(ABOVE VIDEO) Hawaii County Civil Defense message issued at 2:30 p.m. Monday, with new video from the ground and above.

NEWS BRIEFS

• The flow front is currently moving in a northeast direction and is approximately 70 yards from the nearest residential property, advancing at an average rate of 5 to 10 yards per hour. As of 4:30 p.m., the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported the flow was 560 yards upslope from Pāhoa Village Road; the flow width was about 55 yards at the leading edge.
• Big changes at nearby schools. Beginning Wednesday, October 29, there will be no school for students at Keonepoko Elementary School and on Thursday, October 30th there will be no school for students at Pahoa High & Intermediate, Pahoa Elementary, Kea‘au High and Kea‘au Middle. More info below.
• The Hawaii County Department of Water Supply will be shutting valves on each side of the lava flow once it reaches Pahoa Village Road. This will result in a drop in pressure for some customers north of the lava including Āpa‘a Street as well as along Highway 130 from Keonepoko Standpipe/spigot Station up to and including the upper portion of Kahakai Boulevard. Water Supply says the change will occur imminently. The water system pressure will be decreased by approximately 50 pounds per square inch (psi).
• Starting today, the bus stops fronting the Pāhoa 7-11, and at Pāhoa School will not be serviced by Hele-On. New stops have been established along Highway 130 and Highway 132 due to the Pāhoa Village Road closure because of the pending lava flows. (more info below)

PRIMARY SOURCES

The flow continues to remain active and has advanced approximately 20 yards since this afternoon at 1:40PM. The flow front is currently moving in a northeast direction and is approximately 70 yards from the nearest residential property. The flow advancement has been inconsistent however averaging approximately 5 to 10 yards per hour.

Smoke conditions were light to moderate with moderate trade winds from the northeast pushing the smoke in a south southwest direction. Smoke conditions may increase in some areas and residents down wind that may be sensitive or have respiratory problems are advised to take necessary precautions and to remain indoors.

Based on the current flow location, direction and advancement, residents in the flow path were placed on an evacuation advisory and notified of possible need for evacuation beginning last night. The evacuation advisory for those residents down slope of the flow will continue and residents will be kept informed of the flow status and advancement.

The Pahoa Village Road between Apa’a Street and the Post Office Road will remain closed and limited to area residents only. In addition, Civil Defense and public safety personnel will be operating in the area round the clock to maintain close observations of flow activity.
Hawaii County Civil Defense on Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. HST

Scientists of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted ground and air observations of the June 27th lava flow on Monday, October 27, 2014. The advance rate of the narrow leading edge varied between 7 and 10 meters (8 and 11 yards) per hour today, which is equivalent to 170 and 240 meters (185 and 260 yards) per day. As of 4:30 PM, the flow was 510 meters (560 yards) upslope from Pāhoa Village Road; the flow width was about 50 meters (55 yards) at the leading edge.

The lava lobe upslope of Apa`a Street advanced about 75 meters (82 yards) between yesterday afternoon and late this morning, but did not advance this afternoon.

A few breakouts continue to occur upslope within about 3 km (1.9 miles) of the flow front. No breakouts were observed further upslope all the way to Puʻu ʻŌʻō.

Lava discharge from Puʻu ʻŌʻō remained relatively low this afternoon. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Oct. 27 at 5:51 p.m. HST

The Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE) is closing some schools ahead of the rapidly advancing Kilauea lava flow on the Hawaii Island. The pace of the flow has accelerated the implementation of DOE’s contingency plans, which will affect about 1,700 students and 300 employees beginning this week.

Mary Correa, complex superintendent for Ka‘u, Kea‘au, Pahoa, has announced that beginning Wednesday, October 29, there will be no school for students at Keonepoko Elementary School. This is to allow DOE faculty, staff, administrators, facilities’ teams enough time to complete administrative work in preparation of the new facility to receive students. The work will also include moving the school, furniture and equipment to the Keonepoko North facility at Kea‘au High School from Wednesday through Friday, October 29-31, and longer as needed. Wednesday will mark the indefinite closure of Keonepoko as it is in the anticipated path of the lava flow.

Additionally, beginning on Thursday, October 30, there will be no school for students at Pahoa High & Intermediate, Pahoa Elementary, Kea‘au High and Kea‘au Middle to allow administrators, faculty & staff from those schools to help with administrative work and prepare for the transition of students affected by the move.

About 850 Pahoa students who reside north of the flow (Orchidland, Ainaloa, Hawaiian Paradise Park) are moving to the Kea‘au complex. About 850 students who reside south of the flow (Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Shores, Nanawale, Leilani, Kalapana & Pahoa) will attend Pahoa High & Intermediate or Pahoa Elementary and report to school on Monday, November 10. Bus pickup sites will be disseminated tomorrow.

The Pahoa secondary students moving to Keaau complex will report to their new campuses at Kea‘au High and Kea‘au Middle on Friday, November 7. Keonepoko and Pahoa Elementary students who are moving will report to their new school at Keonepoko North on Monday, November 10.

The students who remain at Pahoa High & Intermediate, and Pahoa Elementary will report to school on Monday, November 10. Students who are currently enrolled at Kea‘au High and Kea‘au Middle will return to school on Monday, November 10.

“Our teachers and principals have been tremendous in their efforts to maintain a sense of normalcy in our schools, all while preparing for this week,” said Correa.

Last month, the DOE announced it was allowing teachers and students to continue teaching and learning, while making plans to accommodate them at alternate sites.

The DOE and its teams have been working with many in the community to erect a temporary school to be named “Keonepoko North” for elementary students at Kea‘au High’s parking lot that would accommodate at least 17 classrooms.

“The flexibility of our staff, the cooperation of our families, and the collaboration with Hawai‘i County agencies have been instrumental in making these adjustments for all schools,” stated Schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi.

Keonepoko and Pahoa High School will remain as election polling sites for the General Election on Tuesday, November 4.Hawaii State Department of Education on Oct. 27

Starting Oct. 27, the bus stops fronting the Pāhoa 7-11, and at Pāhoa School will not be serviced by Hele-On. New stops have been established along Highway 130 and Highway 132 due to the Pāhoa Village Road closure because of the pending lava flows.

The Pāhoa-area bus stops will be as follows:

North Bound

• Highway 132 at New Hope Church Sign
• Highway 130 at Homestead Road (Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science)
• Highway 130 at Pahoa Fire / Police Station

South Bound

• Highway 130 at Malama Market
• Highway 130 at Homestead Road (Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science)
• Highway 132 across from the New Hope Church Sign

Riders should use the Pāhoa bus schedule, and refer to the column marked “Pāhoa” for times for north- and south-bound travel.

Please anticipate longer travel times due to additional traffic and construction related activities along Highway 130. For further information, contact the Mass Transit Agency at 961-8343 or visit our website at www.heleonbus.org. Hawaii County on Oct. 27