Kupaianaha: 1990-1991
Activity continued at Kupaianaha in 1990. The depth to the surface
of the pond had changed considerably compared to earlier in this
episode. The increased depth may have been the result of lower pressure
in the plumbing system of the volcano and/or thermal erosion of the
bottoms of long-lived lava tubes. Photograph by Steve Mattox, January
1990.
In 1990, a tube system extended the flow field to the east. Lava entered
the coastal village of Kalapana in April and by August buried the entire
village (Moulds and others, 1990; Mattox and others, 1993.)
The next four photos show the progression of the lava
flows.
Lava first entered the Kalapana Gardens subdivision, 7.5 miles (12 km)
from the Kupaianaha vent, in December 1986. AAA homes were destroyed.
Fortunately, the tube system supplying this flow was abandon. Photograph
by J.D. Griggs, U.S. Geological Survey, April 24, 1987.
By May 1990, much of the Kalapana Gardens subdivision was buried by
pahoehoe flows. Photograph by Air Survey Hawaii, May 2, 1990. Photo
courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.
By August, the subdivision and the older part of Kalapana were
destroyed. Kaimu Bay is in the bottom right. Photograph by D. Weisel,
U.S. Geological Survey, August 20, 1990.
In September 1990, flows advanced into and filled Kaimu Bay. By February
1991, the tube system leading to Kaimu was abandoned. Photograph by D.
Weisel, U.S. Geological Survey, December 7, 1990.
This oblique aerial view shows much of the same area seen as the above
photograph. Kaimu Bay is filled with lava. The steam plume in the
distance is in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Photograph by J.D.
Griggs, U.S. Geological Survey, October 31, 1990.
Pauses in the eruption stopped the supply of lava to the tubes several
times in 1990. When the eruption restarted lava followed old tubes but
often encountered breakdowns that force large volumes of lava to the
surface. Photograph by Steve Mattox, June 20, 1990.
In September, lava buried the famous black sand beach at Kaimu and
filled
the beautiful bay. This 1926 photo shows the black sand beach that made
Kaimu famous. Photograph courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey.
This 1990 photo shows Kaimu shortly before is was buried by lava. The
beach was smaller due to subsidence of the coast line associated with
large earthquakes. Photograph by Steve Mattox.
Lava had reached the east side of Kaimu by late July but made little
progress in filling the bay. Unfortunately conditions changed on
September 25. Almost overnight the bay was filled with lava, extending
the coastline oceanward about 650 feet (200 m). Photograph by Steve
Mattox.
The next two photos show the dramatic changes at Kaimu.
View south from the end of
Highway 130
to Kaimu Bay. A lava delta grows to the east from the west side of the
bay. Note the short coconut tree behind the stop sign. Photograph by
Steve Mattox, September 1990.
The view across former Kaimu Bay in October 1990. Note the short
coconut
tree for reference. Note the steam plume in the distance. Lava later
burned all the coconut trees down. Photograph by Steve Mattox, September
1990.
From February 1990 to January 1991, 105 homes were destroyed by lava in
the Kalapana area. Photograph by Steve Mattox, October 1990.
Each day a geologist from the U.S. Geological Survey mapped the location
of the lava flows and estimated the location of the flows in the next 24
and 48 hours. The geologist provided this information to Hawaii County
Civil Defense which used it to coordinate evacuation efforts. Photograph
by Steve Mattox, October 1990.
In late 1990, a new lava tube developed and extended down the west side
of the flow field. By March, lava was once again entering the ocean in
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Heliker and others, 1991). Photograph by
Steve Mattox, October 1990.
