Concern for Leilani Estates as lava moves eastward underground

[WestCoastGal]

Beautiful! Nice lot there. You wouldn't even know what's going on around you from the photos.

[DoomsDave]

@Justin Good luck is a great thing, wishing you plenty of it.

[realarch]

Thanks for all the update contributions of the situation, which have been more informative than the local news outlets. 

We are shell shocked here in Hilo and I can only imagine what it must be like being directly affected. 

It was nice to hear from you Jason and that your neighborhood is still intact. Bo, Kim, Jason, and the rest of those in in the middle of this

natural event, we are paying attention and hoping for the best outcome.

Tim  

 

[Gtlevine]

Your place looks great Jason.

[JungleGina]

My apologies if this has already been posted in this thread, but I was just reading the USGS history from the 1924 eruption--exactly 94 years ago--and it gave me chicken skin seeing the similarity to the present series of events and the earthquake map in almost the same locations.

https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/geo_hist_1924_halemaumau.html

Malama 'aina

[sur4z]

https://www.usatoday.com/videos/weather/2018/05/10/creeping-lava-toxic-gas-why-hawaii-volcano-unique-disaster/34748399/

[realarch]

Out in the yard pulling weeds and realized I said 'Jason’ instead of 'Justin'. Sentiments not diminished in the least though.

Call me if I can be of any help.

Tim

[WestCoastGal]

Couldn't delete or edit above for some reason 

USGS had said the other day there was movement in the NE area so a little while ago looked at earthquakes in the last 2 hours and last 2 days. Some earthquakes in Leilani but the bulk of them seem to be more towards Kapoho. Just a layman but thinking that may indicate a presence of magma in that area as it moves forward underground. Here's the map I created from the USGS Monitoring section. Notice the gas cloud icons.

Here's the latest posted US Geological Survey map of the area which also shows the 1955 lava flows in the area. Lava was deposited in what became Leilani Estates, Puna Geothermal Venture and Lanipuna Gardens. The majority of lava flowed south of Vacationland Hawaii. Note the 1955 flow of lava off Hwy 130 on the map below and where the steam vents were found west of 130. If your interested here's a USGS produced film from the 1955 eruption in Puna. 5 years later the 1960 eruption that took out most of Kapoho.

 

[WestCoastGal]

I couldn't find much on the 1955 eruption in the way of film. Video quality from that time wasn't so great and I think, long-time residents can chime in, but I think the area was mostly sugar cane. There is much better film from the 1960 eruption in Kopoho and some nice video pieces have been put together illustrating it. I thought these two videos gave a great perspective not only of the eruption in town but the town itself.

 

[WestCoastGal]

Back to the 1955 eruption. I did come across another rather long video compilation made from 1955 footage discovered from several reels stored at the Lyman Museum in Hilo and later digitized. It shows some of the Puna sugar fields affected and general scenery. You might recall seeing the name Lyman from the topo map of the 1924 eruption (linked to above by @JungleGina). HJ Lyman's home is listed at the base of the Kopoho Cone. Somewhere I saw video of his home on fire if I'm not mistaken. Here's the Lyman Museum 1955 Youtube video, the description there lists the film segments. Gordon Macdonald (Hawaiian Volcano Observatory) shown in one segment was the photographer of the USGS 1955 Kilauea film linked to in a previous post. Film and video has come along way since 1955 but its nice we have the eruptions preserved despite the image quality.

Bit more of history on Henry Joiner Lyman - he was a sugar cane farm owner and also the tax assessor and collector for Puna. I guess thanks to his wealth and the fact that he needed to establish to his insurance what his sugar cane claim loss was from the fires we have this video today. 

While as they say past performance is no guarantee of the future, it is helpful to see what happened before.

[WestCoastGal]

More updates from ApauHawaiiTours. Both videos he mentions experiencing some bad fumes. From Friday, 5/11 on Luana:

Video 2, near Leilani and Hookupu.

What's with the flies? They were in one of his videos from yesterday too. With his video they sound like they are in the room with you! 

 

And this is aerial footage by Hawaii DOD from last night, Thursday, 5/10, over Leilani:

An alert did go out today to residents of Lower Puna, between Kapoho and Kalapana to be on the alert in the event of possible gas and volcanic eruptions.

[WestCoastGal]

Bo, another view of the house on Moku. This time it was filmed closer up.

Neighbor down the street on Moku not so lucky.

