Lava Could Overtake Pohoiki in Next Few Days

Many residents in East Hawai‘i have memories of Pohoiki. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) reports that the flow from Fissure 8 is slowly creeping to the Pohoiki Boat Ramp adjacent to Hawai‘i County’s Issac Hale Park.

During an assessment of eruption impacts on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, steam and volcanic gasses from the nearby ocean entry wafted over the tall trees in the park’s now empty parking lot. Stephen Schmelz, Hawai‘i Island Branch Manager for the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) estimates the lava, if it maintains its current course and speed, could overtake Pohoiki and Issac Hale Park within the next few days.

Pohoiki boat harbor on Saturday, July 14, 2018. Click to enlarge. PC: HFD.

“It would be a significant loss for the people of lower Puna and the Pāhoa areas, as Pohoiki is not only popular as a launch ramp for small boats, it is used by a variety of ocean recreational users,” Schmelz added. “DOBOR leadership has had very preliminary discussions about new ramp options should the flow overtake Pohoiki. Any plans would hinge on road access being restored and available funding. We are extremely mindful of the importance of Pohoiki for local people and as with everything related to Kīlauea’s current eruption we need to be patient and see what develops in the future. As one of our colleagues noted recently, Pele is very much in control.”

Concerned citizens posting on social media have indicated that turtles are trapped in the Pohoiki area.

During the overflight on Tuesday, July 17, and during an earlier flight by the Hawai‘i County Fire Department no turtles were seen.

Pohoiki on July 17, 2018. PC: DLNR.

Joining the aerial assessment of the East Rift Zone today was the Hawai‘i Island Branch Manager for the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), Steve Bergfeld. Previously he’d flown over the Malama Ki Forest Reserve, just to the south of Pohoiki. He indicates not much has changed since his previous assessment.

Pohoiki on July 17, 2018. PC: DLNR

About half of the reserve burned when lava inundated it in the early weeks of the current event. No new land has been lost recently. Trees in the reserve have been defoliated but Bergfeld commented, “Much of the vegetation is defoliated and stressed from the eruption. We are hopeful that the flora and fauna will recover because they have evolved over time with volcanic activity.”