Concern for Leilani Estates as lava moves eastward underground

[WestCoastGal]

Employment Workshops for those affected by the lava flows will be held in Volcano on Tues, June 19 and in Pahoa on Wed. June 20 next week. Further details in this Big Island Now article:

http://bigislandnow.com/2018/06/11/workshops-for-employment-status-and-businesses-affected-by-lava-flows/

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BTW checked the USGS website and no updates for today.

[WestCoastGal]

No credit was given to this photo that was shared by James Ward Costa on fb Hawaii Tracker group but very cool.

Another stunning photograph from Don Hurzeler of Lava Light Galleries posted on Mileka's fb page. She's back in Oahu now and have noticed fewer reports out of Puna. I'll miss her coverage on the ground here.

 

[WestCoastGal]

This morning's Lava Boat Tour with Shane at Sunrise. Still things for volcano fans to see and experience.

 

[WestCoastGal]

Ryan Finlay (fb Hawaii Tracker group) posted about last night's F8 flow. You can arrow click through a number of photos he shared. Photos of F8, 24 and SW overflow that had started.

"Fissure 8 continues to gush and is feeding the enormous lava river that leads to the ocean. The fountains were hovering around 115 ft tonight right at the top of the cone as you can see in the first few images, but things really picked up in the past hour and now it’s over 200 feet tall again. 

Only fissure 24 between Nohea and Kupono seems to be gassing and steaming very much."

 

[WestCoastGal]

Not sure where Tanner lives but a photo of him and his giant lava bomb were posted by Stevaandloir Hill on the fb Hawaii Tracker group page. That's pretty amazing and even supposedly light weight wouldn't want landing on my roof.

 

[WestCoastGal]

New video from yesterday (6/11) of Fissure 10 area down by Malama and Pomaikai from YT H.I.S Survival. He was there filming back in this area on June 5. Temps in cracks today are at 620F according to USGS and igniting the grass in one area. Gabe says the cracks have been widening on his friend's property. USGS out there taking samples. 

 

 

His quick chat back on June 9 with USGS about their equipment.

And on June 10 he stops by Fissure 8 and points out the lava tree molds, continues to Malama Street at Luana. Very voggy that day. Then down to Makamae to look at Fissure 8. 

 

[WestCoastGal]

Gabe (YT H.I.S Survival) has started a "Dangers of The Lava Zone" videos and posted this Part 1 yesterday. Says Part 2 will be posted soon. He points out the shimmery volcanic glass in the air with his lighting. 

The mask he is wearing is interesting. Has lights on it and a microphone. 

[Moose]

2 hours ago, WestCoastGal said:

Ryan Finlay (fb Hawaii Tracker group) posted about last night's F8 flow. You can arrow click through a number of photos he shared. Photos of F8, 24 and SW overflow that had started.

"Fissure 8 continues to gush and is feeding the enormous lava river that leads to the ocean. The fountains were hovering around 115 ft tonight right at the top of the cone as you can see in the first few images, but things really picked up in the past hour and now it’s over 200 feet tall again. 

Only fissure 24 between Nohea and Kupono seems to be gassing and steaming very much."

Looks like the horseshoe shape is closing up on Fissure 8, getting more cone like

[WestCoastGal]

@Moose, True and it has gotten much higher from everyones account over the last few days. As long as it's got that kind of flow though I think it will have to remain horseshoe shaped. It does remind me of Kapoho Crater in that regard.

[Moose]

29 minutes ago, WestCoastGal said:

New video from yesterday of Fissure 10 area down by Malama and Pomaikai from YT H.I.S Survival. He was there filming back in this area on June 5. Temps in cracks today are at 620F according to USGS and igniting the grass in one area. Gabe says the cracks have been widening on his friend's property. USGS out there taking samples. 

 

 

 

If magma seeks the path of least resistance, this may not be a positive sign for the western area of Leilani Estates. Who knows? Curious as to the topography surrounding Fissure 10?

Edited June 12, 2018 by Moose

[Mike in LB]

2 hours ago, WestCoastGal said:

Another stunning photograph from Don Hurzeler of Lava Light Galleries posted on Mileka's fb page. She's back in Oahu now and have noticed fewer reports out of Puna. I'll miss her coverage on the ground here.

 

 

I saw Mileka Lincoln at Pele's Kitchen in Pahoa this morning.  She's on the Big Island.

Mike Arends

Leilani Estates

[WestCoastGal]

49 minutes ago, Mike in LB said:

I saw Mileka Lincoln at Pele's Kitchen in Pahoa this morning.  She's on the Big Island.

Mike Arends

Leilani Estates

Thanks Mike and going to her fb page now I see that she is in a few recent video posts pieces down by Leilani Estates. Comments on her fb page made it sound like she wasn't there with people saying come back and another one saying that she is needed on the Big Island and people saying she deserved some time off. I remember she posted photos from Honolulu over the weekend and saying it was good to be back home.  I really enjoy her warmth, caring and great reporting. She and Ikaika are just great assets to Puna. Glad she's back on the Big Island.

Since your post got me to check her fb page just now, I thought I'd share this post of hers about Leilani Estates and residents possibly being allowed to be escorted into the No-Go zone.   Pomaikai and to the east!

 

 

[Mike in LB]

20 minutes ago, WestCoastGal said:

Thanks Mike and going to her fb page now I see that she is in a few recent video posts pieces down by Leilani Estates. Comments on her fb page made it sound like she wasn't there with people saying come back and that she is needed on the Big Island. I think maybe her absence was to cover the FEMA press conference in Hilo since her location changed to there for that. I really enjoy her warmth, caring and great reporting. She and Ikaika are just great assets to Puna. Glad she's back on the Big Island.

Since your post got me to check her fb just now, I thought I'd share this post of hers about Leilani Estates and residents possibly being allowed to be escorted into the No-Go zone.   Pomaikai and to the east!

 

 

Thanks for the info.  Both my brother and I have houses in the exclusion zone, so the possibility of going back would be great.  We haven't been back to our houses for 11 days, and there's some stuff we'd like to retrieve.  With all the different evacuations and the lack of space to store stuff, we've left a fair amount of possessions behind.

My brother and I sit at an outside table at Pele's Kitchen with my dog.  When eating there, Mileka always stops by and pets him.

Mike Arends

Leilani Estates

[Kim]

I went to my house escorted by Bill Hansen of Civil Defense. He was very respectful and kind, allowing me all the time I wanted to gather things together and drive my car out. He offered information about additional services for help loading and moving larger items, though I declined to do that for now. I can get the phone number later this evening for anyone who wishes to request this service.

You will hear some people say the air is fine and there is no danger, but at my house, I didn't feel that way. All the mosses were dead. They are especially sensitive to air pollution. Also the strawberry guava was defoliated and that stuff is hard to kill! Certain soft-stemmed weeds had melted away. African tulip tree was defoliated, Cecropias were about 90% defoliated and avocado trees were losing leaves, too. Certain bromeliads showed a lot of damage, others not so much (Alcantarea). 

This can't be a healthy environment for humans if the plants are dying.

Plants that were doing well were mostly palms and anthurium -- most looked fine to really healthy. The exceptions were Dictyocarium lamarckianum and Iriartea deltoidea, which looked to be suffering -- browning on the leaflets, etc.

[Mike in LB]

19 minutes ago, Kim said:

I went to my house escorted by Bill Hansen of Civil Defense. He was very respectful and kind, allowing me all the time I wanted to gather things together and drive my car out. He offered information about additional services for help loading and moving larger items, though I declined to do that for now. I can get the phone number later this evening for anyone who wishes to request this service.

 

Hi Kim,

My brother and I have been on a waiting list for 5 days (since June 7) to get back to our houses, and Civil Defense has not gotten back to us.  Any ideas on how to get through to them?

Unfortunately, Civil Defense here seems unorganized and applies inconsistent rules to all involved. It's frustrating and keeps stress levels high.

Mike Arends

Leilani Estates

Edited June 12, 2018 by Mike in LB
mistake

[Kim]

@Mike in LB, it could be because I called to let them know I was flying in on Friday just for the weekend that they were so helpful? I called June 7 and was escorted in late afternoon June 8th. I was unaware this was considered an exception, if that was the case.

[WestCoastGal]

@Mike in LB, with both you and your brother affected by this, neither one of you has a relative's place to stay at. Let them know you've been on the list and your situation. As I recall you were in an okay area for quite a while and a distance from the fissure line until F8 decided to send her flow down Luana. 

I can't imagine where everyone is storing their stuff. I'd be hard pressed if I was in the same situation here in Calif. Friends can take you in sometimes but certainly not all your furniture and appliances you might want to keep. BTW the Info Supply Hub maintains a list of people willing to help pack and move items. 

Edited June 12, 2018 by WestCoastGal
reworded orig as I think Police would just check on the property

[Mike in LB]

5 minutes ago, WestCoastGal said:

@Mike in LB, this morning in Scott's early morning video talk he mentioned having a conversation with the police who were kicking him out of the no-go zone. See my post today with his videos. Anyway based on what he relayed I'd call the police and ask if they could escort you in. With both you and your brother affected by this, neither one of you has a relative's place to stay at. Let them know you've been on the list. 

We're just a little bit irritated right now, to say the least.  We'll make some calls after we calm down.

We're staying with my former "next door" neighbors on Nohea (the dome house) in a rental in Orchidland.  They lost their house on June 2, and they'd desperately like to pay a final visit to their lot for closure.  Their house was destroyed, but the entire front yard is still there, untouched.

Mike Arends

Leilani Estates

[WestCoastGal]

I noticed that I edited my post while you were responding. I think Scott said the officer said the PD will check on the house, not escort residents in. I know not everyone cares to go back but those that do and when the conditions look good, they really should have some officials ready at the check point to get you in if for only a short period of time. I think everyone is concerned about the air and that fast moving lava lake so can understand workers not wanting to put their lives on the line at this point. F8 certainly has made the situation sketchy.

Not an ideal housing situation for either of you I'm sure but at least it's shelter and not far away as I remember. 

And to Kim's point about the air, when you can see sparklies in the air and know they are volcanic glass particles, I don't understand anyone wanting to be around that. One set of lungs...and glass particles in it sounds along the lines of dangers from fiberglass to me. Not even sure what level of mask that you'd need. I have noticed the brown seeming to be creeping westward when they show the aerial footage so not surprised by your report Kim.

[Dave-Vero]

 

Mosses tend to accumulate heavy metals and other contaminants, and have been used to survey for pollution.  Such a survey in Portland, Oregon turned up hot spots for contamination at two small factories making colored art glass; one was down the street from where I used to live.  Lots of cadmium from making yellow and orange glass.    So dead or unhappy mosses can be good biological markers.  

Checked, and indeed Paradise Helicopters is booking for when I'll be visiting in August.  Expensive, of course.  So is Volcano House, but that seems optimistic.    

Best wishes to everyone checking houses.  

The deflation of the Kilauea summit region, including big changes to the caldera, is striking.  Sometime 30-40 years ago, the Yellowstone caldera region was rising quite a bit.  It seems to have quieted down and of course nothing much happened. 

[WestCoastGal]

@Dave-Vero, Did you have a chance to read the article I posted this morning about the lady who Paradise Helicopters helped get her to her house in Kapoho before it was consumed? Found the info on their pilots very reassuring and of course we know Paradise best from a number of people using them for their aerial photo sessions during the eruption.

Have to wonder what the situation in Puna will be come August. Plenty more to do on the island and I hope people will continue to explore those areas. I think the tourism industry needs to promote what else is available. As one of the morning articles said, the Japanese tourist who travels to the islands isn't as concerned about a volcano erupting nearby as maybe other tourists since they live with their own in country. But it seems from comments made and asked in social media that many others think the whole island is erupting or about to fall into the ocean.

BTW I've loved reading your posts and you have had some great info and links. I found the Oregon State link on volcanoes very educational.

[WestCoastGal]

4 hours ago, Moose said:

If magma seeks the path of least resistance, this may not be a positive sign for the western area of Leilani Estates. Who knows? Curious as to the topography surrounding Fissure 10?

You can find an online topo map of the area from Topozone. https://www.topozone.com/hawaii/  Not for public display commercial or non-commercial unfortunately as I'm reading their terms, but it should answer your questions. I was actually surprised to see a geothermal well located not far from F10. Just south of the Leilani Estates lot boundary and between Pomaikai and Alapai. Located very near the lava flow area of 1955 (shown in blue).

