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A new vent has opened on one of the world's most active volcanos, sending lava shooting 65ft into the air.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the fissure eruption on Kilauea was spotted after the floor of the Pu'u O'o crater collapsed.
It occurred along the middle of Kilauea's east rift zone, around two miles west of Pu'u O'o.
Volcanologist Janet Babb said: 'This is what we do. These are the moments we wait for.
'It is exciting to see an eruption begin particularly if you can see it from the very start.'
Kilauea has been in constant eruption since January 3, 1983.
Interest: Kilauea Volcano has been erupting continuously since 1983
Charred: The molten rock can be seen pouring into a fissure after the 1,605ft vent opened up
Study: Scientists fly in a helicopter above the new vent on Hawaii's Big Island
Activity: Lava flows can be seen on Kilauea Volcano. The eruption threw the red hot molten rock 65ft into the air
Lava: The floor of the Pu'u O'o crater, pictured, collapsed on Saturday triggering new eruptions along the east rift zone
At the summit, lava receded rapidly after the eruption at around 5pm local time on Saturday, but seemed to have slowed yesterday.
There were also around 150 small earthquakes recorded within Kilauea in the last 24 hours.
Scientists said areas near the vent could erupt or collapse without warning, posing a threat to visitors or hikers to the area.
Potentially lethal concentrations of sulphur dioxide gas could also be present within half a mile of vent areas.
Because of the latest activity, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has closed Chain of Craters Road and all east rift zone and coastal trails. Kulanaokuaiki campground has also been closed until further notice.
Ms Babb told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald that the fissure had expanded to around 1,605ft long and scientists were hiking into the remote area to observe it and take readings.
On Christmas Day, the president and first lady Michelle greeted diners at the base's Anderson Hall, as they did last year. Obama also has used the base for his press statements during this vacation.
First daughters Malia and Sasha are huge fans of Island Snow
President Obama helps eldest daughter Malia choose which flavour of shaved ice to go for
President 'Snowbama' tentatively licks his ice cone before going in for a huge bite
Barack Obama seems sure to maintain his status as the coolest President in US history - after enjoying a traditional ‘shave ice’ while on holiday in his native Hawaii.
As the temperature reached 25C (77F) on the main island of Oahu, Mr Obama popped into the Island Snow shop with daughters Malia and Sasha.
They and about a dozen friends and bodyguards enjoyed the local delicacy, a mixture of ice shavings and flavoured syrup served in a paper cone.
Mr Obama ordered a combination of lemon and lime, cherry and passion guava – dubbed the Snowbama by store staff.
But he chose not to add sweet azuki red beans or ice cream, as is the custom.
Wearing sunglasses and dressed casually in a white T-shirt, khaki shorts and sandals, he told onlookers: ‘I like my shave ice straight, no frills.’
About 100 people flocked to the shopping centre car park to catch a glimpse of the President and his family – minus First Lady Michelle – on their New Year’s Day visit.
The store also announced on the website Facebook that Mr Obama’s daughters had paid a visit earlier in their holiday.
The Obamas have stayed largely out of public view during their break.
However, last week 11-year-old Malia was pictured learning to surf as proud Michelle looked on.
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President Obama has stayed even closer than usual to Marine Corps Base Hawaii on his latest O'ahu vacation.
And the reasons are probably as much security-conscious as symbolic for a wartime commander in chief from the Democratic Party.
"The military tends to be more right wing, conservative leaning, and there's a bias when you have a Democratic, liberal president," said Michael Naho'opi'i, who graduated from the Naval Academy in 1986, retired as a lieutenant commander and is now executive director of the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission. "A lot of it has to do with security. But it does show that he supports the troops."
As on last year's Hawai'i Christmas vacation as president-elect, Obama has begun his days with early-morning workouts at Marine Corps Base Hawaii's Semper Fit gym, which sits next to his beachfront rental home in Kailua.
But on this trip, Obama has returned to the nearly 1,000-acre base several times after working out: to take family and friends for private beach time Dec. 27 at Pyramid Rock out of the eye of reporters and photographers; to play a private basketball game in the gym, also on Dec. 27; to make two widely publicized statements about the Christmas Day attempted terrorist attack on a commercial airliner; and, joined by the first lady, to shake hands with Marines, soldiers and sailors on Christmas Day, for the second year in a row.
