June 27 Lava Quickens Pace Through Kaohe Homesteads

Lava from Kilauea Volcano continues to churn through vacant lots in the Kaohe Homesteads subdivision.

According to a Wednesday morning update from Hawai`i County Civil Defense, the June 27 lava flow advanced about 350 yards from the prior day’s position. The front of the flow remains approximately 100 yards wide and continues to move in a northeast direction through the upper northwest corner of Kaohe Homesteads.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says that the flow has quickened over the last three days. The flow front has moved approximately 890 feet per day since Monday, an increase from 705 feet per day between Sept. 12-15. This puts the leading edge of the flow 1.7 miles away from Apa`a Road, moving upslope.

No evacuation notices have been given, and authorities are asking residents in neighboring communities to remain on top of the latest developments.

County and state crews, along with private heavy machinery operators continue to work on clearing emergency routes in the event that Highway 130 is impacted by the lava flow.

Grading work is being done on Railroad Avenue between Hawaiian Beaches and Hawaiian Paradise Park. Work to clear the area has been completed.

Meanwhile, state Forestry crews and private operators are working on connecting Hawaiian Shores with the Nanawale Estates area. County crews are working on Government Beach Road from the Hawaiian Paradise Park side of the road, while the state Department of Transportation is working on it from the Hawaiian Beaches end.

Also, two police reports have been filed regarding incidents on Kehau Road in Pahoa, one of the road clearing areas. Sometime between Monday, Sept. 15 at 6:00 p.m. and Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 7:10 a.m., approximately 160 gallons of diesel fuel was stolen. Another police report indicated that a lock was broken in the same area.

The diesel fuel was valued at $710.