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What is the safest lava zone on the Big Island?

Zone 9, considered the least hazardous region, consists of Kohala, a volcano that has not erupted for 60,000 years. Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Lava-flow hazard zones map, Island of Hawai'i.



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Zone 3 includes areas gradationally less hazardous than zone 2 because of greater distance from recently active vents or because the topography makes it less likely that flows will cover these areas.

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Maui Zone 4 - Functionally has no danger from eruption havening not been inundated with lava for at least 100,000 years. This makes it most similar to a Zone 9 on the island of Hawai?i.

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Zone 3 - Areas less hazardous than zone 2 because of greater distance from recently active vents and (or) because of topography. 1-5% of zone 3 has been covered since 1800, and 15-75% has been covered within the past 750 years.

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Zone 8 - Remaining part of Mauna Kea. Only a few percents of this area has been covered by lava in the past 10,000 years. Zone 9 - Kohala Volcano, which last erupted over 60,000 years ago.

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On average for a 1,200 sf home you can expect annual premiums to be approximately $6,000.00. For comparison, a homeowners policy for lava zone 3 or higher is about $1,400.00 per year and you will have numerous choices for coverage.

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Lava Zone 2 areas include Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos, Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, Black Sand Beach, Nanawale Estates, Kehena, Kalapana Seaview Estate, parts of Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaiian Beaches, parts of Kapoho, Puna Beach Palisades, Kona Paradise, Honomalino, Opiihale and more.

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Lava is best seen at night along the south rim. There are three main viewing locations: Kupina?i Pali (Waldron Ledge) from Crater Rim Trail, Kilauea Overlook, and Keanakako?i Crater. Keanakako?i Crater is the closest eruption viewpoint - here you'll see a lava lake that emits a reddish-orange glow at night!

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Lava zone 2: Black Sand Beach, Nanawale Estates, Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Shores, Hawaiian Parks, Kehena, Puna Beach Palisades, Kalapana Seaview Estates, Kaimu-Makena Houselots. Pahoa is of course also in this lava zone.

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Captain Cook shares much in common with the District of Puna. Both districts are situated on active volcanoes and contain large sections of land that are in Lava Flow Hazard Zone 2.

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And this is not anything new either. Except for the occasional vog, the main islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai are unaffected by the volcano. And even on the Big Island, it's business as usual. The only exception is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Puna District and nearby areas.

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A good entrance is near lifepod 12 in the bulb zone. It is a giant cave big enough for your cyclops, and following it will take you straight to the lava zone. Mark a lost river entrance and the lava zone entrance with a beacon so that you can come back later without having to spend a lot of time searching.

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If the park determines that access to the flow is safe you can go on a hike to see the lava. Because viewing conditions change on a daily basis you should look up the most recent information about the active surface flows shortly before you plan to see the lava yourself.

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The most recent eruption in 2022 lasted two weeks and erupted lava flows that came to within 1.7 miles (2.8 kilometers) of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road).

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The Kilauea is a dynamic volcano, and lava viewing conditions change daily. Even if a viewing area is organized by the National Park, this does not guarantee close access of the lava. Often a 1+ hour hike over hazardous terrain is necessary to reach the flow front of the lava.

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Despite all of these impressive figures Kilauea is the most famous of the Hawaiian volcanoes, and rightly so! As the youngest and most active of the five volcanoes you can often see its lava either flowing into the ocean or glowing in the immense Halema'uma'u crater that crowns the park grounds.

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