Lava in Kalapana

Lava in Kalapana.

Early Sunday Morning, a two-story house in the path of a lava flow caught fire. On July 18, one person was evacuated from the house after a warning from Hawaii County Civil Defensethat molten rock was moving slowly towards the property. The lava made its way eastward along Highway 137. At 3:30 a.m., the property owner and a photographer watched the house burn. Now nothing remains standing except the roof and water tank.

The lava continues moving across the Puna landscape, headed towards the Kalapana Gardens subdivision, now 500-800 feet from the nearest home at a temperature somewhere between 2000-4000 degrees. At 12:44 p.m., Bill Hanson, the Hawaii County Civil DefenseAdministrative Officer, stated that the volcano is in a deflation mode, meaning it’s not erupting and the lava flow is slowing down. He also reported that the lava is moving eastward.

The lava flow is considered sacred ground by Native Hawaiians. Visitors should know safety is also a concern.

The small town of Kalapana was once a treasured Hawaiian fishing village. It was also the site of one of the largest and nicest black sand beaches. In 1990, Pele the fire goddess changed the Big Island. From April through December of that year, lava flowed, burying Kalapana and the Royal Gardens Subdivision under 30 feet of molten rock. When the eruption started up again in 2008, it was unexpected to hit Kalapana.

Hanson takes these recent developments in stride. “It’s a way the island was born,” he said. “It’s a natural reaction.”

Today, park rangers set up stations to monitor tourism to the site. You can hike across the barren lava fields and view current lava flows after dark. So far, only one house has been hit.“It’s not a happy situation, but as long as we respect Mother Nature, it will be okay,“ said Hanson. ”We can all come together and help everyone out.”

The fire department is still on the scene, and the lava viewing is still open.