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UPDATE (7:45 a.m.) – As of a 7:30 a.m. HST overflight, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says lava was about 430 yards from the ocean between Kapoho Beach Road and Kapoho Kai Drive.

UPDATE (6:30 a.m.) – Lava has reached Kapoho Kai Road to the south, Hawaii County Civil Defense reported in this morning’s update. “Please contact Civil Defense if you confirm that someone you know is remaining in the isolated area. Call (808) 935-0031.”

Lava Inundates Kapoho

A wide lava flow originating from Fissure 8 in Leilani Estates crossed Highway 137 near the Four Corners intersection at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning and, hours later, advanced into Kapoho Beach Lots. Video recorded by Senator Kai Kahele – on HIANG drill weekend performing duty in lower Puna with Task Force Hawai’i, JTF50 in support of the evacuations in Kapoho/Vacationland – shows the lava making its way towards the ocean, destroying everything in its path. Kahele said civilians still in Kapoho were directed to go to Pohoiki / Issac Hale Beach Park for potential extraction and U.S. Army Blackhawks landed at designated landing zones ready to assist with the evacuation.

At 2:40 a.m., the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported a University of Hawaii-Hilo UAS thermal imaging flight “indicates that lava is about 500 yards from Kapoho tidepools. Flow front is about 0.5 miles wide and extends from Kapoho Beach Road almost to Kapoho Kai Drive and down to Ililani Road.”

There is no access to Kapoho, Vacationland, Highway 132, and Highway 137, Hawaii County Civil Defense says. “Government Beach Road, between Kahakai Boulevard and Cinder Road, is open to Waa Waa and Papaya Farms Road residents only with official credentials,” officials say. “There is no curfew.”

Green Lake Evaporated

At 10 a.m. on Saturday, as the Fissure 8 flow was crossing Highway 137, lava entered Kai Wai a Pele, or Green Lake, within Kapoho Crater. The interaction produced a large steam plume that was seen for miles. “By 1:30 p.m. the steam plume had ceased and by 3 p.m., a Hawaii County Fire Department overflight reported that lava had filled the lake and apparently evaporated all the water,” USGS said.

Leilani Estates Evacuation Zone A Ghost Town

The mandatory evacuation area east of Pomaikai Street in Leilani Estates is mostly deserted. Barricades block streets and the landscape is covered by crunchy tephra, ejected by fissure eruptions. Dangerous volcanic gas is everywhere. On Moku Street and Leilani Avenue, the atmosphere is dominated by the fountaining of Fissure 8. The nearby Leilani Estates Community Center sits empty. The facility is in the restricted zone. Just outside the subdivision, the lava flows that crossed Pohoiki Road and Highway 132 just east of “the Y” have inflated into mountainous roadblocks.

The Summit

“Earthquake activity at the summit overnight was low,” USGS reported on June 2 at 7:39 p.m. “Ash emissions are low as revealed by webcam views this morning. Small explosive events could produce minor amounts of ash fall downwind at any time. Volcanic gas emissions at the summit remain high.”

Puna Insurance Claims Forum

The State and County of Hawai’i and Hawaii Public Adjusters will host a forum on Thursday, June 7, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Hawaiian Shores Community Association Building, commonly known as ”The Stables”, located in Hawaiian Beaches. “United Policy Holders, Hawaii County Bar Associates and Professionals from Hawaii Public Adjusters will be on hand to present the general means, methods and standard practices for filing claims,” an event flyer stated. “Q&A period to follow to allow policyholders and others to clarify concerns about filing disaster claims and find out more information about where to obtain professional help.”

Seven People Cited Friday Night

Seven people were cited Friday night for loitering in a volcano disaster zone, according to a State Department of Land and Natural Resources news release: