Hawaii County Civil Defense interactive map of roadblocks, subdivisions, and eruption fissures: hawaii247.com/lavamap

USGS Resources related to the 2018 Kilauea Lower East Rift Zone eruption and Summit Activity

KÄ«lauea Eruption Information Resources: www.hawaiicounty.gov/lava-related/

Kilauea Eruption Update

9:45 p.m. update: The Hawaii Police Department has ordered a MANDATORY EVACUATION for Noni Farms Road and Hale Kamahina Road off of Hwy 132, around the 5-mile marker due to lava inundation. This notice affects all residents and businesses in Hwy 132 at the 5-mile marker and immediate surrounding area.

Shelters are open at the Pahoa Community Center, Kea‘au Community Center and the Sure Foundation Church.  Shelters are pet-friendly.

Lava flows out of fissures and pours onto the Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) site. Fast moving pahoehoe lava flows have forced evacuations in the area. You can see a communications tower go down in the center of the video. Time-lapse movie of Kilauea’s Lower East Rift Zone in Puna. The camera is positioned near Kapoho looking Northwest. May 24-29, 2018. Images courtesy of USGS/HVO

Video of fissure 8, as observed during a helicopter overflight on May 29, 2018, and as viewed from ground level. Fissure 8 was fountaining to heights of 200 feet at times, and feeding a lava flow that was traveling to the northeast.

Everyday, a team of USGS scientists canvass areas along Kilauea Volcano’s east Lower Rift Zone.

Panorama of Halemaʻumaʻu Overlook Vent Wide Angle from HVO Observation Tower at 1:59 a.m. Tuesday, May 29, 2018. An ash eruption occurred sending plumes of ash up to 15,000 feet.

Scientists on the early morning overflight of KÄ«lauea Volcano’s lower East Rift Zone documented a very weak ocean entry. For the easternmost lobe, only a few small finger channels of lava were entering the ocean. Photo taken Tuesday, May 29, 2018 courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey

Fissure 8 reactivated on the afternoon of May 28, when, at times, lava fountains were reaching heights of 200 feet and feeding a lava flow that advanced to the northeast. Photo taken Tuesday, May 29, 2018 courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey

Tephra (airborne lava fragments) erupted by the high lava fountains of fissure 8 was carried downwind, where the frothy rock fragments fell on Leilani Street, just past Kupono Street, in the Leilani Estates subdivision. Photo taken Tuesday, May 29, 2018 courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey

This thermal map shows the fissure system and lava flows as of 1:15 pm on Monday, May 28. The flow from Fissure 8 that reached Pohoiki Rd. this morning stalled, though activity restarted at Fissure 8 in the afternoon shortly after this map was made. The channelized flows that had reached the ocean were inactive today – a small amount of residual lava was draining from the abandoned eastern channel into the ocean, creating a weak ocean entry plume. Fissure 22 restarted today with lava starting to reoccupy the drained channel. The black and white area is the extent of the thermal map. Temperature in the thermal image is displayed as gray-scale values, with the brightest pixels indicating the hottest areas. The thermal map was constructed by stitching many overlapping oblique thermal images collected by a handheld thermal camera during a helicopter overflight of the flow field. The base is a copyrighted color satellite image (used with permission) provided by Digital Globe.

This animated GIF shows a sequence of radar amplitude images that were acquired by the Italian Space Agency’s Cosmo-SkyMed satellite system. The series shows changes to the caldera area of KÄ«lauea Volcano that occurred over May 5 at 6:12 a.m. HST, May 17 at 6:12 a.m. HST, May 21 at 6:12 a.m. HST, and May 29 at 6:12 a.m. HST. The satellite transmits a radar signal at the surface and measures the strength of the return, with bright areas indicating a strong return and dark areas a weak return. Strong returns indicate rough surfaces or slopes that point back at the radar, while weak returns come from smooth surfaces or slopes angled away from the radar. The May 5 image was acquired before any small explosions occurred from the summit. The May 17, 21, and 29 images show changes to the summit area after the onset of small explosions and ash emissions. Major changes over time include: (1) a darkening of the terrain south of Halema‘uma‘u, which reflects accumulation of ash; (2) enlargement of the summit eruptive vent on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u. The apparent slumping of the east rim of Halema‘uma‘u is not actual motion of the ground, but is an effect of the radar viewing angle, which is from the side instead of being straight down.

