June 27 Lava Flow Nearly a Half-Mile from Pahoa

The leading edge of the June 27 Kilauea Volcano lava flow is just 0.6-miles away from Apa’a St. in Pahoa.

According to an overflight conducted Monday morning by Hawai’i County Civil Defense, the front of the June 27 lava flow advanced approximately 75-85 yards since Sunday and was moving to the northeast. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says that numerous active breakouts were spotted near the flow front.

“It is possible, especially if the flow remains narrow, that it could kinda skirt, or just miss, the (Pahoa) Transfer Station,” said Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira. “A lot can change between now and when it gets closer. It could widen. It could move a little further to the north, so we’re watching it very closely and seeing at what point it may be more clear as to what path it will take and how fast it will move.”

HVO says that “multiple areas” are burning along the edges of the lava flow. Smoke conditions were described as moderate to heavy, especially in the Kaohe Homesteads area, where a light northeast wind made conditions specifically noticeable.

“Right now, the lava flow is still in a very green, lush Uluhe patch with very little burning, only what’s on the edge of the flow and what it’s in direct contact with,” said Oliveira Monday “There was some eucalyptus trees that were burning earlier…so that was throwing up a lot of smoke. Not a lot of flames, just heavy smoke, because everything’s still pretty wet out there.”

The County of Hawai’i announced Monday that its next community informational meeting in Pahoa is scheduled for Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. It will take place at the Pahoa High School Cafeteria.

The County’s Incident and Command Center and Informational Resource Center remains open at the Pahoa Community Center. It is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.