Latest Kilauea lava flow not going far
Volcano stirring
Activity at Big Island's Kilauea is heightening as the eruption of the island's youngest volcano entered a new phase. Read our stories, see more photos, and see video.
Associated Press
KALAPANA, Hawai'i — A new lava outbreak from Kilauea volcano hasn't gained much ground over the last few days, easing fears that it could threaten Kalapana and the Royal Gardens subdivision.
The change in the eruption started Wednesday directly from a fissure in the volcano, creating two new lava flows nearly directly over an eruption site that became active July 21.
Researchers observed from a flight Friday that the "Thanksgiving eve" flows had advanced just 330 feet, stalled and begun to pool. "The lava is just kind of pooling up in this area," said volcanologist Tim Orr.
The official lava threat report hasn't changed in the last four months. "There are no immediate threats directly from lava flows," according to the Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory.
The road to Kalapana dead-ends, as it has since 1990, in a hardened lava flow that still looks fresh.
Robert Keliihoomalu, who runs an 'awa bar from his property, said he doesn't want to see a repeat of the 1990 flow, when the lava came to the edge of his property before stopping.
"This lava can go anywhere where God wishes it to go. It all depends on where man lives their life. We must live in prayer," he said. "I think it belongs over there, and I hope it stays there."
Next to Keliihoomalu's 'awa bar, Teresa Nicole sells handcrafted jewelry to tourists coming to see the black sand beach nearby.
She isn't worried about her business being threatened by the lava because she could easily move it to another high-traffic area.
"I'm excited, definitely, about the flow coming into our view again," she said. "We'll see."
Close to 200 structures have been destroyed by lava since Kilauea's current eruption began in 1983.
The lava channel is 11 miles above Pahoa Village and surrounding rural suburbs. An average of more than 650,000 cubic yards of molten rock has emerged daily since it first broke through in July.
It moved in a different direction from previous Kilauea lava that long flowed into the ocean. Fingers of lava extended as far as 3 1/2 miles northeast from the eruption.
Two people still live in the Royal Gardens subdivision, including a bed-and-breakfast operation, Orr said.
"The flows are still a long way away," he said.
