Kilauea lava might cover old road site

Associated Press

VOLCANO, Hawai'i — Fingers of slow-moving lava flowing from Kilauea Volcano threatened yesterday to cover a landmark stretch of roadway in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

Kilauea's latest display — the most dramatic in years — has been attracting more than 2,000 people each night and hundreds more at sunrise since lava began flowing into the ocean July 19.

Molten lava was pouring into the Pacific at two points yesterday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This breakout of lava began May 12 and first reached the sea July 19.

The flow is "zeroing in on the remnant of the Chain of Craters Road" that has been a park attraction for years, the USGS' Hawaiian Volcano Observatory eruption update report said. "It now appears in grave danger of being covered."

The segment of road is isolated and unusable, bracketed by previous lava flows from the volcano's 19-year eruption.

Yesterday, lava was dripping 15 to 20 feet into the water. The new flow has extended the park by several acres, creating a wide bench of lava and new black sand beaches.

The lava flow has rarely been more accessible to visitors, although signs warn against getting too close to the slow-moving lava or the rose, orange and white steam plumes created at the ocean entry point.

Lane said the road remnant amid old lava flows is one of several area landmarks left from previous phases of the marathon eruption, including a small church and isolated trees.

"There's a fascination with anything that is spared," she said.

"At the same time, lava rules," Lane said. "If she wants it, she'll take it."