 

[WestCoastGal]

Justin I came across a video from H.I.S Survival taken on 5/7 and I think it might explain why Pomaikai and Alapai Streets near Malama were marked closed. There is a definite large crack on Pomaikai and Gabe hears steam on Alapai there. Here's the video.

My guess is there are issues with Noeha as well as Oneloa and Maile somewhere too. These streets were all marked closed on that 5/10 map that was generated. Just checked and here's the map as of today. Still showing road closures and they've updated the electricity to your side.

[Justin]

I don't disagree on Pomakai, but there's nothing remotely that size on Kumakahi, Oneloa or Maile.  You'd be lucky to fit a pencil in any cracks on those streets.  (Hopefully it stays that way).

[Justin]

On 5/8/2018, 6:50:00, Pando said:

Here is an interactive Google Map

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=11tCiLa42FId7GMtg-4UkEoAI9QozTVFD&ll=19.45528651396406%2C-154.9102091575806&z=14

 

Looking at this again, if you extend out the red line (of all the fissures from the last week) they lead directly to the Kapoho crater.  I'm sure I'm not the first to think of this, but perhaps the recent flow was using the same piping/tubing as earlier flows, and popped up in Leilani only because of a blockage downslope.  If that blockage goes away, we may have huge fountains in Kapoho again.

[WestCoastGal]

39 minutes ago, Justin said:

Looking at this again, if you extend out the red line (of all the fissures from the last week) they lead directly to the Kapoho crater.  I'm sure I'm not the first to think of this, but perhaps the recent flow was using the same piping/tubing as earlier flows, and popped up in Leilani only because of a blockage downslope.  If that blockage goes away, we may have huge fountains in Kapoho again.

If it does re-erupt in Kapoho Crater with it's side blown off or collapsed, Vacationland Hawaii won't be a vacation for all of those residents. Looks like a lot of homes over there. I hadn't specifically thought about the crater there refilling but it does look like Kapoho might be the likely end to the flow to the ocean. If you watched any of those videos on the 1960 eruption at Kapoho the fountaining got to I think 1000 feet (unless mixing up with one of the other histories of eruptions). 

[WestCoastGal]

1 hour ago, Justin said:

I don't disagree on Pomakai, but there's nothing remotely that size on Kumakahi, Oneloa or Maile.  You'd be lucky to fit a pencil in any cracks on those streets.  (Hopefully it stays that way).

It may not always be crack/s in the road but instead in the lot/s nearby. Gabe (H.I.S Survival) sounded confident there was a good amount of steam coming out of the ground in someone's wooded lot on Alapai, right at the corner with Malama I think. Said he didn't want to trespass but could hear it. I didn't have my volume turned up when watching his video but he made kind of a big point about hearing the stream through the woods and maybe the video would pick it up so we could hear it. My guess is officials investigated and marked the streets closed to keep people out of the area should worrisome cracks on people's property suddenly steam and gas. If you see any of the USGS or civil defense crews around you might want to ask if they can clarify.

I just re-watched/listened to the video and could hear the pulsating of steam at Alapai. 

[Morabeza]

Of course it's nothing compared to the danger of lava, but I am dreading this 12 mile radius ash plume possibility up the mountain as where I live falls in the radius.  Thankfully I'm not close enough to fear ejecta but I am concerned about phyotoxicity issues. I am trying to protect my plants but I worry I will not have enough time to build covers or bring all under cover. Sigh.

Rain is forecast (as always) for the coming week, so I'm unsure as to what effect (positive or negative) such weather will have on keeping plants safe from ash damage. I sincerely hope rinsing them down with alkaline water will be enough to counter the acidity.

https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/pd-47.pdf

https://youtu.be/zYrKCfSKxAg

"Ash does not damage plants directly if it is removed;  otherwise it can block sunlight and thereby reduce photosynthesis. Combined with moisture on foliage, it can  become acidic and cause foliar and flower damage. Ash  can cause cosmetic damage, and it probably should not  be eaten. It can and should be washed from plant foliage  and fruits with water. "

I grow more sensitive plants than the average crop but I'm hoping that it is true that only some cosmetic danger is all I must worry about.

Edited May 12, 2018 by Morabeza

[Really full garden]

4 hours ago, Morabeza said:

Of course it's nothing compared to the danger of lava, but I am dreading this 12 mile radius ash plume possibility up the mountain as where I live falls in the radius.  Thankfully I'm not close enough to fear ejecta but I am concerned about phyotoxicity issues. I am trying to protect my plants but I worry I will not have enough time to build covers or bring all under cover. Sigh.

