‘It was a circus’: Volcano crowds gather with limited oversight due to government shutdown

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The historic Volcano House Hotel reminded visitors Thursday that it remains open during the government shutdown, as Volcanoes National Park continues operating with many furloughed workers.

Record-breaking lava fountains that surged last Friday drew tens of thousands of visitors to witness the spectacular eruption. The double fountains reached nearly 1,500 feet, creating what many described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Honolulu resident Rob Young, a former KGMB reporter, was vacationing on Hawaii Island with his wife and friends when the eruption began. They drove to see the fountains and found the main gates open but unmanned.

“You could start to see an orange glow in the sky in the distance,” Young said.

Young described the scene with no fee collect