South Hawaii Town Threatened by Lava
As recently as two weeks ago, it appeared that a breakout lava flow from the Pu’u O’o crater of Kilauea might, at worst, destroy a few homes in a sparsely settled subdivision on the edge of a forest preserve. But it has changed direction and now could reach the center of Pahoa town, the principal town on this part of Hawaii Island and a major tourist draw, in as little as three weeks. If it does, it will probably continue all the way to the coast, cutting Highway 130, the main road connecting South Puna with the Hilo area in the process.
Highway 130 is jammed morning and evening with commuters. If it’s put out of action the traffic situation will be horrendous. The state is hurriedly building alternate routes by renovating and reconstructing Railroad Ave. and the coast road that roughly parallel the highway - but that means they could also be cut by the lava flow. They’re also rebuilding a portion of the southern coast road that was destroyed by the 1986 lava flow that ate Kalapana town and the Royal Gardens subdivision. That road is not currently threatened by this flow, but it will only connect to Chain-of-Craters road, a narrow switchback that climbs the mountain in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Following it would add over an hour of commute time from Pahoa to the Hilo area - without traffic.
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