Mauna Loa erupting

[MyManao]

We talked to a wonderful old couple who had also seen the 1984 flow and they said there was no comparison.  This one was small kine.  Hilo is pretty safe for awhile.

That's my impression too. This is much less vigorous than the one in '84. Does that mean anything? I have no idea, but have wondered..

Does a higher elevation vent, the current vents are between 10 and 11,000 feet whereas the '84 vent was at 9,000 feet, mean there is less pressure behind the eruption, and less volume available to erupt? And as such does that mean a shorter event?

The only other initial impression is during the first hours of the '84 event, I was on the Saddle Road by 4am that first morning back then, was far more voluminous, and the fissures far longer, than this event.

And then, why has this eruption not migrated further? Because of the time between eruptions we might assume there's a phenomenal amount of magma built up in the volcano, exerting far more pressure, but is there? 

There's the whole question of whether Mauna Loa and Kilauea, who ultimately share the same source, work independently, or not? And, if they do have a sympathetic relationship, is the last few years of increases at Mauna Loa because of the pause at Kilauea, and the reason Mauna Loa remained inactive is because of Kilauea's activity, and as such the years didn't see as much magma get to Mauna Loa, until Kilauea stopped? If so then maybe the years don't directly correlate to the amount of magma accumulated..?

All's to say, there's no way of knowing (except in hindsight), but comparisons are fun.. and can be telling.. if we only knew enough to interpret them..