HILO » Residents of Laau Way in the small Hawaii island town of Pahoa were outside talking story Sunday with family and neighbors while packing the last of their belongings in anticipation of an evacuation because of the approaching lava flow.
Resident Ilyn Narciso said, "It’s so heart-wrenching to just have to pack up and leave. I feel like a zombie while packing."
The friendly neighborhood is near Apaa Street, which gained national attention Saturday when it became the first road to be severed by the June 27 lava flow.
Hawaii County Civil Defense went door to door the day before to warn residents of the approaching lava flow. About 50 households might have to evacuate by Tuesday if the lava continues at its current pace.
The flow advanced about 250 yards in the 24 hours between 6:30 a.m. Saturday and 6:30 a.m. Sunday, and entered the Buddhist cemetery. It was advancing at about 10 yards per hour in a northeastern direction, according to Hawaii Civil Defense.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported the leading edge of the flow had spread out and was roughly estimated to be about 150 yards wide. It was about a half-mile from Pahoa Village Road and 0.9 mile from the area’s main roadway, Highway 130.
Smoke conditions were said to be light to moderate and heading in a south-southwestern direction, as well, Civil Defense said.
Narciso could see the smoke from her backyard Sunday. She stood outside her house with several of her family members watching the smoke rise toward the cloud and doing her best to stay positive during the tense time.
For months, residents of the Puna district have been anticipating the lava coming toward the town, but with the flow stalling on multiple occasions, some have been describing the event as "slow torture" because it’s not for certain when and where the lava will hit.
However, Narciso said that’s to be expected. "It’s nature. You have to adapt and change with what comes your way," she said.
But the uncertainty of it all and the packing and unpacking have been a personal challenge, she said.
"It’s stressful, painful and scary all at the same time," she said.
Narciso said she’s still thankful to live on an island where people embrace the aloha spirit. "There’s been incredible outreach from the community," she said.
A few doors down, Lehani Duldulao was sitting in her family’s garage where boxes and other home appliances were piled up in preparation for the move.
She said she’s lived on the street for three years and that when the lava first started to flow, she wasn’t quite sure what to expect.
"I didn’t believe it would come here," she said.
But since Thursday her mindset has changed.
"It wasn’t something that was on my mind every day, but recently it has been," she said.
Duldulao said she plans to move to Hilo with family when the county orders an evacuation, and in the meantime she’s keeping her hopes up.
"My sister keeps calling saying, ‘I think you should move, I think you should move.’ I told her, ‘No, no. Don’t worry. We’re OK,’" she said with a smile.
Duldulao’s neighbor Aemi Sibucao was packing up some of her last items. She’s lived on the street since 1981. She said the situation has been nothing short of difficult. First her and her husband’s farm was destroyed during Tropical Storm Iselle, and now lava is advancing toward her backyard.
"It’s heartbreaking. It’s really hard for us right now," she said.
Across the street lives 80-year-old Theresa Zendejas. All of her rooms had been cleared out, and she had just a few kitchen and household items left, along with a bed and some furniture.
In her living room she had a stack of newspapers, most of which featured her. She said she’s never been in the limelight before and never expected it to be for something like a lava threat.
Zendejas, a naturally happy individual, said she’s had her ups and downs but has maintained a positive outlook by focusing on all the help she’s received from people over the past few weeks.
"It’s amazing. We’ve had complete strangers help us," she said. "I also want to thank Frank and Susan Baker. Make sure you put them in the newspaper. They offered me a key to their house."
Zendejas said that Sunday was the last night she’d be spending in her house on Laau Way. Hawaii County officials said an evacuation order might be put in place as soon as Tuesday, but all that depends on Madame Pele’s next move.
