Ocean entry shorelines becoming unstable ~ Visitors able to see some limited activity

(Click on the images for a larger view size in a new window)

After you read my posting below you can watch the May 5th feature Hawaii-News-Now story of the lava coming onto the end of highway 130 by clicking this link here (Opens into their website) OR read their feature article and this page also has the video link on upper right: HawaiiNewsNow lava repaves highway 130

Coastal viewing prospects:
Highway 130 at Kalapana Gardens area - park and walk one mile to end of newly lava covered (May 5th) road. Along the walk out and back the steam plume from the distant ocean entry lava can be seen and after dark it glows orange-red; long lines of degassing lava fumes coming down the hillsides by day – red orbs lined-up by night; at roads end the still-warm lava on the road can be felt and is still radiating hotter close by; occasional yellow flare-ups witnessed in the distance as lava torches trees and vegetation further into the active flow field. Offered at the parking area only: security personnel, vendors, water and port-o-potties available; at roads end there are barricades and security personnel.


Active pahoehoe breakouts continue along with swelling of the hot flow fields at many locations of the April-May surface flow. The coastal entry points are still emptying a lot of lava into the sea as new deltas area being rapidly built. The entire length of the ocean entry and all land adjacent to it inland is quickly becoming unstable and should be kept well aware of from now on:
HAZARD ALERT: The lava delta and adjacent areas both inland and out to sea are some of the most hazardous areas on the flow field. Frequent delta/bench collapses give little warning, can produce hot rock falls out to 400 m (quarter mile) inland and in the adjacent ocean, and can produce large local waves and scaulding water. The steam plume produced by lava entering the ocean contains fine lava fragments and an assortment of acid droplets that can be harmful to your health. The rapidly changing conditions near the ocean entry have been responsible for many injuries and a few deaths.


USGS lava flow map gives a good indication of the active lava zones:

And a new USGS image page has this good aerial of the lava off the (new) end of highway 130:(Where highway ends is the location of the present viewing area)

Below are previous posts, which remain relevant as far as the overall lava activity picture.
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Lava continues well supplied from the eruption site near Pu`u O`o crater down the Pulama Pali; spreading out with active branches across the coastal flats and into the ocean in several locations along a quarter-mile of shoreline very near the old Waikupanaha entry point.

On the coast, pahoehoe continues actively flowing directly adjacent to the older Waikupanaha public viewing site; within 10-feet on the west & south sides and is now nearly level with that old viewing site. Much of the trail leading to this site is now covered in new & still hot lava.

Active lava breakouts are reportedly continuing very close by, but not onto, the paved end of highway 130. I do not know if visitors walking out to the latest public viewing location near the end of 130 were able to witness active lava there last night, or if they will see any tonight.

The Pulama Pali continues hosting some active advancement of new surface lava comprising of both A`a and pahoehoe. This latest flow may have burned into the April lava tubes and re-energized them.

Below is the timeline links to my posts for this April-May flow:
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Above is a rough map with my added notes of the present lava situation (May 4th, 2010; lava has advanced beyond the marked in yellow locations in some places) on the coast of the Big Island. The aerial photo is from the April 28th, 2010 USGS image site.

Click on this link for a complete blog summary of this entire April, 2010 surface flow of lava; from mountain to sea: (scroll to the bottom and read each post running up for a chronological timeline)

And my most recent days postings for May, 2010

I will keep this as my main posting update layout in the coming days, adding new headings and images as lava events warrant.