Lava Flow Heading Our Way!

Bird's Eye View in relation to our Subdivision

Last night we attended a packed-to-overflowing community meeting in Pahoa where Civil Defense Administrator, Hawaii Volcano Scientist and the Mayor lead a discussion about the current new surge of lava from Pu'u O'o vent.  If you look at the map it appears to be heading directly toward us.  Right now it is only two miles from Kaohe Homesteads subdivision, and traveling at the rate of 100-300 feet per day.  Our subdivision (Leilani Estates) is only about another 2-3 miles due east from Kaohe Homesteads

Lava flowing through a crack/fissure.

For anyone unfamiliar with this, Kilauea is one of our five volcanoes on the Big Island.  Lava has not come directly out of Kilauea in Volcano National Park for a long time.  However, lava from Kilauea flowed underground up and out through the Pu'u O'o vent in the early 1980's and flowed south (see grey area above) for over 30 years.  That flow stopped a few months ago, and began to flow in a new direction -- north and east.


Unfortunately, it is not like a river flooding – where you have some idea of what it will do or where it will go.  This new geological island is riddled with fissures, cracks, tubes and subterranean puzzles, so most predictions do not allay fears simply because of the unpredictable nature of this kind of flow.  We just ordered a detailed topo map which may offer more information.  We hear and see the helicopters flying over a couple times each day to take up to date photos.

Red shows lava, lava lake; Black shows our subdivision

If elevation were the only consideration, it would allow us some measure of peace, since it would have to technically climb uphill to reach us. You can see our subdivision is highlighted so you get a feeling for the elevation. Officials state there is "no imminent threat" -- but we are considering our own safety and some measures of response...just in case.    http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/maps/
 

There is no imminent threat, but it could develop into a threat fairly quickly,” he said.
Scientists have been monitoring very closely the June 27 flow — named for the date when it first emerged — as it moves to the northeast of its vent on the flank of Pu‘u O‘o on Kilauea Volcano’s East Rift Zone.
The flow has been active on two fronts, one to the north, and a more worrisome one to the south. As of 1 p.m., that flow had continued moving eastward within a large crack, leading it to within about 2 miles of Kaohe Homesteads.
- See more at: http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/lava-flow-within-2-miles-subdivision-officials-say-no-imminent-threat#sthash.TI5k3VUR.dpuf

Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira, as he spoke - See more at: http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/lava-flow-within-2-miles-subdivision-officials-say-no-imminent-threat#sthash.TI5k3VUR.dpuf