Lava moving parallel to homes for now

Published 2:11 pm Monday, September 8, 2014

PAHOA, Hawaii — Lava from one of the world’s most active volcanos has been advancing at a slower pace the past few days and is now moving parallel to a sparsely populated subdivision on Hawaii’s Big Island.

Hawaii County Civil Defense Director Darryl Oliveira says the lava from Kilauea volcano is still at least a mile away from any homes in Kaohe Homesteads.

Oliveira took a helicopter flight over the area Monday and saw that the lava had crept about 150 yards from the previous day. It’s moving north for now but could stop or change directions.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has warned the lava could reach the subdivision in a matter of days.

Oliveira says he doesn’t anticipate issuing an evacuation order Monday. But residents should still be prepared as it’s difficult to predict the lava’s movement.

Oliveira says it was raining over the flow site, so there’s no wildfire threat.