The Puna lava flow in Pāhoa, Hawai‘i has reached residential areas and has completely destroyed a home and overtaken the local cemetery, as of 4:45 P.M. on Thursday, Nov. 13. The flow has been measured in the past week to be moving at around 960 ft. per day, which is equivalent to about 293 meters.While some locals insist there is a way to divert the flow, Native Hawaiians of the region think otherwise. Dr. Ben, a Scientific Inquiry professor said, “From the outside, it may seem like tragedy, but people who live in Pāhoa and surrounding areas know the risk of living so close to a volcano.”Some residents asked officials in a town hall meeting if there is a plan for diverting the flow, and ‘Ihilani (last name not specified), a Hawaiian woman living in the Pāhoa area made a come back saying, “You’re all speaking on diversion and stopping the lava flow, but as a Native Hawaiian, I know that Pele doesn’t work like that.” She continued, “To Native Hawaiians, Pele is our kupuna; she is our ancestor. You wonder where all the Native Hawaiians are-- some of us are here, but most of us are back home preparing for an important guest.”Community members stress the fact that in the last lava flow in 1959, lava was never the cause of the destruction of homes they burned. Community council members in Pāhoa stress the need to check insurance policies and coverage of this possible damage.One woman of the Pāhoa community said with conviction to “work together” and “when the lava comes into your home, pray and thank God that you had this many years and the opportunity to live in paradise.”‘Ānela Poepoe, a freshman from Honolulu, said, “It is not our job to decide where the flow goes, if you chose to live on sacred land, you must recognize that the land will do as it pleases.”In coming weeks, donations to assist the reconstruction and to feed the displaced residents in Pāhoa will be accepted at hawaii.salvationarmy.org or by calling The Salvation Army – Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Divisional Headquarters at (808)-988-2136.
Writer: Morgynne Tora ~ Multimedia Journalist
