Time to begin discussing Puna lava viewing site

[MarkD]

1979 - still a time when common sense prevailed....

[Carey]

HoppaOn HoppaOff have been utilized on boat days up to HVNP & to Jagger...
My comment on the time was based on observing the many tourists at Jagger, turn-around after sunset is pretty quick & the 20mins that was granted for the old Kilauea Iki...
With limited road/parking space & the county worry about safety, private vehicles might be problematic...as would allow longer tours... someone may hike away if not supervised!
Yah, those that know me know that I am one!

[ironyak]

"officials say lava feeding into the ocean has created more than 9 square miles"

For clarity, the total area covered by this flow is 9.5 square miles. The lava delta is 380 acres or ~0.6 square miles. This info is on the USGS flow maps at the bottom.
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories...ge-489.jpg

As for the lava viewing area - could it be done safely, of course it could. Plenty people have their home videos and selfies of everything from fissure 8 to the river near 4 corners already. I don't think it is much of a coincidence that the Y was announced as the potential viewing area and then shortly afterwards an overflow and brush fire were noted. Almost like County wants to appear to consider the request, but find ways to never actually implement it. What again would be their incentive to take on this task?

[kalakoa]

What again would be their incentive to take on this task?

Money. Easiest would be selling "lava access" permits to the tour operators.

Of couse, new revenue is too much work -- better to close the pool, cancel the parade, shut down summer programs for keiki.

[dan d]

It was just in the news that they were looking into a lava viewing site

Dan D
HPP

[kalakoa]

they were looking into a lava viewing site

County "looks into" lots of things. They also like to "mull over" and "weigh in". Anything to avoid ... actually doing something.

[snorkle]

Civil Defense is mandated to perform the following tasks (in order of importance)

1. Address the concerns of punawebbers.

2. Generate income for the County.

3. Stop less important tasks to answer questions.

4. Insure the security and safety of Hawaii County citizens.

[JimHAPuna]

Hey markD, why shut down Glassnumbers like that?

You'd rather put tourists lives at risk than grow pakalolo?

Green Harvest started meth addiction in Hawaii. Better paka no?

You start this post with fears of recession b/c of loss of tourist dollars right?

Paka would increase tourists for sure.

I say GN's post was in the right place.

Maybe best not to pick on the weaker among us?

[MarkD]

"Hey markD, why shut down Glassnumbers like that? "

You're talking about 13 days ago....page 1 of a thread now on page 7......might be good to re-post comments under those circumstances. If you go through the trouble I'll respond.

But not necessarily, really. GN's comments about marijuana are fine. They just don't have much bearing to the issue of setting up lava viewing sites.

(And GN isn't that weak. GN just launched quite the criticism in the Risk Research in Puna thread, including deriding "two clowns."

I could be one of the 2 clowns; haven't quite figured it out. [No offense taken; the comment is a bit erratic.])

[MarkD]

Good article in the Star Advertiser today about the losses felt by users of the Pohoiki area.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/06/24...ine-sites/

Day by day we see that the lava river is proceeding in a very orderly fashion to the sea. Assertions that it is highly dangerous to be anywhere near this river are fear mongering.

The lava river is similar to giant surf that regularly hits Hawaii. Safe to view from many places....