Rain is forecast (as always) for the coming week, so I'm unsure as to what effect (positive or negative) such weather will have on keeping plants safe from ash damage. I sincerely hope rinsing them down with alkaline water will be enough to counter the acidity.

https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/pd-47.pdf

https://youtu.be/zYrKCfSKxAg

"Ash does not damage plants directly if it is removed;  otherwise it can block sunlight and thereby reduce photosynthesis. Combined with moisture on foliage, it can  become acidic and cause foliar and flower damage. Ash  can cause cosmetic damage, and it probably should not  be eaten. It can and should be washed from plant foliage  and fruits with water. "

I grow more sensitive plants than the average crop but I'm hoping that it is true that only some cosmetic danger is all I must worry about.

I live ten miles from the crater of an active volcano.I have had ash fall in my garden on several occasions. The ash was super fine powder and washing it off was impossible. The water just made it dissolve into a milky grey mess.

Some plants showed no signs of damage,some had spotting and burn from the acid.

[Kim]

Excellent maps and explanations in this New York Times article. I especially like the broad view including the main crater, Halema'uma'u, then Pu'u O'o and on down the ridge through Leilani Estates and Kapoho. It can be difficult to visualize all the connections of the volcanic system, but this map makes it easier to understand. (However, do no take the dotted red line indicating the "approximate direction of lava beneath the surface" literally, as it is way off.) Another excellent set of graphics show the historical flows in Leilani Estates.

'Shell-Shocked' in Hawaii: How Lava Overran a Neighborhood - The New York Times

[WestCoastGal]

Thanks Kim that was a good read. NYT usually has great graphics and photos incorporated in their articles. I don't subscribe so run up against their free non-subscriber limit and thankful this was my last article to click on and well worth the remaining click! While we've been to HVNP and spent time in Hilo on that side of the island, I guess I forgot how close in proximity the summit and Pu'u O'o are to your subdivision. That kind of surprised me after thinking about it as it's easy to compare similar end points here in the Bay area. The article didn't mention it but I'm guessing Leilani Estates was approved for development after the 1960 eruption of Kapaho as a means to offer housing/community space to those displaced. 

I've been wanting to come back and discuss the last photo in the article which is of the massive fissure zone that blanketed so many houses. That spot in the lava where you see molten lava in yellow emerging from, I know from a map view there was a house right on that spot - it's location was shown very graphically in an article with one of those swipe windows of before and after. Is that the house that got blown up if anyone knows? Given its location I can imagine that being a very real possibility. I am so thankful the evacuations started early enough that so one has died. The loss of homes and lifetime of tropical memories there is still nothing compared to a life lost. One of the advantages to shield volcanoes I guess. 

Morabeza, it's easy for non-islanders to focus on the lava as the biggest risk but thanks for the reminder that those of you on the west coast are at potential risks in other ways. 

[Hilo Jason]

On 5/11/2018, 7:30:40, Justin said:

Happy Aloha Friday from Leilani.

Justin - it's nice to see pictures of beauty from Leilani for a change, instead of just destruction. I really hope your home and garden remains untouched. 

[Justin]

New fissure, northeast of Leilani, east of PGV, south of 132 (so in the middle of nowhere, thankfully).

[WestCoastGal]

Thanks Justin for the update on F16. Glad activity is moving away (I think you guys have had enough) and hopefully that means Lanipuna Gardens gets spared too.

I was checking in on who's become my favorite video poster, ApauHawaiiTours. If we get back to the big island I'm definitely looking him up to do some lava tours. Any way he said he might be stopping the videos after today but here's his new ones for Sat. 5/12. For those that have questions about how things will grow afterwards, check out this next video I found very interesting - apart from the tour of his backyard and views of his neighbors backyards showing the cinder cones from distant eruptions to the area. Very cool.

With Leilani and many subdivisions in the area on catchment, he makes a point of reminding people to clean out their tanks due to acid rain concerns, something I've recently seen advised in the local news articles as well.

This was his maybe last video, from lower Makamae Street. He's been intending to climb the lava flow.

 

[WestCoastGal]

This video update from Sirens999sirens (video credit Shane Trupin) was posted on Friday, 5/11, of the condition of Pohoiki Road near F15. 

And here's a new video of Fissure 16. Again photo credit to Shane Turpin (who has his own video channel - only 2 videos posted unrelated to the volcano action) and wondering if Shane doesn't have access to post so maybe his friend is doing so for him. Anyway nice to be getting the updates.