Map as of 6:00 p.m. HST, May 29, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of KÄ«lauea’s lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted—and could have changed rapidly since that time. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

This is a Civil Defense Message for 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 29, 2018.

Highway 132 is closed from Lava Tree State Park to Four Corners due to a lava flow that has crossed the highway. HELCO reports that lava destroyed their equipment on Highway 132, causing a power outage in the Vacationland and Kapoho Beach Lots area.  The area will be without power over an extended period of time.

Due to the lava activity the following policies are in effect:

• Only residents with placards are allowed to access Highway 137 beyond Four Corners.
• Residents close to any volcanic activity should remain alert and be prepared to voluntarily evacuate if necessary.

The following is provided for your information:

• Pele’s Hair which has fallen in the Pahoa area can cause skin, nose, eye and lung irritation.
• Stay inside or use ash masks for protection.
• Today’s community meeting at the Pahoa High School Cafeteria begins ½ hour earlier at 5 p.m. this evening.
• The Dept. of Health has changed the venue for tomorrow’s meeting to discuss vog and ash exposure in the Ka‘u District. It will be at the Robert Herkes Gym and Emergency Shelter in Pahala at 5:30 p.m. in the evening.

The following is provided for your information:

• Today’s community meeting at the Pahoa High School Cafeteria begins ½ hour earlier at 5 p.m. this evening.
• The Dept. of Health has changed the venue for tomorrow’s meeting to discuss vog and ash exposure in the Ka‘u District. It will be at the Robert Herkes Gym and Emergency Shelter in Pahala at 5:30 p.m. in the evening.

An ash eruption at Halemaumau Crater at about 2 a.m. this morning produced an ash plume 15,000 feet in the air. Light winds are blowing toward the northwest and ashfall may affect the Volcano and Pahala areas. Officials are monitoring active flows near the highway 132 and Pohoiki Road Junction. If Highway 132 is overrun Beach Road will be the only access into the lower Puna area.

Due to the volcanic activity, the following policies are in effect:

• Residents close to the active eruption need to leave the area to avoid being isolated by the flow.
• Authorities are going door to door on the affected streets.
• Stay alert for warnings from Civil Defense Officials
• The Pahoa Community Center, Keaau Community Center, and Sure Foundation Church are open.  The shelters are pet-friendly.

Due to the lava entry at the ocean, the following policies are in effect:

• Access to the area is prohibited due to the laze hazard.
• Stay away from any ocean plume since it can change direction without warning.
• The U.S. Coast Guard is actively monitoring the ocean entry area and enforcing a 300-meter standoff zone. Only permitted tour boats are allowed in the area.
• Health hazards of laze include lung, eye and skin irritation.
• Be aware that the laze plume travels with the wind and can change direction without warning.
• Tankers are providing drinking water in Vacationland & Kapoho.
• For those evacuating, the Pahoa Community Center, Keaau Community Center, and Sure Foundation Church are open. Food will be provided and the shelters are pet-friendly.

A third shelter has opened. Sure Foundation, located on Pohaku Circle in Keaau, is now open.

• People from Pahoa who have breathing concerns are relocating from the Pahoa Community Center shelter to the Sure Foundation shelter. The shelter will cater specifically to people with breathing issues, but everyone is welcome.

Get the latest Vog Predictions here: http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/vmap/

Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) and Vog

Click on image for full description of air quality levels.

Volcanic gas emissions remain elevated throughout the area downwind of the vents in lower Puna.

• Severe conditions may exist such as choking and inability to breathe.
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) gas from fissures are especially dangerous for elderly, children/babies and people with respiratory problems.

County, State, and Federal partners continue to monitor the situation. You will be informed of any conditions that affect your safety.

Monitor vog levels and forecasts: People on Hawaii Island outside the area of volcanic activity are also advised to monitor levels of vog at https://vog.ivhhn.org

The residents of Puna are going through a very difficult time. We ask for your help and understanding.

Maps by USGS/Hawaiian Volcano Observatory of the Kilauea Eruption Lower East Rift Zone in Puna.