Coast Guard eases ocean entry restrictions for four licensed lava boat tour operators

The lava ocean entry once again can be seen up close from the sea after the Coast Guard granted four tour operators access within its temporary safety zone.

The lava ocean entry once again can be seen up close from the sea after the Coast Guard granted four tour operators access within its temporary safety zone.

The Coast Guard began allowing certain vessels to return Tuesday after establishing the 300-meter zone March 28.

Ikaika Marzo, co-owner of Kalapana Cultural Tours, said tour operators worked with the Coast Guard to create the new rules.

“People just stopped coming,” he said, after the zone was first established. “They didn’t want to take a tour. They didn’t think it was worth it.”

The Coast Guard said it will grant access in the closed area if a vessel meets certain conditions regarding safety and the operator’s familiarity with the surrounding waters.

Marzo said he now has to radio to the Coast Guard when he enters the area. He said that’s fair.

“Now we have a dialogue of what’s happening,” Marzo said.

Depending on lava activity, he said he will get as close as 50 yards from the ocean entry at Kamokuna inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Marzo said they were doing four to five tours a day but were down to zero.

“So we’ll be recovering next week,” he said.

There are four licensed lava boat tour operators: Lava Ocean Tours, Moku Nui Lava Tours, Kalapana Cultural Tours and Hawaiian Lava Boat Tours. A Coast Guard spokeswoman said Wednesday all four were granted access.

The ocean entry remained active as of Wednesday. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s website said it was continuing to create a new delta.

The Coast Guard is accepting comments on the safety zone until noon June 3 via www.regulations.gov.

A meeting about the issue is slated for 5 p.m. May 8 at the Aupuni Center conference room, 101 Pauahi St., Hilo.

Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.