The History of Hawai‘i From Our Files: Volcano Eruptions Rock the World

HONOLULU Magazine emerged from Paradise of the Pacific, a publication commissioned by King Kalākaua that began in 1888, making it the oldest continuously published magazine west of the Mississippi. For this issue, we flipped back 55 years to see what the city was buzzing about in November 1968.

Photo: HONOLULU Magazine

In 1968, more than 50 volcanoes were erupting around the world, from Izu-Oshima in Japan to Fernandina in Ecuador and Kīlauea on the southeast side of Hawai‘i Island. Kīlauea volcano’s Halema‘uma‘u fire pit was in steady eruption for 251 days, the longest since 1924. HONOLULU spoke with Nick Lycurgus, a park manager at the time, who was delighted that business was booming at the usually peaceful Volcano House. He carried on a custom that his father started: Every now and then, he would pour a fifth of gin into the fire pit, as a way “to keep Pele from kicking up her heels.”

Just like locals and visitors today, back then people flocked to Hawai‘i Island to catch a glimpse of her work. Now, there are more ways you can see lava: Hiking trails at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park offer great views, or you can try a lava boat tour, or even livestream volcano activity at home (usgs.gov).

SEE ALSO: The History of Hawai‘i From Our Files: The Birth of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

Photo: HONOLULU Magazine

Back in 1968, Kīlauea’s lava broke out along the cracks that led to the ocean. Since then, Kīlauea, which means “spewing” or “much spreading,” has erupted 21 more times, the latest from Sept. 10 to 16, 2023.

The longest nearly continuous eruption at Kīlauea in modern times, the Pu‘u‘ō‘ō eruption, lasted 35 years, from January 1983 to 2018, making it one of Earth’s longest-running volcanic eruptions ever.

The most devastating Kīlauea eruption was during the final year of the Pu‘u‘ō‘ō event in 2018. That year, a massive summit collapse coincided with the largest eruption in centuries; more than 700 homes in the Puna District were destroyed and 3,000 residents were displaced.

Now, five years later, the road to recovery is an ongoing challenge. Hawai‘i County was awarded $82 million by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to repair public roads destroyed by the eruption and is awaiting an environmental assessment to begin work. A draft of the assessment was released in August.

FAST FACT: The Wahiawā Lions Club Annual Veterans Day Parade started in 1949. Today, it’s the longest-running Veterans Day parade in the state.

Photo: HONOLULU Magazine

Cover Girl

Liz Logue is wearing a costume designed specially for the HONOLULU Holiday Annual by Joan Anderson, the founder of Princess Ka‘iulani Fashions. The photo was shot by Alma McGoldrick, a leading fashion photographer in Hawai‘i at the time who lives on O‘ahu.

Learn more about the evolution of covers in HONOLULU Magazine and Paradise of the Pacific: 125 Years of Covers, available at shop.honolulumagazine.com.