Hawaii County is continuing to pursue a site for a lava viewing area, but overflows from the fissure 8 channel and other hazards are presenting challenges.
Diane Ley, county research and development director who is working on this issue, said four sites have been considered so far, including near the intersection of Pahoa-Kapoho Road and Pohoiki Road. But overflows of the swift-moving lava channel in the area earlier this week made that option a no-go, at least for the time being.
“It’s going to have to be somewhere else,” she said.
Ley said the evaluation process is like taking “one step forward, two steps back, and one to the side.”
She said county officials know that creating a viewing area is important for many, including drawing tourists back to Pahoa, but safety remains a concern.
“We know how valuable that is going to be to businesses across the island,” Ley said.
Hazards being evaluated include sulfur dioxide levels, laze plumes from the ocean entry in Kapoho and overflows and seeps from the flow.
Public and private lands are being looked at, and the county is open to suggestions.
While it doesn’t have a site selected yet, the county doesn’t plan to let individual vehicles access such a location, Ley said. A shuttle service likely would be provided.
Officials have no timeline for opening a viewing area.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.