# Lava flow threatens houses in Hawaii **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 12, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250 "2014-09-12T01:00:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/1 "2014-09-12T01:00:13Z")
Kilauea is acting up again. Lava is flowing northeast, and could be overrunning a housing development within days. There’s also concern that it could block a significant road (Route 130), cutting off a large number of homes. Here a link to a good set of [maps and photos](http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2014/09/10/video-kaohe-outlook-worsens-evening-lava-flow-update-sept-10/). My interest stems from several weeks spent in this area on 3 different occasions (when you had to hike 3 hours each way to see lava). Any Dopers in this area? ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/2 "2014-09-12T02:28:29Z")
Not there at the moment (I’m in Jakarta) and although our home is on the Big Island it is not close to the lava flow. I’ve been paying attention to this event, however, just because I find it interesting. (The reason we decided to buy a home on the Big Island was because of the volcanoes.) When you buy property on the Big Island, one thing to consider is the [lava flow hazard zone](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava_Flow_Hazard_Zones). Our home is in zone 7 (they go from 1 to 9, with 1 - where the current flow is occurring - the most likely to experience a lava flow, and 9 being the least likely). I figure that if you purchase land in Zone 1, well…you can’t complain if the lava reaches you. Thanks for posting the link; I hadn’t seen anything new in a few days so I will check it out. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/3 "2014-09-12T03:04:01Z")
My parent’s vacation house is in the Hualalai Zone (Kona) so not affected by this flow, but we’ve all been monitoring it. We just went through where the current flow is in January, so it’s interesting to see in the news. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/4 "2014-09-12T15:50:56Z")
I know poster **Mangosteen** owns a home on the Big Island, but I’m not sure just where it is. I hope he and his property are okay. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/5 "2014-09-12T16:35:01Z")
I like that the link shows actual maps of the situation – most news outlets are hopeless as far as getting such useful information. An interesting read is John McPhee’s _Control of Nature_, about people’s attempts to redirect the extraordinary effects of nature from their homes. The book is divided into three parts (Flood control of the Mississippi, the whole earthquake/fire/mudslide cycle in southern California - itself worth reading the book for, and on Icelanders trying to redirect lava flows). The short answer to controlling lava flows is that, with extremje effort, you _might_ be able to redirect the flow, but probably not, and probably not for very much or for very long. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/6 "2014-09-12T18:03:09Z")
I read a report of a meeting with residents recently where one resident objected to a plan to attempt to divert the lava flow around their community. His comment was that it was disrespectful to the will of Pele. Now I’m not a religious person but I gotta say that right there, that’s conviction and living with your beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/7 "2014-09-12T20:55:26Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > The short answer to controlling lava flows is that, with extremje effort, you _might_ be able to redirect the flow, but probably not, and probably not for very much or for very long. There’s also the point that if you manage to divert the flow such that some houses are saved, it could well mean that other houses “downstream”, ones that might have narrowly escaped damage, are now going to be destroyed. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/8 "2014-09-12T21:01:43Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > I know poster **Mangosteen** owns a home on the Big Island I’m pretty sure his house is north of Hilo, and thus well clear of this lava flow. ETA: If I’m right, it looks like he’s in the Big Island zone that’s at lowest risk, ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/9 "2014-09-13T02:22:30Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > …and on Icelanders trying to redirect lava flows). The short answer to controlling lava flows is that, with extremje effort, you _might_ be able to redirect the flow, but probably not, and probably not for very much or for very long. [Iceland ain’t right.](http://satwcomic.com/iceland-ain-t-right) (_Scandinavia and the World_ webcomic) I gather that the comic is in reference to the so-called Suicide Squad who worked in the control efforts during the [Eldfell cooling operations](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldfell#Lava-cooling_operations). They built paths out of tephra (volcanic rubble) onto the still-active lava flow and went out onto them to lay water pipes so they could increase the area they could reach with seawater. They had to keep rebuilding their roads because they kept driving away. They extended their system of pipes as far as 130 meters in over the main front of the lava. The flow of seawater kept the pipes from melting, but wooden supports caught fire and aluminum ones melted in places. The whole area was thick with steam, too, so they couldn’t see much. Throughout the operation, they sustained a few minor burns, but no serious injuries. tl;dr: Some Icelanders walked out onto lava, through blinding clouds of steam, and came back out again mostly unscathed. And they did it to install plumbing. > [@](#): > > extremje You only typed it that way because you were talking about Iceland. