Dining with the feel of Hawaiʻi retraction

            We have previously posted a glowing review of Lava Lava Beach Club. When we began the blog we decided that we would not post negative reviews, however, recent events have caused us to renege on that decision.

            While we originally had good experiences with Lava Lava Beach Club, the last two times we had dinner there were not good experiences. On the first occasion it was Thanksgiving Day and we had a crowd with us. The service was very good but the food was terrible. It is hard to ruin turkey  but to serve it cold is inexcusable. To top it off the entertainment had the volume turned up so high it was impossible to hold a conversation, which would be okay if the entertainment was good.

            The second time we again had a group of 10 people and both the service and food was not acceptable. The waiter was totally incompetent and the food was not what one would expect at a decent restaurant. As an example I had seared ahi for dinner. If one thing a decent restaurant in Hawaiʻi  should be able to do is serve decent fish. It wasn't  seared, it was overdone. Betty had a fish dish which she ordered rare. The waiter told her they couldn't cook rare fish. We have been eating fish in Hawaiʻi for 36 years so I think we know how it can be prepared.

            Overall it was not a good experience. Therefore, we are removing our previous blog entitled "Dining with the feel of Hawaiʻi". We just wanted you to know why it disappeared and to advise those who have read it, that we no longer consider it valid.

Pele is getting closer to Pahoa

            The lava flow approaching the town of Pahoa has been stalled for a couple of weeks now. However, a new outbreak has occurred and is gradually inching toward Pahoa, although on a more northerly course. It has advanced far enough that it is now visible on the USGS webcam that shows the back of the Pahoa Marketplace. By frequenting the USGS webcam at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/cams/panorama.php?cam=R4cam you can see the smoke from the flow during the day and the glow at night. We can only hope that Pele stops before the main road is crossed by the lava.

Pele has made a decision

We have been watching the progress of the lava flow in the Puna area for the past two weeks as it slowly worked its way toward a fork in the path. The US Geological Survey mapped out two possible paths for the flow to take which came very close to each other about two miles above the town of Pahoa. Everyone waited as the flow approached the point where it would either head off to the north and possibly die out before doing damage, or head toward the town of Pahoa. 

Pele has finally decided which way to steer the flow. At this time the flow is following the path  projected by the USGS toward Pahoa and the Pahoa Marketplace at the intersection of Pahoa Village Road and Route 130. It is currently about one mile above the intersection and at its current flow rate could reach Route 130 in about a week. Cutting Route 130 would make a difficult situation in Puna worse as that is the main artery to the area. The stores in the Pahoa Marketplace have already made plans for closing, with the Village Market planning to vacate on Thursday, 12/18. The gas station also has plans in place to empty their underground tanks and replace the gasoline with water. Although Civil Defense has not yet ordered an evacuation, everyone is ready to leave at any time.

Puna lava flow update

            First let me apologize for not posting in the last few weeks. We just returned from a spectacular vacation in New Zealand. Anyone interested in natural forces should schedule a visit. Despite 55 years as a geologist, I had never experienced a glacier. In New Zealand we got a chance to helicopter onto a glacier and walk the surface. One more item off the bucket list.

            While we were gone the lava did not advance toward Pahoa town. The front of the flow has stalled and cooled significantly. Therefore, at this time there is no immediate threat to any structure in the Pahoa area.

            However, just because the front has stalled that does not mean that all is over. The Puʻu Oʻo vent is still active and lava is flowing down slope. There have been some breakouts about three miles above the town that have been advancing several hundred yards a day. As is typical in this type of activity, Pele takes her time to decide where to go. So, although all roads are now open in the area, the USGS is constantly monitoring the activity. Conditions can change very rapidly.

The Puna lava flow takes the first house

The lava flow in the Puna District stalled on October 30 and the front of the flow has not advanced since that time. However, lava is still flowing out of the Puʻu Oʻo vent and has been causing the surface of the lava to be pushed up from below. There have also been some occasional outbreaks from the margins of the flow. On Sunday, November 9, an outbreak behind the flow front pushed across Cemetery Road and split into three lobes, one of which is very close to the now abandoned transfer station.

One lobe has entered a residential property and at around noon today, November 10, set the house on fire. This is the first loss of a house from this lava flow which has been active since June 27. Unfortunately, there will probably be more losses as the flow advances.

The picture below shows the flow advancing toward a utility pole. Note the structure around the base of the pole and the pile of cinder. This is an experiment by the utility company to attempt to preserve the pole so that power can be maintained for the community.