As the president's Hawai'i vacation neared its conclusion, he returned to the base again yesterday, with family and friends, to enjoy the beach after a morning visit to Sea Life Park in Waimanalo.
Last year, during an August vacation break from the presidential campaign trail, Obama stepped out from the same rental home he's staying in now to deliver a sidewalk statement on Russia's incursion into neighboring Georgia.
Various media reports at the time referred to the "palm tree-lined driveway" that served as a backdrop for Obama's statement.
This time, Obama's entourage erected an ad hoc briefing room, along with a decidedly more presidential-looking podium, inside the Mauka Ballroom of the Marines' Klipper Golf Course.
"He is the commander in chief and he takes that seriously," said Dan Boylan, a Hawai'i political commentator and University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu professor. "But the security guys clearly want to keep him close to base." Commander in chief
Even for military members who preferred Republican Sen. John McCain for president, Obama is still their commander in chief, said Jim Hickerson, 75, a Vietnam POW and retired Navy captain who lives near the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.
During his Navy career, Hickerson met and admired President Reagan in California and said, "I am not a very big Obama fan."
"But it's great to have a president here, there's no doubt about it," Hickerson said. "The president's the president. I have the utmost respect for the office. He's our commander in chief. Having him come by (Marine Corps Base Hawaii) is an honor, whether you respect him or not."
The base is well suited to accommodate the president and his family.
Anderson Hall — where Obama and the first lady thanked military members for their service and wished them Merry Christmas — is outfitted with new 52-inch and 42-inch flat-screen televisions and has been named the best chow hall in the entire Marine Corps three years running.
"We feel our amenities exceed what you would typically find at other bases, without calling them extravagant," said Col. Robert D. Rice, commanding officer of Marine Corps Base Hawaii. "We're particularly proud of our Klipper Golf Course and its newly refurbished club. Our Semper Fit gym, where the commander in chief has worked out each morning of his stay thus far, has approximately 20 percent of its strength-training equipment replaced or upgraded each year. Our basketball court in the gym just had its floor resurfaced in September, as it has almost every year in the last several years. Our cardio training equipment is as modern as you'd find in most gyms out in town." 'superb relationship'
Marines have been assigned to the Windward side's Mokapu Peninsula since Dec. 7, 1941, when Japanese fighters strafed Naval Air Station Kane'ohe Bay eight minutes before the main attack on Pearl Harbor.
On Jan. 15, 1952, Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay was officially commissioned. Today, Marine Corps Base Hawaii is home to more than 7,500 Marines and more than 7,000 family members, with hundreds more sailors, Marines and civilians pouring in each day.
Rice, the base's commanding officer, said the Marines "enjoy a superb relationship with the White House staff and Secret Service, and eagerly look forward to supporting future presidential visits to Hawai'i."
The Marines' accommodations are good to go for the leader of the free world, said base spokesman Maj. Alan Crouch. But there is one spot on base that even the Marines can't improve on, Crouch said.
Where the first family enjoyed a beach picnic at Pyramid Rock, Crouch said, "there's no improving on perfection."
Anything my big sister can do: Malia's younger sister Sasha also manages to stand up on her board - although it looks as though she may have gotten a bit of sneaky help
Look at me, Mom! Michelle Obama, left, applauds her daughter Malia at the family's rented holiday home
Yes I can! Malia Obama manages to get to her feet as she holidays with her family in Hawaii
Fore! Barack Obama gets into the swing of it while playing golf yesterday
Down time: Mr Obama (right) and his daughters Malia (light) and Sasha (centre) leave a shopping mall after watching the film Avatar yesterday
His troubles may have been mounting as he enters a new year in the White House, but President Obama had rather more down-to-earth concerns as he enjoyed a family holiday in Hawaii.
While his domestic and foreign policies have come under fire over the festive period, the President focused his attention on getting to grips with a more mundane issue - his golf swing.
The president hit the links at Mid-Pacific Country Club - just hours after starting his day with a workout at the gym on the Marine Corps base in Kaneohe Bay. With their dad relaxing on the golf course, the rest of the Obamas took to the waves as his daughter Malia learned to surf.
