Concern for Leilani Estates as lava moves eastward underground

[WestCoastGal]

Justin do you know where the large crack in 130 is located? I'm assuming south of the entrance to the community. Glad to hear you're still in good shape there. Surprised you still have services but are you on solar and your own water source? 

[richnorm]

15 minutes ago, Justin said:

Finally got to the house, here’s an update:

• Inside, the only visible damage is some cracked porcelain tiles in two distinct places, more or less in the doorways through the main load-bearing wall. I can only assume that wall moved in the quake (a 6.9 just 10 miles from here), and the tiles had no choice but to break.
• Nothing fell off the walls or shelves, despite there being a TV and a surfboard (and 100 empty rum bottles) that weren’t secured that great
• The water line and gas line both work, and water tasted fine
• Electricity, internet, and cable all work.
• Outside, there are no new cracks in the driveway or on the street. There may be a couple new small cracks around the water tank, but they aren't very big, and the water tank is full.
• The garden looks more or less fine, except that weeds are everywhere since it’s rained an inordinate amount in 2018. Also, one dead tree fell over, but miraculously it doesn’t seem to have hit anything on its way down. It grazed a palm tree and is laying on the ground right next to it.
• I checked the pre-existing giant crack we have in the yard, and it doesn’t appear any different, and it doesn’t smell and no steam or gas appears to be coming out.
• There isn’t any noticeable smell in the air generally, and breathing outside seemed normal. [Then again, I was just walking around, not trying to do any manual labor.]
• All in all, everything is “normal” at the house and yard, despite us being only 5-10 streets away from several active fissures. We’re uphill, and west to northwest of all the flows, and the prevailing winds are mostly west-southwest, so I think we’re getting only a small fraction of the crud in the air.
• In sum, if everything stays how it currently is, I’m cautiously optimistic. The big wildcard will be access – if the highway gets blocked in or around the entrance to the subdivision, then the house may be fine, but it won’t matter because we can’t get in. Compared to many other people in the neighborhood, however, this is a trivial concern.

Good news.  Perhaps all that rain prevented widespread  fire taking hold? Seems amazing to see lava right up to greenery.

[bgl]

Debbie, apparently there are several cracks on Highway 130 and I have been getting reports that they are at some distance south of were Malama Street connects with Highway 130, which in itself is a good distance south of Leilani Avenue (the main entrance to LE). But would be good to find out exactly where those cracks are. In any case, very unlikely to affect access to LE. If they were to get wider, or even develop into a fissure, that would completely cut off the Highway 130 connection to the Kalapana area, even though they would have access to the rest of the island through Pohoiki/Kalapana. At least for now.

And Cindy - all these dramatic events will in no way affect our ability and determination to have fun on the Biennial in Colombia!

EDIT - and Justin, saw your post after I had posted the above. Thank you so very much for that very detailed and positive report. That's very reassuring - in a sort of cautiously optimistic way!

[WestCoastGal]

30 minutes ago, redant said:

I guess the particularly disturbing thing for residents is you lose the use of your land as well as your home. A real double whammy.  Truly sorry for you all, the hidden cost of living in paradise I guess. Good luck everyone. 

 

I've read about a mac nut grower in the Lanipuna Gardens area saying how this was a huge concern for them. First fissure was close to them which later ones retreated away from them but they still had to be evacuated because of the sulfur dioxide. I don't think I've seen anyone being allowed to even go back to that area. Must be really low ground. As I recall this small grower had lived on their property for maybe 20 years and were just about to do their first harvesting of the year. I know Monika's Mac Nuts in the same area is also closed.

[WestCoastGal]

Bo I think you guys could use some nice palmy distraction and it sounds like a fun time. 

Hopefully the crack to the south was due to the 6.9 and nothing more. Still 660 feet is quite a rupture, longer than the fissures in Leilani I think. Fingers crossed. 

[Dypsisdean]

Justin - thanks for your report - better than I would of expected. I am relieved. I'm sure anyone not knowing the status of their house is also somewhat relieved. All in all as good as could be wished for.

A summary from Ikaika's walk throughs this morning - and as of about 1/2 hour ago.

Things are quiet, but not completely. a few small places of active lava, but very small and very slow moving. Still considerable gas, but none of the eerie and scary noises of before. Also still some earthquakes, seemingly from the upper Leilani area.

The continuing earthquakes and new cracks on 130 are the biggest concerns - leading many to express that the event is not over. But since the new cracks on 130 are south of Malama, this could indicate a continuation of the established line of the fissures. Although bad for Kalapana, this could spare upper Leilani from any new fissures (outside of the already established area) - and also take any gases away from Leilani most of the time due to the Trades. The fly in this ointment would be that a major lava flow from any new fissures could be upslope from Leilani, but they would have to be bigger than anything yet to reach the subdivision.

After everthing of the last few days, this actually seems like the first bits of good news for Leilani in a while. But certainly no time to celebrate.

New cracks on 130

 

[WestCoastGal]

Found some additional aerial photography over Leilani. These are from Byron Matthews and very sharp video images and nice "holds" on some scenes for a better look. I've heard news reports from people returning about the brown vegetation and sure it doesn't take long for the heat from the lava to dry out things. You can observe some of the browning even in the first video from Friday's filming. The second video is an update from him from yesterday. In the first video about 5:06 in you can see how easily it would be for homeowners to get trapped on their property. Their driveway empties out to the road covered in fresh lava.

Friday, 5/4:

Sunday, 5/6 (below):

I noticed a few Leilani homeowners posted comments to his video. One saw their homes intact and the other said they wished they could get a view of theirs which a neighbor had said had succumbed. On yesterday's video he said he ran low on battery so it was shorter and did get some of the closeups that he had wanted to get. Hope he's able to return to the air again soon. BTW did you guys recognize your homes? Without street labeling I'm lost  knowing what I'm seeing. Need a cheat sheet map in front of me with the fissures located on it.

 

[Dypsisdean]

As Debbie indicated, the heat takes its toll on the vegetation.

But of interest to most of us here, here is a screenshot from Ikaika showing what just the gases have done to the vegetation. He stated this was some distance from any lava/heat, but downwind.

 

[WestCoastGal]

Thanks for the image. That looks pretty sad. Downwind mentioned? Hmm wonder if it's due more to the sulfur dioxide. I know it robs oxygen. It the concentration is high enough maybe it would kill off the plants?

[Dypsisdean]

3 minutes ago, WestCoastGal said:

Downwind, hmm wonder if it's due more to the sulfur dioxide. I know it robs oxygen. It the concentration is high enough maybe it would kill off the plants?

Yes Debbie, perhaps I wasn't clear. That is due entirely to the sulfur dioxide and any other gases. He was making a point of how toxic/dangerous the gases can be.

[doubravsky]

Been keeping an eye on this scary situation- thinking good thoughts for all the palmtalk Leilani folk! 

[Justin]

11 minutes ago, Dypsisdean said:

As Debbie indicated, the heat takes its toll on the vegetation.

But of interest to most of us here, here is a screenshot from Ikaika showing what just the gases have done to the vegetation. He stated this was some distance from any lava/heat, but downwind.

 

I saw that this morning.  It was 1 or 2 blocks over from the flow.  I looked for more evidence of dying vegetation, but thankfully there wasn't much.  Then again, it's been only a few days.

[Kim]

1 hour ago, bgl said:

Debbie, apparently there are several cracks on Highway 130 and I have been getting reports that they are at some distance south of were Malama Street connects with Highway 130, which in itself is a good distance south of Leilani Avenue (the main entrance to LE). But would be good to find out exactly where those cracks are. In any case, very unlikely to affect access to LE. If they were to get wider, or even develop into a fissure, that would completely cut off the Highway 130 connection to the Kalapana area, even though they would have access to the rest of the island through Pohoiki/Kalapana. At least for now.

And Cindy - all these dramatic events will in no way affect our ability and determination to have fun on the Biennial in Colombia!

EDIT - and Justin, saw your post after I had posted the above. Thank you so very much for that very detailed and positive report. That's very reassuring - in a sort of cautiously optimistic way!

I hear the cracks are before the steam vents. If something blows open there... have you looked at the map of the "paths of steepest descent"? I dislike this set of possibilities...

@Justin thanks for your detailed report, that offers some reassurance.

[Justin]

Bo and Kim, I drove past your respective homes this morning, and everything looked normal.  I am a little worried about Karolyn's place, however, as there was smoke, gas, fire, etc. just to the southeast (looked to be maybe 3-5 lots down).  Even if no lava damage, being that close to the gases is obviously not ideal.

