PAHOA — The June 27 lava flow was continuing to follow a path of steepest descent Thursday morning that could take it through Pahoa Marketplace.
PAHOA — The June 27 lava flow was continuing to follow a path of steepest descent Thursday morning that could take it through Pahoa Marketplace.
Hawaii County Civil Defense said the flow front was 1.9 miles from the intersection of Highway 130 and Pahoa Village Road after advancing 340 yards within 24 hours. The shopping center is adjacent to that intersection.
Steve Brantley, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory acting scientist-in-charge, said a gully along the anticipated flow path could keep the flow moving at a similar rate as it approaches the marketplace.
Back in October, a gully helped channelize the flow and send it into Pahoa.
“If we compare the potential impact or effect on the advancing lava flow front with the lava flow that moved down the gully on the previous flow in late October, then we might expect the flow to keep moving at this relatively moderate to high rate of a few hundred meters a day,” he said.
“What we don’t have a good sense of is if there is in fact a true gully along the whole path.”
Brantley said HVO geologists will be in the field Friday to make a better assessment.
Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said he continues to speak with business owners in the shopping center about the lava threat. No evacuation order has been given.
“We are still a ways from pulling the trigger,” he said. “It’s one of those things we are very sensitive to. The minute we start to act … there is a consequence to that. Customers may not be able to get goods and services they are used to getting.
“Can you imagine if we were to lose Malama Market too early? It would put the community in a really difficult situation.”
The next lava flow community meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. today at Pahoa High School cafeteria.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.