Flow threatens key highway

While residents of the Kaohe Homesteads subdivision may be spared by the June 27 lava flow from Kilauea Volcano, a helicopter overflight makes one thing clear: If the lava doesn’t stop now, it’s headed directly toward Highway 130.

Members of the media and Hawaii County officials took a trip above the flow Tuesday morning with Calvin Dorn, owner of Paradise Helicopters, which is supplying visitors and locals with a bird’s-eye view of Pele’s latest movements.

High above the clouds, the flow seemed eerily close to houses in the homestead area.

Officials said the flow hit the subdivision’s northwestern corner, which is made up of 284 acres of vacant state land. The flow extends about 920 feet into the area.

Hawaii County Civil Defense said the flow advanced 270 yards since Monday and is measured at 100 feet wide.

Small fires framed the flow’s path, and at least a dozen smoky plumes drifted into the sky.

After a long gaze at Mother Nature’s destruction, Dorn navigated the helicopter to the place where the flow got underway, Kilauea’s Puu Oo crater. Upon arrival he pointed out a small hole outside the crater where the bright orange glow marking the starting point of the June 27 flow radiated among the smooth pahoe­hoe lava.

"It’s a pretty stable tube," Dorn said.

While Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator Darryl Oli­veira said Tuesday that area residents are in no imminent danger, scientists estimate the flow could reach Apaa Road in 15 days and hit Pahoa Village Road in 19 days.

Meanwhile, volcano researchers are using a variety of tools to map and measure the flow, including helicopters equipped with global positioning system technology and various types of cameras to track the boundaries of the flow.

Also, they’re relying on thermal cameras to measure the temperatures of molten lava that can get as hot as 2,100 degrees.

The cameras display the readings in a spectrum of colors — from yellow-white to orange, red, purple and blue, with the least warm temperature appearing as blue. But, in the case of molten lava, "blue is not cool," said Hawaiian Volcano Observatory spokes­woman Janet Babb. "It’s less hot than the yellow-white colors."

Researchers are also venturing within steps of lava tubes to use radar guns to measure the speed of the flow, along with a "very low-frequency" device to measure a cross section of the tube.

Combining the two readings helped scientists Monday calculate that the flow was pouring out at a rate of 1,500 gallons per second, Babb said.

According to HVO’s latest update, the flow is advancing at an average rate of 705 feet a day, leaving county officials and residents no other choice but to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Currently there’s a 24-hour command center set up at Pahoa Community Center where Civil Defense, fire officials, police and other emergency crews are tracking the flow and providing the public with the latest information.

The county is also working on alternative routes for residents who would otherwise be cut off from the island in the event lava crosses Highway 130. These roads include Railroad Avenue and Beach Road, which could be seen during Tuesday’s overflight.

And while the newly built dirt roads serve as a symbol of hope for Puna residents, thousands of downed albizia trees from Tropical Storm Iselle surrounding them are a reminder to those aboard the helicopter that there’s still more that needs to be done to repair storm damage to this Hawaii island community.

The road projects are costing between $800,000 and $1.2 million. Work on Railroad Avenue should be completed by Sept. 24.

Another community meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Pahoa High School cafeteria.

———

Star-Advertiser reporter Dan Nakaso contributed to this report.