May 9, 2018 Leilani Eruption Aerials
Volcanic activity had slowed this morning in the Leilani Estates subdivision on the Big Island of Hawaii. But this afternoon a little after three, we received reports that the lava had entered the geothermal property (unconfirmed), the Lani Puna Gardens subdivision (both to the east of Leilani Estates), and another fissure had broken out on highway 130, southeast of Leilani. There is no active surface lava currently in the subdivision itself. Todays overflight revealed a long line of steaming fissures. The thirteenth Leilani eruption pushed the hot rock right up to the Pohoiki Road near Lani Puna Gardens and also more in the direction of the geothermal plant nearby… both lobes appeared to have stalled this morning, but apparently reactivated later today. Hopefully we can assess the damage from the air tomorrow morning.
Mahalo to Paradise Helicopters and Bruce Omori at Extreme Exposure