The lava lake at Halemaumau Crater remained close to its rim and overflowed several times Friday into Saturday morning, scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported.

Scientists said inflation at the summit continued Saturday. The lava lake level generally rises as the summit inflates and falls during periods of deflation.

The rise in lava levels that started last week is the first time a lake of lava has been visible from the national park visitor overlook since 1974, scientists said.

The pulsing lava has attracted crowds of visitors, who sometimes must wait for a parking space close to the Jaggar Museum overlook or walk a mile to the crater from other parking areas.

Lawai market to shut its doors

LIHUE » Kauai will soon lose a popular convenience store and source of homemade snacks like Lawai manju, Spam musubi and chi chi dango.

The Garden Island newspaper reports the doors to the Lawai Menehune Food Mart will close for good on May 13. Menehune Food Mart President Charles Kawakami announced the closure on Friday without elaborating.

The Lawai Menehune Food Mart was started by Sakae and Ruth Matsuura in the heyday of the area’s pineapple cannery.