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/10 "2014-09-23T09:42:10Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Not there at the moment (I’m in Jakarta) and although our home is on the Big Island it is not close to the lava flow. I’ve been paying attention to this event, however, just because I find it interesting. (The reason we decided to buy a home on the Big Island was because of the volcanoes.) > > When you buy property on the Big Island, one thing to consider is the [lava flow hazard zone](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava_Flow_Hazard_Zones). Our home is in zone 7 (they go from 1 to 9, with 1 - where the current flow is occurring - the most likely to experience a lava flow, and 9 being the least likely). I figure that if you purchase land in Zone 1, well…you can’t complain if the lava reaches you. > > Thanks for posting the link; I hadn’t seen anything new in a few days so I will check it out. For some reason, I always assumed you lived in some northern African country. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/11 "2014-10-27T16:16:31Z")
Lava flow has now [overrun a cemetery](http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2014/10/26/video-evening-lava-flow-update-sunday-oct-26/) and it looks as if the first evacuations are about to be necessary. Apparently an alternate road - via a former railroad grade - has been constructed to deal with the looming closure of Route 130 near Pahoa. But this road is necessarily downhill of the lava flow and thus also in danger of being overrun. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/12 "2014-10-27T20:33:03Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Lava flow has now [overrun a cemetery](http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2014/10/26/video-evening-lava-flow-update-sunday-oct-26/) and it looks as if the first evacuations are about to be necessary. “Evening Lava Flow Update”… You know, one just doesn’t get these kind of reports in Southern Ontario… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/13 "2014-10-28T16:18:35Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Lava flow has now [overrun a cemetery](http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2014/10/26/video-evening-lava-flow-update-sunday-oct-26/) and it looks as if the first evacuations are about to be necessary. Well, that’s one way to make sure the dead rest in peace… ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/14 "2014-10-29T01:43:29Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > that’s one way to make sure the dead rest in peace… Provided “peace” includes temperatures of 1200 degrees C. ---
**Author:** ![bizerta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/15 "2014-10-30T21:52:44Z")
One item on my bucket list is to view lava from close-up, but at a safe distance. I chartered a plane and flew over Kiliuea back in 2005, but I want to get closer. 20 years ago, I flew to Alaska for a weekend just to get above the Arctic Circle, see the midnight sun, and visit my 50th state. I’m seriously considering flying to Hilo for a few days if I can get within 100m of the lava. So does anyone know if it is accessible? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/16 "2014-10-30T23:07:12Z")
Well, enough people showed up wanting a look (other than local residents) that the National Guard was deployed to keep the gawkers from getting close enough to get hurt. So… probably not accessible. That said, there probably are places in Hawaii where you can get close enough to active lava to see it, but in a safe manner. Isn’t there a park or something out there near lava flows? ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/17 "2014-10-31T13:38:19Z")
There are often lava flows in the park where you can get close enough to see active lava but it is generally at the end of a hike of a mile or more. You can check the [National Park Lava watch page](http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava2.htm) for updates. Bring a very strong flashlight as the best time to view lava is in the dark so you’ll be hiking in one direction in the daylight and the other in the dark. Please keep in mind, even the “safe” places to get close are not really, a change in wind direction can cause significant issues with fumes, lava tends to undermine areas before it shows on the surface so please do not ever do this as a solo hike. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/18 "2014-10-31T18:54:05Z")
> [@bizerta](#): > > I chartered a plane and flew over Kiliuea back in 2005, but I want to get closer. I hiked to the Pu’u O’o vent (source of the lava since 1983) in 2005. It was a tough - and no doubt dangerous - hike then, but the reward was to stand at the rim of a small crater mostly filled with boiling red lava (and to pity the tourists paying $250 each for a 1-minute view from a helicopter). That hike may be unacceptably dangerous now - among other problems (e.g. tons of toxic gas emitted every hour) the place we stood on the crater’s rim has been carried away by the current lava flow. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-flow-threatens-houses-in-hawaii/698250/19 "2014-11-04T23:55:39Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Lava flow has now [overrun a cemetery](http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2014/10/26/video-evening-lava-flow-update-sunday-oct-26/) and it looks as if the first evacuations are about to be necessary. news tonight where it stopped inches from a marker for Sato at a Japanese cemetery.