Residents voice frustrations at meeting as Hawaii volcano continues to wreak havoc
Lava engulfs cars, homes on Hawaii's Big Island
Molten rock flows into Leilani subdivision; William La Jeunesse reports from Hawaii.
Pāhoa, HI – More than 100 frustrated residents packed into Pahoa High School's cafeteria Monday night, demanding county, state and federal officials be straight with them on the danger still developing as Hawaii’s most active volcano continues its path of destruction.
“Don’t tell us to sit in a shelter,” one angry resident said. “Tell us what is going on. Rumors and fear are spreading. What is going on? Someone tell us something.”
There has been a growing sense of confusion from some residents in the area. They say they haven’t been given details on what actions are being taken to protect their homes and what dangers remain.
The meeting comes as two new cracks in the ground were confirmed in the community. Twelve fissures have been reported in Leilani Estates, near the town of Pahoa. So far, more than 35 structures - 26 of them homes- have burned down.
At the wide-ranging community meeting, Gov. David Ige said state officials are investigating insurance issues related to losses covered by the lava. There had been some concern that homeowners didn’t have lava protection but Ige instructed, “Ask (insurance companies) if you have coverage for fire, don’t ask if you have coverage for lava.”
“As long as you have coverage for dire, we believe you are covered,” he said.
Ahead of the community meeting, Ige stopped by a donation drop off center started by the community for the community, where he praised local efforts.
“Friends helping friends, neighbors helping neighbors. It’s a good thing,” he said.
Earlier in the day, moving walls of thick gooey molten lava from Kilauea choked out homes and vehicles in its path. Over a 24-hour period, the ground shook nearly 500 times - the largest earthquake coming in at a 6.9.
Kilauea erupted Thursday, shooting volcanic ash into the sky and prompting emergency evacuations.
By Friday, more cracks emerged in active volcano vents as molten rock pierced the air and red-hot lava gushed on the ground.
Residents in Leilani Estates as well as Lanipuna Gardens, a rural subdivision directly to the east, were ordered to evacuate.
They were allowed back into their homes to check on their property and get medication but were warned that they may be forced to flee at any given time due to the unpredictably of the situation on the ground.
Kilauea has been continuously erupting since 1983 but this latest eruption is by far the strongest and most unstable the volcano has been in decades.
No deaths have been reported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report