Time to begin discussing Puna lava viewing site

[PaulW]

Disasters are when people die.

Of course people want to see the lava. If they don't make it legally possible then many people will do it anyway,
with all the risk that entails.

[My 2 cents]

I'm all for promoting tourism for viewing the lava.

I'm against promoting tourism for viewing the disaster.

[Monkey C]

Well here's a thought, and one that's only slightly peppered with sarcasm this time. If people sneak into the closed area and are getting $5,000 tickets then why not use that money to help the people who live here try and get back on their feet. We could call it lucrative risk-based tourism.

[terracore]

I feel horribly for everybody impacted. I don't know how long it takes to go through the 5 stages during a lava natural disaster. Each of these communities have or will eventually recover, whatever form that takes. So will Puna:

The 2017 California wildfires destroyed or damaged 14,000 homes. Hurricane Katrina 300,000 homes. Last year, Harvey, 100,000 homes. A California mudslide, 100 homes in 2018.

[Tink]

I somehow vision tram cars within a plexiglass "tube" that goes over the river to a large saucer like disembark/ 360 degree viewing area to tie in the galactic port theme. Tram cars go around the outside and door open to,the inside once within the station area.
Totally safe, lifetime experience, 350.00 a head, local run. Do I hear tour busses idling?

Community begins with Aloha

[Monkey C]

Lol! Nice one. I hear that sound too but I think it's just good old fissure 8 roaring away.

[MarkD]

Other disasters cited above: "The 2017 California wildfires destroyed or damaged 14,000 homes. Hurricane Katrina 300,000 homes. Last year, Harvey, 100,000 homes. A California mudslide, 100 homes in 2018."

Let's see if we can hone down the opinions of the anti-lava-viewing critics as to how long they envision that this disaster will last.

Points:

1) The ongoing lava flow is now exceeding the duration of virtually all natural disasters. Most natural calamities are over in a day or two; some fires and floods and storms linger for several weeks. We are now going into many weeks, and our lava event appears to be morphing into a straightforward natural phenomenon: a somewhat consistent lava output channelled to the sea via a river.

2) With all due sympathy to the victims, this natural event did not strike randomly. It is akin to flood damage in a flood plain.

3) It has been pointed out repeatedly--and the critics repeatedly elect to disregard it--that the losses felt by the community are not only destroyed homes, but lost income and jobs stemming from a tourism decline. Perhaps there is a faction that dislikes tourist visitation under any circumstances.

So, critics, throw out a figure for us. 3 weeks until the disaster status can be downgraded so the community can begin re-engaging?

6 weeks? 2 months? Until the last evacuee is settled?

We lost many visitor sites. Tidepools. Kapoho Bay. Ahalanui. Green Lake. Poihiki. Etc. Objective here is to transfer tourist visitation to some other attractions we might have.

Such as a lava river. Not a complex idea, this here.

[TomK]

I'm neutral on this, but perhaps some of the so-called "critics" have had not only their homes destroyed, but their community as well along with the beautiful area they lived in. While many of them are in shelters, perhaps they feel it is not a good time to spend money on lava flow viewing to allow people to view where they once lived. As to when would be a good time, maybe they should be asked? I doubt you'll get the answer on punatalk.

[My 2 cents]

Well, it is private property, mostly. So I would think they have some rights. And perhaps that is the major snafu. If it was gushing and flowing within the park boundaries you can bet there would be tours and viewing areas like there have been in the past. And it wouldn't be considered a disaster, it would just be an event.

As MarkD points out, it's not really fair to compare the lava flow to other disasters. No one flies to Florida when a hurricane is coming so as to experience it in person. At least, no tourist in their right mind would do this. The lava flow is spectacular, even without the additional spectacle of seeing a home being swallowed up by it. It's beautiful and powerful and people want to see it. The boat tours and helicopters are viewing areas. I'm not sure why this is considered ok but viewing from land is not.

And what if someone WANTS to charge people to watch their house get destroyed by lava? Oh yeah, SUP required. Nevermind.

[KiminPL]

I hear there is a lava viewing station under construction on Hwy. 132 near the Y intersection with Pohoiki Rd. Can anyone confirm? Supposedly one gets a nearly unobstructed view of F8 and the river of lava. I think in this location it is a good thing. Seeing the fury of the lava may give tourists a sense of empathy for the losses in the community and perhaps there could be a donation center at the site. My 2 cents.