 

More video from F16:

 

[WestCoastGal]

Here's a map of the new fissure. PGV plant is located between 132/Pohoiki Road/Lanipuna Gardens and the fissure is out of PGV's property (for some reason even when I click on adding PGV to the map and it shows it online it won't appear when I print). Looking at the direction of the fissures' advancing magma could potentially cross Hwy 137 and reach Kapoho Bay again.

 

[WestCoastGal]

ApauHawaiiTours (Scott Wiggers) published this video today. He drove down to the bottom of Kahukai near Leilani and there are huge road problems with deformation there on that street since he was on it yesterday, plus one of the owners who he ran into while he was checking on his house told him that he had a huge 30 foot pit in the back of his yard that was new (this would be on Kahukai between Leilani and Mohala (Leilani Estates side). Here's his video:

Here's what the street at the cones looked like yesterday when he was able to drive over it.

He decided to explore more going down Kahukai and took this video after turning on Mohala (Fissure 1, not 13 based on USGS map). Deep views inside the crack in the road.

 

[WestCoastGal]

Bryon Matthews' drone video from yesterday that he posted today. Still a considerable amount of steam coming from the majority of the fissures and cracks in the ground in between fissures. The steam is traveling in SW direction. The video starts at the vents at F8/2/7 and moves towards F15 in lower Leilani Estates. Video at 3:22 at Pohoiki/Leilani Road. F16 didn't happen until early this morning. The drone turns around and returns back to where it started. Homeowners around the fissures should get a good idea how their property is as of Friday. The video then moves down towards upper LE but the steaming makes it difficult to see well. The drone does follow the fissures all the way down to Malama. Quite the visual difference between the brown eastern side of LE and the green western side. The steaming near Malama is very visible and hinders a clear view. The drone turns at that point and follows the path back NEward to the vents at F8/2/7 this time on the left side of the fissures. When he gets back to the vents I swear I thought he was close to landing the drone there. Really close up views.

Great drone work. Very slow pace and super clear video when the steam wasn't interfering with the view. It's so nice to see so much of Leilani Estate undamaged.

Threads been pretty quiet. Do you guys still want me to post these videos or are you kind of video'd out?

[WestCoastGal]

One more informative video I'll share: Pahoehoe Lava Flows in Lower Puna: What to Expect. A lot of what I think we've seen has been 'a'a but some areas have been pahoehoe. The video might give those who want to climb on some of the fresh hardened lava pause in doing so.

 

 

[WestCoastGal]

Well looks like we have Fissure 17, splattering and degassing at this stage:

https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/kilauea/news/68914/Kilauea-volcano-update-New-lava-emission-from-new-fissures-after-3-days-of-pause.html

[John in Andalucia]

Fantastic job you are doing Debbie, of documenting and reporting this phenomenon. The lava flows are so mesmerising. It's easy to see why some would want to get a closer look, but the 'breakouts' show all to clearly the dangers of doing that!

It makes me wonder. Do the authorities come up with new road plans to circumvent the most recent fissures, or do they simply excavate the cinder obstructing the roads, if and when everything cools down?

[Moose]

I check this thread 2 to 3 times a day getting updates. Been monitoring it since it was first posted. The videos are informative, many show the humanistic side of what's happening.

Will keep coming back too, best comprehensive coverage of these unique events. Looking at all the "hits" this thread has received, I don't think I am alone.

Thank you to all who have posted updates.

[Kim]

@WestCoastGal, I appreciate this central location to get local information. I catch up once or twice a day — better for me to occupy my mind elsewhere for a good part of the day, but I keep coming back here to see what is new. However if you tire or lose interest, don’t feel obligated to continue. 

[bgl]

Debbie, we really appreciate all these amazing videos, so please, by all means, continue to post whatever you come across. Kim and I have been "on the road" recently, so somewhat limited time for the internet and PalmTalk, but whenever we have time, we most certainly check in here and make a feeble attempt at keeping up with recent events.

Bo-Göran

EDIT - and John, the authorities certainly have emergency roads in mind. It's just that with everything still very much "going on" there will be no attempts to open up any new emegerncy roads. Those who live in affected, or potentially affected, areas are encouraged to either evacuate or be ready to evacuate. That's all of lower Puna at this point, meaning everyone from Leilani Estates, south to Kalapana and east to Kapoho, and everyone along the coast between those two communities. Active breakouts in the Kapoho area would effectively cut off any and all access to the coast. If nothing else happens up around Highway 130 (south of the now only entrance to Leilani Estates) then it would be fairly easy to "fix" Hwy 130 and open it up. But nobody knows that yet.

