The Latest: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park assessing damage
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Latest on the slowing of Kilauea volcano's eruption (all times local):
3 p.m.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is taking advantage of a lull in Kilauea's eruption to assess damage to the park.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Park Service said in a statement Friday a specialized team will thoroughly assess damage from the eruption. The assessment will form the foundation of the park's recovery plan.
Superintendent Cindy Orlando says the park is exploring short-term repairs to safely reopen at least part of the park.
Two million people visit the Big Island park each year, making it the state's biggest tourist attraction.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}But the park has been closed since May because of the dangers posed by the eruption. That's hurt the island's tourism-dependent economy. The number of travelers to the island dropped 4.8 percent in June from the same month last year.
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11 a.m.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Slowing activity at Hawaii's Kilauea volcano is prompting scientists to downgrade their alert level for the mountain.
The U.S. Geological Survey said Friday it issued a "watch" for Kilauea's ground hazards. That's down from a "warning."
But scientists say this doesn't mean the eruption that has destroyed more than 700 homes since May is over.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Geologists say lava mostly stopped flowing on Aug. 6. There's a crusted-over lava pond inside a fissure cone and just a few spots where lava is entering the ocean.
The volcano's summit hasn't collapsed since Aug. 2. Sulfur dioxide emissions are the lowest they've been since 2007.
The agency has maintained a "warning" alert for Kilauea since May 3, when cracks began shooting lava out of the ground in the Big Island's Leilani Estates neighborhood.