On one of my trips to Hawaiʻi, I really enjoyed going to Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island (seen above on the far right of the Hawai’ian chain). Many think of Hawaiʻi only for its beaches and lush vegetation but this park really brought home to me, that this chain of islands was formed by volcanic activity. That brings risks for those who live on the Big Island where seismic activity continues.

Lava from the most active volcano in Hawaiʻi, Kilauea began seeping out heading toward the ocean on 27 June. It paused its movement in September and then picked up the pace this last month. The lava flow is reportedly 110 metres wide and chest-high in places.

It has been advancing over the last few days toward the the former sugar plantation village of Pahoa which has a population of about 800 people with some small shops, homes and farmsteads. The lava overran its (mostly) Buddhist cemetery last Sunday.

Today it burnt down its first home as seen in this video. Thoughts with all.

Resources for more information about the lava flows:

 

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
by phone at: (808) 967-8862
by web at: http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php

County of Hawai’i Civil Defense
by phone at: (808) 935-0031 (7:45 am – 4:30 pm)
by web at: http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/active-alerts/