Facts about Kilauea Volcano, it's history and current eruptions
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Current Kilauea Eruptions
Current eruption began January 3, 1983 and is called Pu'u'O'o (in Hawaiian "Hill of the 'O'o Bird", pronounced "Poo-oo Ohh-ohh"). This erruption is longest-lived rift-zone eruption of the last two centuries. Lava from the eruption covered more than 37 square miles (97 km²)
The damage caused by Pu'u'O'o erruption :
- As of 1998 - 181 houses, church, store destroyed
- Waha'ula Visitor Center destroyed
- The coastal highway has been closed since 1987
- Kalapana Black Sand Beach covered with lava
The most desctructive phase was back in 1990 when lava flow turned eastward and totally destroyed the villages of Kalapana and Kaimū. Kaimū Bay and Kalapana Black Sand Beach were also covered with lava. The eruption has also added 544 acres (2.2 km²) of land to the Island of Hawaii
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