The June 27 lava flow remained inactive in Pahoa on Tuesday morning as breakouts near Pu‘u ‘O‘o divert its supply.
The June 27 lava flow remained inactive in Pahoa on Tuesday morning as breakouts near Pu‘u ‘O‘o divert its supply.
The closest surface flows were 5 miles upslope of Apa‘a Street, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense. Activity was restricted to the area between Pu‘u ‘O‘o and a ground crack system the flow previously filled.
“Although no activity was observed downslope of the crack system, numerous surface breakouts and flows were noted in the areas from the vent to the crack system indicating lava remains in the system,” Civil Defense said.
In a status report issued late Monday evening, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists attributed the decrease in activity near Pahoa to a large breakout from the lava tube near Pu‘u ‘O‘o. That breakout began Friday or Saturday.
HVO noted other breakouts between the vent and the tube system and that the tube could be refilling with lava.
“A webcam showed that these other breakouts occurred progressively downslope along the lava tube since yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, suggesting a gradual refilling of the tube in this area,” HVO said. “We can only wait to see how much of the tube system within and below the crack system might be reoccupied with lava.”
The next community meeting on the lava flow will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Pahoa High School cafeteria.