KALAPANA, Hawai'i — Hawai'i County is adjusting viewing hours at its Kalapana lava viewing site starting Feb 1. The new hours are 5 to 10 p.m. daily.

Cost considerations resulted in the decision to cut three afternoon viewing hours that had the least number of visitors over the past nine months, said Finance Director Nancy Crawford. The number of visitors peaks at around 7 p.m., she said.

The lava viewing site was opened to the public on March 8. By the end of December, 241,806 people had visited the site.

The county's cost to operate the site, including salaries and wages, supplies, toilets, security, phones and other equipment, amounted to $362,006 for the last six months of 2008.

Visitors must enter the viewing area parking lot before 8 p.m. to allow time to hike to the viewing site and return before 10 p.m. There is no charge but a donation box is posted at the trailhead.

A lava hot line (808-961-8093) is updated daily and confirms whether the lava viewing site will be open.