After a few wobbly attempts, the 11-year-old managed to stand upright on her board to the delight of her mother Michelle, who was watching with a group of young friends. The family were pictured on the beach in front of the house they are renting in a suburb of Honolulu.
But it wasn't all sports for the Obamas - the family did find time to relax at the cinema also, with a private showing of James Cameron's Avatar. The Obamas visited a cinema near their rented house yesterday morning for a screening of the 3-D hit, before the day's regular screenings began.
Mr Obama, a self-described film buff, left his compound with Sasha, Malia and wife Michelle before noon on New Year's Eve.
The family have been in Hawaii since Christmas. They are set to return to Washington in the new year.
Close: Barack and Michelle held hands as they walked across the tarmac at Hickam Air Force Base and the First Family children.
Chilly: Obama dashes out of the Oval office in Washington ahead of his flight to the sunnier climes of the state he was born in
Standing to attention: The crew of Air Force One preparing to fly the first family to Hawaii yesterday
Merry Christmas: The President greets a young Marine who was having Christmas dinner at Anderson Hall on Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kailua.
The President and Michelle Obama chat to Marines and their families on Christmas Day
Christmas cheer: The President and the First Lady share a joke with a couple of Marines
Hula in Hawaii: Malia Obama shows off her hula-hooping skills as she and her family spend the Christmas holiday in Hawaii
Take That! Sasha Obama chases a friend round the family's private holiday home with her space hopper
Warm welcome: Crowds gathered to wish the Obamas a happy Christmas
Sasha and Malia also wore flower garlands
The President and his wife Michelle both wore traditional flower garlands upon their arrival
Aloha! The President, first lady and daughters Sasha and Malia touch down in Hawaii on Christmas Eve
President Barack Obama's daughters made the most of the sunny Hawaiian weather yesterday as they enjoyed Christmas morning on the tropical island.
Malia Ann, 11 and eight-year-old Sasha, looked like they were having the time of their lives as they hula-hooped outside their holiday home and chased friends with a space hopper.
Mr Obama, the First Lady and their two girls left the wintry scenes outside the White House in Washington D.C on Christmas Eve for the island of Oahu for a week-long holiday. Hawaii is where the President was born and raised and with no public schedule to attend to, the family have been celebrating the festive season in private at a rented compound in Kailua.
After spending Christmas morning together, Mr Obama and his wife Michelle went to visit military families at the Marine Corps Base. They were greeted warmly by serving officers and their families who were having Christmas dinner on the base.
They spent time laughing and chatting with the Marines before heading back to their holiday home to continue Christmas Day in private with their daughters.
The Obamas are also planning to see in 2010 in Hawaii. When they arrived on the island on Thursday, a crowd of about 75 military servicemen and women and Hawaii politicians including Governor Linda Lingle greeted Air Force One when it landed at Hickam Air Force Base.
Obama took several minutes to greet military personnel and their families before getting in a black sport utility for the ride to his vacation home.
People carrying cameras, dogs and children lined the streets along the road as his motorcade made its way to Kailua from the air base. Some flashed the shaka or 'hang loose' sign at the first Hawaii-born president. Others held placards wishing the Obama family a Merry Christmas.
A group of Hawaiian sovereignty activists standing near Pinky's restaurant in Kailua spelled out 'End US Occupation of Hawaii.' Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann predicted the media attention the visit is receiving will boost the state's tourism industry.
'I think it's going to create all kinds of demand,' Hannemann told KHON from Hickam, where he was among those greeting the president.
'People are going to want to come here when they see the president sunning and funning in Hawaii.'
Obama left the White House earlier on Christmas Eve after the US Senate passed health care legislation.
Obama leaves behind a Washington bitterly divided over his top domestic priority. The first family's departure was delayed until senators took action.
Obama spent part of last December in Hawaii, where his mother and grandmother raised him. The family has made an annual tradition of coming back to the islands.
Obama was born at Kapiolani Medical Center in Honolulu and attended Punahou School from fifth grade until he graduated from high school.
He's staying at the same rented oceanfront vacation home as last year on a quiet block of Windward Oahu.
The Secret Service has set up multiple security checkpoints in the neighborhood, while the Coast Guard has set up a no-entry zone in part of Kailua Bay fronting the home.