[WestCoastGal]

Morning all and glad to hear the posts are still well received. I'd be hard pressed to not follow the news on Puna myself since the eruption, so have no problem sharing info that I come across. As I read members posts, and at the same time see so many of mine, I become concerned of overwhelming the thread with one voice. I originally dropped back in on the forum in part to check on palm members here that I knew lived in Leilani Estates and to post a few updates on our garden which I hadn't done in a while. We have a very limited palm garden with non-rare, zoned palms, so no where near as exciting as many of your gardens but still beautiful in my eyes. Not sure where I'm going with my thoughts on this as I still need my morning cup of coffee  but maybe saying I feel I can contribute more this way . Will be away from home and wifi most of the day today but wanted to check in before heading out. Here's a few things for today.

I was a bit surprised but not to hear on KHON that Hawaii Civil Defense issued a directive to vacation rental owners and operators to shut down during this time. Clearly officials are very concerned where this eruption is heading and getting visitors evacuated in a safe manner. Given how quickly the town of Kapoha was affected in 1960, and that lava's headed that way again and access roads are limited, understandable.

USGS added a photo taken yesterday of F16 which had gone inactive and showed the location of F17 which was steaming. Very closely located together.

There's now Fissure 18. Located near Halekamahina Loop Road in the vicinity of Puna Geothermal Venure. Police and Civil Defense were waking people this morning to tell them to evacuate.

On a more education note, while the 2014 Puna Lava video illustrated pahoehoe lava flow, I thought this video "Expeditions in Geology: Hawaiian Lava Flows" (Jerry Magloughlin) that we watched last night nicely explained the 'a'a flow we are seeing in Leilani and goes into why we see one type or the other.

 

 

[Justin]

Fissure 18 is going off.  I'm probably 3 or so miles away, and I can hear it constantly.  It sounds like a mixture of distant thunder, crashing waves, and explosions (like those of us who live anywhere near Camp Pendleton hear semi-regularly).  Every 20-30 minutes there's an explosion big enough that it shakes my windows.

[WestCoastGal]

Wow, sounds frightening and not good for lower Puna. I wonder if the intensity of sounds is related to the wells there, like gases bursting up through the wells. At least we know the flammable pentane was removed. 

Here's a video from WXChasing on F18 (wow fireworks). I sure hope no one gets hurt filming this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZkquZOdOUw

MrMBB333's video reporting what Ikaika Marzo has posted. Note: Hwy 132 is now closed.

 

Edited May 13, 2018 by WestCoastGal
Not sure why the 1st video isn't viewable on the page like other videos I've posted, but worth clicking on.

[WestCoastGal]

This morning I was watching a video on sounds and lights of earthquakes. Had me curious about this after Black Sands residents had reported the booms earlier last week. Not scientific but interesting all the same. The YT page for the video lists the links to videos referred to and I recognized one of the names as MrMBB33 who I've seen some of his videos on the eruption.

Wondering what you guys living there have heard and seen (not directly related to the eruptions of course).

[WestCoastGal]

Here's what Scott (ApauHawaiiTours) experienced when trying to get out of Leilani Estates to make it over to F16, 17 and 18. You can see how hazardous accessing these areas can be whether walking through the area or trying to drive out through the steam.

 

Scott says he'll be doing a CNN live phone interview for their 8am HST broadcast.

[WestCoastGal]

Live broadcast/chat posted right now at Fissure 18.

Not sure who is sponsoring this video and the image on the video below is Not representative from what I've seen (hate when people try to sell panic). 2 hours of video timeline so scrub to the beginning if you want. Taken from a high vantage point, narrator/reporter indicates they are 1/2 mile away. Sounds like a conservative radio talkshow broadcast -- yes, the Trumpet News Channel.

I scrubbed through the 2 hours of video to bring it current and apart from steam did not see any of the fireworks during this time. Not to say it won't reappear again and probably will and nice that they are live and you'll get that immediate view when it does. Definitely can continue to hear the erupting lava below. Well apparently after scrubing and watching forward it came to the end of the 2 hours because now I see a static image of the fissure zone looking off someone balcony/porch.  Refresh the page to go back to Live Feed if your not current with the feed. Not sure if it's worth the time to rewatch anything since I didn't see much but that's up to you.

And I just saw an explosion of lava into the air. Wish we could see the fissure. If it rapidly builds up a cone that may happen.