that will feel like 15)

Strange, a day ago I talked to a guy who was trying to promote his fibreglass outboard to take folks to the lava.... My take was the concept is pretty " Half Baked" but in truth I think his trips could very easily become " fully baked"

Put together an extremly rough ocean gale winds.... toxic gas, near boiling sea temps exploding lava fragments and you have a disaster in the making..... there is a reason no thinking person has proposed this trip

Wait, when did they move the road back again? When we were there earlier this year they had the rangers station and portable rest areas set up about a half mile from the 2003 flows that covered the road. So you hiked about a half mile on the road, and then started on the lava. The first beacon is probably about a half mile or more out. Then there are the other three, but I could swear it was only 3 miles to the existing flows that still are active on that large bench.

In fact, last I'd heard, they'd actually allowed folks to get even closer to the bench by moving the white cones closer to the bench. Originally they'd blocked off the entire area a few thousand feet back.

This image is from last month... you can see the white barrier's pretty clearly from the air.

…usgs.gov/kilauea/…DSCN0026_L.jpg

Just curious if they've recently made any additional changes. I hadn't heard of any and I've staid in contact with someone at the park pretty regularly.

They had just made some changes in July when we were there but air inversions had gases flowing down over guard house so some rangers were wearing cloth masks and coughing so maybe moved again. Hikers Bring flashlights for all, extra bottles of water, good shoes and be aware you are going over terrain where a hole may pop up in front of you. paths are marked by small light reflectors. If you are squimish about cockroaches or mice then wear long pants and socks. We saw older people faint from exertion, gases or what ever. Young kids sprain ankles etc all from not being prepared. Those rangers down there sure have their work cut out for them and they still remain super nice.

For viewing lava flow from a boat check out

www.lavaocean.com

Apparently, it is a new company, according to DCCA it was registered to do business on October 16, 2006. I seriously wonder if they have any kind of insurance so if you decide to risk your life with Lava Ocean Adventures make sure you do have insurance.

That looks like a pretty small boat in pretty rough seas getting pretty close to really hot lava!! Don't think he'll be in business long......

You have to love Photoshop.

I'm convicend--NOT a good idea. Thanks to all who replied!