depends. If it is pooling or very slow moving it is semi-safe to be close. I say semi because lava does tend to pop a bit and may fire off a burning cinder directly at your bare skin…and that will not kill you, but it is unpleasant as hell if it does manage to nail you.
How close can a person get to lava?
If it's cooled and solidified, you can walk on it. If it's a small toe of molten lava, you can get pretty darned close for a few seconds.
Is it safe to travel to Hawaii due to volcano?
Fortunately, the prevailing winds in the Aloha State are trade winds. So you won't experience vog when you're on any of the other islands, unless there are Kona winds. So overall, it's always generally safe to travel to Hawaii, even with the volcanic eruptions.
Can you get close to lava in Hawaii?
How close can you get to the lava flow in Hawaii?
The Kilauea is a dynamic volcano, and lava viewing conditions change daily. Even if a viewing area is organized by the National Park, this does not guarantee close access of the lava. Often a 1+ hour hike over hazardous terrain is necessary to reach the flow front of the lava.
What to do if a volcano erupts in Hawaii?
Leave the area immediately. If you are warned to evacuate because an eruption is imminent, evacuate.
Is it painful to fall in lava?
The height matters, because lava is actually acting a little like a solid. So if you are dropped onto lava from 30 metres, it would be like smacking on hard hot rock, which is painful. The lava would not instantly kill you, but your death would be within a few seconds.