Hawaii town wounded by eruption suffering again under virus
HILO, Hawaii (AP) - A Hawaii mountain town that suffered serious economic damage from a volcanic eruption has been wounded by another natural disaster as the coronavirus hits its livelihood. The small community of Volcano on the Big Island was shut down for months following the May 2018 eruption of Kilauea, The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Thursday. Many businesses closed or were disrupted for months as the eruption continued and daily earthquakes rocked the area. Two years later, following a slow recovery, Volcano is feeling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is a whole new ball game,” said Janet Coney, Kilauea Lodge and Restaurant manager. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is a major driver of the community’s economy, was closed for four months during the eruption. The park closed again March 22 following the pandemic outbreak. Coney worries the economic recovery from the virus could be slower. “After the eruption ended, the park opened back up, and people came back qui...