海角大神

Capable of covering nearly a quarter mile a day, a massive Kilauea lava flow is burning thick forest and threatening human dwellings near Ka鈥檕he Homestead on Hawaii鈥檚 Big Island 鈥� reminding locals and tourists alike of the tempestuous nature of Kilauea鈥檚 female guardian spirit, Tutu Pele.

The current lava flow, which began聽June 27, is burning through mountainside forests as it descends toward the Pacific. Within a week, homes could be threatened and up to 8,000 people could be cut off if the flow covers Route 130, the major artery into the region.

Some residents have begged Hawaiian authorities to try to divert the flow, while others told officials at a public hearing聽on Friday聽that that there was no use trying to stop Tute Pele, 鈥渙ur ancestor,鈥� as resident Ihilani Niles said, according to West Hawaii Today. 鈥淚f she feels she needs to clean her house, then let her clean her house.鈥�

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) said that if the lava continues to advance through ground cracks, the flow could reach the boundary of the Kaohe Homesteads in a week鈥檚 time.

Kilauea, the most active of Hawaii鈥檚 five shield volcanoes (the name means 鈥渕uch spreading鈥�), is one of the world鈥檚 most interesting tourist destinations as it allows visitors to see the inexorable flow of hot rock up close.

It鈥檚 also a sacred place for the descendants of Polynesian sailors who first settled the islands about 1,500 years ago, a period through which Kilauea regularly erupted, sometimes violently. The volcano became mythologized as Tutu Pele, a beautiful, wise and tempestuous goddess who regularly reclaims her land from humans.

The hot fount has been a tourist hotspot since 1840, largely because of its uniqueness: Even as it鈥檚 nearly always active, it鈥檚 also closely monitored and, given its slow flow speed, harmless 鈥� unless one鈥檚 home is suddenly downhill from flow that can thicken to 50 feet.

Hawaiian authorities聽on Friday聽issued an emergency declaration, mainly to allow Big Island Civil Defense to keep roads clear should evacuation be necessary out of the area. More than 8,000 people would be affected if the lava overtakes portions of Highway 130, the sole major route that connects to the lower Puna area.

The Kilauea volcano has erupted from its Pu鈥檜 O鈥檕 vent for the last 31 years. The latest lava flow began on聽June 27.

Fickle lava flows have claimed dwellings throughout Hawaiian history. The most recent engulfment came in 2012 when the last standing home in the Royal Garden neighborhood, which was largely destroyed in 1986, burned up. "Time to move on," resident Jack Thompson sighed before being airlifted.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory warned聽Friday聽that the main threats to residents for the time being are high sulfur concentrations and so-called 鈥淧ele鈥檚 Hair,鈥� volcanic glass threads that are formed when lava ejects from a vent and is spun in the wind.

Meanwhile, some residents have already begun to leave, packing up their homesteads and moving livestock out of the way.

鈥淲e live in one place where lava is still existent, and whether you believe it鈥檚 Tutu Pele or just the science, the fact it is lava, you cannot change the direction,鈥� Piilani Kaawaloa of Pahoa told officials at聽Friday鈥檚聽public hearing. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like me telling you, 鈥楳ove the moon because it鈥檚 too bright.鈥欌��