That got me curious and I looked up near where PGV is located and there's a geothermal well also indicated in the lava flow of 1955 just off Pohoiki and Leilani (not at the actual plant although I don't know if their property runs up to Pohoiki Road where I'm seeing it on the map). It is interesting since USGS has said the early lava eruptions in Leilani came from magma in the 1955 tubes most likely.

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Subsequently I went to the site of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and their Hawaii Groundwater & Geothermal Resource Center for their historical maps and in looking at the Geothermal activity in Puna, Hawaii map (viewable as a .pdf or .jpeg), I see that the well near Fissure 10 is listed as Ashida No. 1. The one at Pohoiki and Leilani is HGP-A. There are also 2 wells marked as Lanipuna 1 and Lanipuna 6. Lanipuna 1 looks to be east of Hinalo St. (near Leilani Avenue) maybe near Pawai Crater, with Lanipuna 6 at the end of Hinalo St. in Lanipuna Gardens. There's no date on this map and I wonder if these mentioned wells were ever permanently capped or if these lower Leilani-Pohoiki/Lanipuna Gardens wells were the site of any of the fissures. Did note that to the right of Lanipuna 6 the map denotes "Crack". 

 

 

[WestCoastGal]

From this morning's Hawaii Tribune-Herald, sorry meant to post it earlier, the lava field now occupies 11+ square miles of land according to Janet Snyder, spokeswoman for Mayor Kim. With regards to the ongoing collapse of the Summit, she said this “The seismologists I talked to said they’ve never seen anything like it. The equivalent was about 7,000 years ago at Crater Lake in Oregon. We haven’t had anything like this in modern times with the radical collapsing of the crater. … The north and west sides of the crater are sloping inside, making Halema‘uma‘u much larger in circumference.” She also mentioned some houses have survived in northern Kapoho but they have seen some smoke in that area.

 

[WestCoastGal]

As for the historical maps on the geothermal wells, here are few more resource maps: 

Geothermal mining leases in South Pahoa (1981): http://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10524/46384  I can see why we skipped from Lanipuna 1 to Lanipuna 6 from this.

This undated Geothermal resources in Puna, Hawaii map has very clear topo markings on it. I also see several more notations of "crack" listed on this map, including one that runs from almost from Hookupu (on the east side of the street for sure) , across Kaupili and near the top end of Malama where it ends. This makes so much sense having just watched the lava eruptions down there again. Not seeing any in the area where Noni Farms Road is, which Jason said officials weren't aware of.  http://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10524/46385

There was a map done of the parcels within 3,500 feet of PGV plant: http://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10524/46353

I guess the geothermal concept was to run the wells all down the East Rift Zone with the exception of in Leilani -- Conceptual geothermal system map: https://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10524/46374

The site is a wealth of maps for the area in general and more on the geothermal aspects of the area.

 

[Moose]

Possibility no more Scott video updates. Some issues have arisen ...

 

[Moose]

 

[WestCoastGal]

@Mike in LB, saw this as of 3pm HST about gaining access. They give a phone number to call. 

 

 

 

[bgl]

A couple of general comments. As indirectly mentioned earlier, I have only been back home in Leilani Estates intermittently since this all began. Left right away on May 3rd (the very first day) and flew to San Diego. By the time I returned on May 15th they had set up the two checkpoints (one at the intersection of Hwy 130 and 132 in Pahoa and the second one at the entrance to Leilani Estates). I was home for six days at that time and had power and internet and credentials to enter LE. Interestingly, during this time it was also possible to drive all over the subdivision without any restrictions, other than the self-imposed ones (like not trying to cross any significant cracks in the road). I left on May 21st, for the IPS Biennial in Colombia and returned to the Big Island on Thursday June 7th. The situation had now changed dramatically. No power on my street and there was a concrete barrier at the intersection of Pomaikai Street and Leilani Avenue (and apparently also at Pomaikai and Kahukai even though I never drove over there). I was also told by well informed sources that being found in the blocked off part of Leilani Estates could involve a $500 citation and potentially also losing one's credentials. I.e. no more access to Leilani Estates.  As much as I would have liked to document more of what's going on by taking photos in various areas I wasn't really in the mood of feeling like a wanted criminal (there are helicopters buzzing overhead all the time for instance), so I made a quick decision a few days ago to get away for a couple of weeks so I can have access to internet and get my work done, and I am in Thailand right now. Will be back in Leilani Estates towards the end of the month and will be interesting to see what the situation is like then.  In the meantime I am of course checking this thread and also getting updates from friends and neighbors.

