County prepares to reopen lava viewing area as new flow nears pali
USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
In this Thursday photo, the current lava flow is the lighter color area along the center of the image. The flow front has advanced about a half mile from last week, at an average rate of 110 yards a day. The flow front Thursday was about 110 yards from the northern boundary of the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision. Puu Oo and its plume, are visible near the top of the image.
USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist collects a fresh lava sample for chemical analysis Thursday.
USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
The lava pond in the western portion of Puu Oo crater remains active, and was about 160 feet in diameter, with spattering along the western margin.
USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists take measurements above a lava tube to estimate the lava flowing within the tube.
USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
Incandescent vents still open on the northeast flank of Puu Oo are seen from the air. The ground around the vent is too unstable and dangerous to approach from the ground.
USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
An aerial view of a lava vent on the northeast flank of Puu Oo shows a lava stream within the deep cavity.
USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
This map shows Kīlauea’s active East Rift Zone lava flow field. The area of the active flow field on June 16 is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the active flow field as mapped on June 23 is shown in red. The blue lines show the likely path of the lava based on topography.
Hawaii County officials are planning to reopen a lava viewing and parking area if a lava flow that began last month reaches the Pulama pali and becomes visible from Kalapana, something that could happen soon, or not at all.
Visitors will also be able to hike a newly-constructed gravel access road to get a closer view of the flow as it heads toward the ocean.
Geologists from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory released new photos Thursday day of the lava flow, which may enter the northern edge of the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision, above the pali, Friday.
The lava has been moving southeast at a rate of about 110 yards a day since last week, and has advanced about 3 miles from the east slope of Puu Oo since the latest episode of the Kilauea eruption began on May 23.
The last time lava was visible from Kalapana was in 2013, which is also the last time lava entered the ocean.
The current flow is following a path similar to the 2011 Peace Day flow, which entered the ocean in November 2012.
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
Matthew Patrick, a geologist with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said lava flows are notoriously erratic, so it’s hard to predict when or if the lava will become visible from Kalapana.
The flow is also on the far side of the Peace Day flow from Kalapana, so the higher ground of the old lava flow may initially block views of the current flow, he said.
Since 2013, the county spent more than $10 million to build a gravel road through a lava field to re-connect Highway 130 to the Chain of Craters Road as an alternate route for Pahoa residents threatened by a 2014 to 2015 lava flow. That flow had threatened Highway 130, which connects Pahoa to Hilo, but stopped before reaching the road.
County interim Civil Defense administrator Ed Teixeira said the county will allow visitors to park at the viewing area and walk at least 3 miles to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park boundary to get a closer look at the lava flow.
Teixeira said county crews have begun to prepare the lava viewing area site for reopening and will be hiring a private security service to monitor the area, should the lava become visible from the viewing area.
After the lava flows over the pali, it will reach a coastal plain.
At some point, if the lava continues to advance toward the ocean, it will cross the new access road, Patrick said.
How far the lava advances will depend on the terrain, the development of a tube system, which allows the lava to move quickly to the front without cooling, and the rate of the flow.
“The question is whether it (the lava flow) will stagnate on the coastal plain or advance to the ocean and make an ocean entry,” Patrick said.
