Thermal imaging taken from the air Tuesday showed that the lava tube system near Pahoa remains red hot despite the fact there are no active breakouts near the Hawaii island town.

That means looks can be deceiving as the flow field closest to Pahoa has remained inactive for days, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists said.

While small breakouts continue some 8 miles up­­slope, a ground inspection of the lower lava field Tuesday came up empty.

"It’s very quiet," Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oli­veira said following the inspection. "Nothing is happening there. Nothing is advancing anywhere near Pahoa."

Before Tuesday’s flyover, scientists were wondering whether the lava tube system had started to cool off, given the recent inactivity. If that were so, the tube system would be seriously hampered in its ability to transport lava down­slope.

But that was not the case.

"The lava tube remains hot, which means possibly the tube could be reoccupied with lava — if it’s not occupied already. We just don’t know," said Janet Babb, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist.

Observatory scientists will continue to conduct thermal imaging on a weekly basis, she said, and as long as there are no breakouts down­slope, the tube could grow cold.

For now there is no immediate threat to area communities, officials said.

At 13.5 miles in length, the June 27 flow is already the longest flow since Kilauea started erupting again in 1983. The leading tip of the lava flow has not advanced any closer than 450 yards from Highway 130 since January, although the south of side of the flow front continued to ooze until Thursday.

In the meantime, life has been slowly rebounding in Pahoa. Most of the tenants of the Pahoa Marketplace shopping center have returned, and Malama Market and Malama Gas N Go will reopen Wednesday after a three-month closure.

"We felt it was safe to reopen, due to the inactivity of the lava," said Sheryl Toda, Malama Market spokes­woman. "We’re very excited."

Toda said the store has been remodeled and refurbished and will look brand new. A blessing is scheduled for 9:40 a.m. before the store opens at 10 a.m. The day will feature product giveaways, a drawing for free gas and groceries, and samples.

The Puna Community Medical Center is one of the few tenants that have not yet returned to the Pahoa Marketplace. But a medical center spokes­man said Tuesday they are giving serious consideration to moving back soon.