PAHOA — Hawaii County Civil Defense has observed decreased activity at three main breakouts on the June 27 lava flow today.
PAHOA — Hawaii County Civil Defense has observed decreased activity at three main breakouts on the June 27 lava flow today.
Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said a lobe advancing toward Apa‘a Street mauka of the Pahoa waste transfer station moved 50 to 75 yards over 24 hours. That’s down from 225 yards the previous day.
That breakout was about 0.2 miles from the road this morning and it could still cross the road in a few days, he said. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists are assessing the area’s topography to confirm its likely path.
Lava continues to flow into the transfer station but at a more “sluggish” rate, Oliveira said. No structures there have been damaged.
Additionally, lava activity was weak on private property off Cemetery Road where a home was destroyed Monday.
At about 9 a.m., police reopened Post Office Road to through traffic. Apa‘a Street and Pahoa Village Road between Apa‘a Street and Post Office Road remain closed to non-residents.
Winds are carrying smoke from burning vegetation and asphalt to communities north of the flow, Oliveira said.
He said air quality monitors have been placed at the Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science and the Pahoa school complex. The schools are typically downwind from the flow.
A third monitor will be placed in Leilani Estates, Oliveira said.
Community Emergency Response Teams and Red Cross volunteers visited with more residents on Pahoa Village Road and Apa‘a Street on Wednesday evening to assess their needs should they need to evacuate, Oliveira said. No evacuation order was given.
A community meeting on the lava flow will be held at 6:30 p.m. today at Pahoa High School cafeteria.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.