[WestCoastGal]

Warning for Hilo residents that Vog is headed your way.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/06/12/breaking-news/lava-continues-to-fountain-pour-into-ocean-in-lower-puna/

 

[WestCoastGal]

Great to see the recognition. Mileka on her fb page with a photo of her and Ikaika. 

 

[Mike in LB]

1 hour ago, WestCoastGal said:

@Mike in LB, saw this as of 3pm HST about gaining access. They give a phone number to call. 

 

 

 

We called Civil Defense this afternoon, and they took our names, plus address and phone numbers, as if it was the 1st time we called them. They had no record of our call on June 7 when we were supposedly placed on a waiting list.  So essentially, 5 days were wasted.  We can only hope that this time they actually place us on a real waiting list, a list that they keep and they honor.  We'll likely have to call every day until we have the slightest bit of confidence in their actions.  Yikes!!!!

But thanks for the info.  It's much appreciated.  Sorry for the rant.

Mike Arends

Leilani Estates

 

[WestCoastGal]

No rant. I'd be anxious to get at least some of my stuff back knowing that the lava hadn't moved from where it was earlier when you were living there.

 

[WestCoastGal]

Hey guys, had to post this from comments I read on fb Hawaii Tracker group (Ryan Finlay). Thought you'd find it interesting . Small world again!

Darn! But hey, anyone out there who might have a good line of site to Fissure 8? I was really excited about the prospect of the cam going up but at least we know that Civil Beat is willing to reinstall the cam if it can work out.

[WestCoastGal]

OK at least someone else noticed the PGcam issue!

 smudge on right

 

[WestCoastGal]

Saw another post that T-Mobile is offering a free flip phone and 1 month service for evacuees only.

[WestCoastGal]

Don't know if you guys ever saw Lava Cat. She was perched on a railing with the red steaming clouds behind her. As I recall she was a "stray" from the evacuation area that didn't want to be caught. I believe she is the same cat in the photo Joseph Anthony posted sitting at a lava levee and watching the lava. Joseph Anthony was the Civil Beat photographer at the house btw.

Guess who rescued her? 

 

[WestCoastGal]

Live streamed video from Ikaika posted 3 hours ago.  He talks about getting access now to your homes. Map talk as well. Very interesting history of flows and what theories on this eruption might mean.

 

[WestCoastGal]

Tonight's Puna Community Meeting is streaming live on Na Leo TV:

http://naleo.tv/Channel-55/

It should be posted later tomorrow on the Civil Defense site, Big Island Video News. The meeting concluded and Na Leo TV will have it available to watch a bit later tonight. In the meantime they are reairing some of their news briefs from today.

[WestCoastGal]

If you want to see what they do from the Info Supply Hub, this video will give you a good idea. Lots of people living outside of the shelters in tents and cars and the guys pile up their trucks and make deliveries to the outlying areas. 

 

[WestCoastGal]

If you've followed the 2 videos from Gabe (YT H.I.S Survival) where he went to his friends houses at Fissure 10, well here's an update from Dane DuPont (fb Hawaii Tracker group) a few minutes ago on the temps over there. I believe when Gabe was there USGS indicated the temp was around 600-something. It's gone up, just so you are aware of it.

"Hawaii Volcano Observatory field crews detected temperatures at fissure Fissure 10 today, which has had high temperatures from quite some time. The reading showed the vent at over 800°F. This does not mean fissure 10 shows increased signs of eruption, or increased activity (no SO2 was detected). This reading represents a more accurate measurement of vent temperatures than previously released. Temperatures at fissure 10, just up rift from fissure 8, has fluctuated during observations for the past few weeks."