[WestCoastGal]

I noticed watching that second drone video dated 5/6 that in the distance to the right (0:55 for example) near some of the distant fume clouds it looks like a volcanic cone. Don't see it on the map I've looked at. Is that an old extinct vent? I remember that USGS Neal was asked by a reporter back outside of HVNP whether a volcano would develop down in that section from the fissures. Maybe not so out there question?

[bgl]

Thanks a lot, Justin! That's certainly reassuring. And I talked with Karolyn earlier today (she is with friends in HPP for the time being). She had been able to get to her house yesterday, and is planning to go back again to retrieve some items. She didn't mention anything about smoke etc., so presumably she didn't perceive that as a threat or danger. And I have seen a more detailed map, which shows fissure #10 at the back end of a property on the makai side of Malama, about halfway between Alapai and Pomaikai. The initial maps showed #10 right smack on the corner of Malama and Pomaikai streets. That location in itself, and with typical tradewinds, would certainly blow some smoke in the direction of Karolyn's place. If it were to die down, that would no longer be an issue.

[Dypsisdean]

Shown anywhere else and you would think it was a gorgeous sunset.

 

[Dypsisdean]

18 minutes ago, WestCoastGal said:

I noticed watching that second drone video dated 5/6 that in the distance to the right (0:55 for example) near some of the distant fume clouds it looks like a volcanic cone. Don't see it on the map I've looked at. Is that an old extinct vent? I remember that USGS Neal was asked by a reporter back outside of HVNP whether a volcano would develop down in that section from the fissures. Maybe not so out there question?

Debbie - here is the best map I have found - it can be slow to load at times. But it shows most everything in great detail. It is also now showing the mysterious Fissure #11 mentioned yesterday. (oops, now gone again)

But you can see the many craters in the immediate area.

https://mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=19.462685%2C-154.913066&z=14&t=t6%2CFissure%2CRoadblock%2CMandatory_evacuation&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmappingsupport.com%2Fp%2Fdisaster%2F2018%2Fhawaii%2Fhawaii_volcano_eruption.txt

[WestCoastGal]

WAY better than anything I've looked at. Thanks! Loaded fine first time, but a second reload is struggling--probably everyone seeing your post and trying to access it . Didn't realize there were so many old craters in the area. The land has looked kind of flat to me. Actually I was on some civil defense or authority site and they had a map showing the eruptions using probably this map but without the topo information. Maybe I just didn't know how to configure but this helps alot and I'll even print out. 

[Justin]

Yeah, it's absurd they don't use topo maps for showing all this stuff.  If a fissure opens nearby, you definitely want to know if you're uphill or not.

[WestCoastGal]

In case there are those in the area in need of help or can provide help came across this really helpful video segment for locals on Hawaii News Now (31:56). Covers the Information Supply Hub set up by locals to help locals of which I understand Ikaika Marzo has been instrumental organizing. Lots of supplies are being brought in and organized under tents and storage unit. The newscaster made a good point about so many residents having to flee from the lava on short notice and still going to jobs and needing things like toothpaste etc. All being stocked at the Hub. Hours are Mon - Sun 8am-8pm. At 5:30pm there will be daily info meeting that will be In-person and live streamed on facebook. Ikaika Marzo will give Lava info updates as soon as they are available. They are located at the corner of Hyw 130 and 132 (Pahoa-Kapoho Rd) for donations drop off and pick ups. They are also organized to provide hot meals (9am, 1pm, 5pm), people are signing up to volunteer for shifts. Food also provided to the various agency assistance personnel working the area. They also have sandwiches packed and ready to go for those needing to take something with them. Snacks packed for the kids to take to school. They also help provide transportation assistance from volunteers who have signed up for evacuation needs, Pet care, animals/livestock voluteers. Able Bodied Volunteers available for help in packing and loading. Clothing donations. Only half way through the video but really commend everyone for how well they have organized this. Way better response than I have seen elsewhere in disaster situations. Really great community you guys live in!

 

In the video they show film and talk about the shut down of 130 and the cracks that were discovered just past Leilani Avenue and Malama Street between Mile Marker 15 and 16. Heading into the (I think she said) Ala'lli Estates Subdivision.  

There is still no access for Lanipuna residents. 

 

[junglegalfla]

Heart sick for everyone. Watching & praying

[Justin]

New fissure south of Malama, at Alapai.  Not sure whether to be happy or sad about that.  It's now out of the subdivision, so that's good, but it's also still ongoing, which is bad.

