A French tour guide who allegedly tried to take a tour group into the closed area of the erupting Kilauea volcano’s Halemaumau Crater failed to appear before a federal magistrate in Hilo on April 21.
A French tour guide who allegedly tried to take a tour group into the closed area of the erupting Kilauea volcano’s Halemaumau Crater failed to appear before a federal magistrate in Hilo on April 21.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane said a penal summons was issued to Cedric Vidal of Cabrieres, France.
Court records indicate the summons orders Vidal, who’s charged with violating a closure, operating a business within the park without a permit, disorderly conduct and creating a dangerous situation, to appear at 9:30 a.m. July 17 at the Hilo courthouse.
The misdemeanor charges carry a possible $5,000 fine and six-month jail sentence upon conviction.
The others in the group of 14 were cited for violation of closure, which carries a $100 penalty.
Vidal was affiliated with and compensated by the French tour company Aventure et Volcans.
The tour group’s website advertises a night hike to observe the lava at Halema‘uma‘u. Photos on the tour company’s website show visitors on the edge of Halema‘uma‘u Crater wearing respirators.
Aventure et Volcans doesn’t have a commercial use permit with the park, Ferracane said.
Halema‘uma‘u Crater has been closed since the most recent summit eruption began in 2008.