Reports of fissures cracking the earth and lava flows destroying homes following the eruption of Kilauea, a volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island, may have tourists concerned.

So far, lava flows and fissures have destroyed 26 homes since Kilauea began erupting last Thursday, according to the Wall Street Journal. Authorities ordered around 1,800 people to evacuate their homes, as the volcano continued to spurt molten rock and toxic gases. And now authorities are worried that built-up pressure underground could cause the volcano to blow ash and refrigerator-sized boulders miles into the air from its summit.

Although Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world—it’s been in constant low-level eruption since 1983—destructive events like the recent eruption are uncommon. “Potential visitors should always be aware that Hawaii is the site of multiple active volcanoes,” said Sarah Schlichter, senior editor of travel website SmarterTravel.

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Here’s what the volcano’s latest activity means for people visiting the island:

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Lava flows have covered roads and destroyed cars, but as of now, the volcanic eruption has not caused any major disruptions for air travel. Therefore, those traveling to other islands, including Oahu and Maui, should not be affected. Oahu and Maui are the most popular destinations among Hawaii’s eight major islands, attracting more than half of all visitors to the state this year, according to the state’s tourism board.

Both of the two major airports on the island of Hawaii (also called the Big Island) are still receiving flights. Hilo International Airport is roughly 30 miles away from the volcano and Kona International Airport is more than 100 miles away. But if travelers want to steer clear of those airports, some airlines, including Hawaiian Airlines HA, +0.62% and American Airlines AAL, +0.89% are waiving certain rebooking fees, with some limitations.

So far, Royal Caribbean Cruises RCL, +0.42% has had one cruise cancel its scheduled call in Hilo, though no other cruise lines have changed their plans to stop at the island, according to travel website Cruise Critic.

How will the volcanic activity affect lodging?

Thankfully, because of the volcano’s location, most travelers won’t need to book a new hotel. “For right now, it appears that the volcano’s effects are mostly being felt in a relatively small area of the Big Island,” Schlichter said.

The volcano itself is in a remote part of the island, and most major resorts are miles away. However, some Airbnbs, smaller cottages and bed-and-breakfast-type lodging located in the island’s Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens neighborhoods—near the base of the volcano—have been damaged and are now inaccessible because of the eruption.

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The owners of the Hale Moana Bed and Breakfast, located in Leilani Estates, announced on their website that they will stop booking new reservations and hosting visitors as a result of the damage the property has sustained.

“If you’re planning a stay anywhere on the Big Island, contact your airline, hotel, rental car company, tour operator, etc. to find out whether they’re currently operating and, if not, whether you can get a refund or reschedule without penalty,” Schlichter said.

Can you go visit the volcano?

Along with Mauna Loa, Kilauea forms part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Since the latest eruption began, portions of the park have closed and reopened, including the Kilauea Visitor Center. However, given the uncertainty with the volcanoes, officials at the park warned that visitors should be prepared for unannounced closures. Currently, most of the national park is closed and will remain so until further notice because of the latest threat of a catastrophic explosion.

Of course, the fissures and lava flows have extended beyond the confines of the national park. Officials have advised sightseers to stay away from Leilani Estates at this time to avoid hampering relief efforts or getting injured. Additionally, some people including those with respiratory conditions, will want to avoid the area because of the accumulation of sulfur dioxide and other toxic gases in the air near there.

What will travel insurance cover?

Travel insurance policies cover natural disasters such as a volcano, but for coverage to kick in, there must be a significant delay or cancellation to a flight or a mandatory evacuation or property damage rendering lodging uninhabitable.

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But because of the volcano’s remote location—and the fact that it hasn’t disrupted travel for most tourists venturing to the Big Island—travel insurance coverage will be limited in this case, said Steven Benna, marketing specialist for travel insurance provider Squaremouth. “Fear or loss of enjoyment in your destination is not going to be covered,” Benna said.

Some policies will cover cancellations for any reason, but these policies are more expensive. Moreover, travel insurance generally will only cover outright cancellations—so if a consumer chose to rebook their visit to Maui in lieu of the Big Island, for instance, insurance wouldn’t cover that.

Moreover, people planning trips in the coming weeks would have needed to purchase travel insurance before the eruption began on May 3 to have their travel covered. “Travel insurance is largely designed for unforeseen events,” Benna said. “If it’s announced that a volcano is expected to erupt, some providers may consider the event to be foreseen so it could be too late to get coverage at that point.”

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