[WestCoastGal]

Justin would that be the one mentioned in my post two above yours or a new crack location? or did I maybe get the name wrong? The newscaster said it kind of fast.

[Justin]

It very well could be what I saw a few hours ago, but not positive.  I didn't consider that perhaps I was seeing something new, and it's not like people are all around.

[Dypsisdean]

This from an update less than 15 mins ago from Hawaii News Now.

Scientists are tracking what appears to be two new volcanic fissures in the Big Island's Leilani Estates subdivision, where lava has already claimed at least 35 structures since eruptions started Thursday and forced hundreds from their homes.

Video posted to social media also appears to show new volcanic vents, spewing gas and emitting heat. 

[Dypsisdean]

The video referred to above may be this one on Lava News on FaceBook.

https://www.facebook.com/lavanews/videos/200549834068655/

[Dypsisdean]

Here's the latest.

[WestCoastGal]

55 minutes ago, Justin said:

New fissure south of Malama, at Alapai.  Not sure whether to be happy or sad about that.  It's now out of the subdivision, so that's good, but it's also still ongoing, which is bad.

Just looked up Alapai and hadn't realized that street was within Leilani Estates. Was thinking it was a street off 130. 

[WestCoastGal]

1 hour ago, Dypsisdean said:

Here's the latest.

Bo was right to be concerned about the old property . Won't that drain right down to the end of Kumakahi? 

Can't help but notice the lava tube line seems to be running adjacent to the old 1955 lava and crater formations. I sure hope this doesn't turn out to be more like them. This is just horrible. And looking at the map those 3 latest fissures are more or less south of where I think Bo and Kim's places are to make it more worrisome if we get lava flow. Hope I'm remembering wrong. #10, 11 and 12 look to be around 860-880 ft elevation. Or would any lava from that area tend to flow to the left of Puu Kaliu as it would be sloping to the northeast?

[Dypsisdean]

Latest video of new fissure - uncomfortably close to Bo's old place.

https://twitter.com/MilekaLincoln

[WestCoastGal]

Just checked Apple maps for the road closure on 130 and see more sections of it have been closed and looks like it might seal in a community or two along the way. During that Hawaii News Now broadcast mentioned above they had said that people along the coast in Kalapana and Black Sand Beach for example needed to be mindful of the closure along 130 into Pahoa but also a closure at Pohoiki Rd at Kalapana-Kapoho Beach Road. With additional road closures along 130 from earlier today it can't be good news for anyone living on the East Rift Zone.

[WestCoastGal]

34 minutes ago, Dypsisdean said:

Latest video of new fissure - uncomfortably close to Bo's old place.

https://twitter.com/MilekaLincoln

I'm sorry but those workers capturing video looking down into the steaming cracks when they can hear the sound of lava not that far away are living incredibly dangerously. They know the heavy concentration of gases are next to come with the steam and then the splatter and fountaining. Such gorgeous land there. Hugs go out to Karolyn. Hoping for the best. And to Bo and Kim. So much work and aloha went into that property. Really sad I never had the opportunity to make another trip over there and say hi. 

[Dave-Vero]

A while back, I snagged a great air fare to Kona for August.  I’m reminded a bit too much of having planned, long ago, to visit Mt. St.Helens.  Two months before the trip, we got an ash shower.  

Best wishes to everyone.  I’m reluctantly missing Biennial due to being overtripped.   Japan last month and a meaningful visit to the Oregon coast today.

[WestCoastGal]

HawaiiNewsNow is live streaming news on the latest developments on fissures and 130.

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/category/198303/livestream

BTW for anyone new to this site if you click on the Live button at the far top left button it will turn into a DVR button and you'll have an hour of past coverage you can scrub back through. Great feature. You should be able to still see the initial coverage on the latest fissures.

BTW just did an interview with Talmadge Magno from Civil Defense and he said there was extensive cracking on 130. About 4 inches wide but several in one area so something is going on (magma under the rift). The cracks aren't emitting heat or gases and so think it's coming from way down but the cracks that started on the ground as fissures were the same way.

He explained the reason for the Go Now alert from last night. Said they had intelligence in the air and could see that shortly before everyone who came in to retrieve for the day was due to leave they saw heavy fumes coming up in the corner of the development where they were at their houses. They know once the gasing starts that the lava can come up quickly. They saw one car actually go off road trying to circumnavigate the area. The reporter asked about why not use sirens to alert people instead of cell phone alerts (since coverage might be spotty). He said that phones could be limited to a certain area and a siren would panic more people not in danger. Very informative interview.

National Guard is monitoring the Sulfur dioxide levels which determines which areas they will let residents into.

[bgl]

1 hour ago, WestCoastGal said:

Bo was right to be concerned about the old property . Won't that drain right down to the end of Kumakahi? 

Can't help but notice the lava tube line seems to be running adjacent to the old 1955 lava and crater formations. I sure hope this doesn't turn out to be more like them. This is just horrible. And looking at the map those 3 latest fissures are more or less south of where I think Bo and Kim's places are to make it more worrisome if we get lava flow. Hope I'm remembering wrong. #10, 11 and 12 look to be around 860-880 ft elevation. Or would any lava from that area tend to flow to the left of Puu Kaliu as it would be sloping to the northeast?

I know this land very well. The area south of this particular part of Leilani Estates belongs to Kamehameha Schools, and if I remember correctly it's close to 300 acres, total. It goes all the way out to Highway 130, to the west. I ran a little palm nursery for a number of years, and leased some of it for the nursery. Officially ten acres but nobody ever came out to measure anything and I was free to use whatever land I felt like. I brought in a large D9 bulldozer and had lots of fun, opening up  a number of large areas with lots of driveable wide paths between them. Also built, by hand, numerous very extensive trails throughout the forest, which is absolutely beautiful with lots of native trees and tree ferns. It is quite flat with no major ups or downs, except when you get further to the east and close to Pu'u Kaliu, the cinder cone, which I have hiked up on numerous times. There's a spectacular view from the top of the cinder cone out over the Kalapana and Opihikao areas towards the ocean. There's a very deep man-made "crater" just below Pu'u Kaliu and to the west of it. Bryson Cinders in Pahoa (since merged into Sanford's) dug out lots and lots of black cinder from this particular area over many years, and if there were to be a lava flow in the vicinity it might not take a "normal path" since the natural terrain has been altered in a very significant way. And yes, this is around the 860-880 ft elevation. My current property (and Kim's as well) is at 771 ft, so we are 100 ft lower down. However, unless something were to drastically change, the fissures up to this point have not produced any major flows, and it WOULD take a significant flow to get from the area south of Alapai to the center of the subdivision. That said, can't rule anything out. It's just that certain scenarios are more likely and others are less likely. I'm going to stick my neck out and predict that a major flow is less likely.

I hope!

[WestCoastGal]

Thanks Bo that was very informative. I bet in some ways you miss doing the D9 moving, although didn't you hire someone to help out on your current lot? Really appreciate your insight and knowledge of the area. And hoping your intuition/wisdom plays out favorably too! 

[WestCoastGal]

Live coverage (5:30pm HST) right now on http://www.khon2.com/live-stream  Home owner returning to his home and glad to see it was still there.

[Pando]

When taking a straight line thru the eruption zones further SW it will reach areas where there has been significant seepage recently.

 

[bgl]

1 hour ago, WestCoastGal said:

Thanks Bo that was very informative. I bet in some ways you miss doing the D9 moving, although didn't you hire someone to help out on your current lot? Really appreciate your insight and knowledge of the area. And hoping your intuition/wisdom plays out favorably too! 

My current lot - true, but this is "only" two acres and I did very selective clearing on maybe half of it, getting rid of invasive weed trees like strawberry guava and cecropia. The clearing for the nursery was on a whole different scale, even though that was very selective as well. Was very particular where I decided to bring in the D9 and only opened up areas with lots of weed trees in order to save native trees like Metrosideros polymorpha (ohi'a) and a few impressive Tetraplasandra hawaiiensis (and I think they changed the genus name on that one). Forgot to mention that after this 35 ton D9 had been going all over the place, building these roads, AND after having a large dumptruck in there dropping numerous loads of cinder for the various roads, a large and very deep hole opened up right smack in the center of one of the roads. It wouldn't quite have swallowed up the D9 or the dumptruck, but it would certainly have been a major problem if one of them had fallen in!  The area where this large hole opened up is at the extension of the "line" we're seeing. A bit west of breakout #11. There's clearly a connection with what's going on now, and what's been hidden under the surface for (probably) hundreds of years.