By Jill Steele
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| Leilani Estates Lava Outbreak |
It’s been a strange few days in lava land. It began with Kilauea Volcano’s Halema’uma’u lava lake collapsing, then draining. This was followed by multiple earthquakes felt hourly by residents of Puna, Hilo, Waimea and even Kona. Some of our friends experienced constant rumbling, saying it was “as if a river of lava flowed beneath my feet” and cracks began appearing in the road of Leilani Estates community. Discussing it after yoga class only yesterday, my friends and I felt uneasy, sensing a buildup to something bigger. Later on that day, most incredibly, we were watching lava fountains live on Facebook, glued to our phones and computers. Ikaika Marzo, my son’s former volleyball coach, a well known local musician and Hawaiian cultural tour leader, documented the breakout of lava broadcasting live and exclaiming, “Lava is coming out of the ground! Ash is in the air!” His early rough videos were at first the only news we could get of the outbreak and we as nearby residents were grateful for any news of the eruption.
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| Ikaika Marzo |
Twenty-five years ago after an adventurous ten day vacation, we chose the Big Island as the place we wanted to live and raise a family. It took us three more years in Los Angeles to make it back, this time permanently after a friend reached out with a job in the floral industry. It’s funny how we never once considered the possibility of this happening. My older, wiser self would have been more cautious,I think but in a way I feel like the island chose us and that having showed her we were worthy of staying, allowed us to manifest our dreams for both family and home.
Now I pray for family, friends and for our beautiful island, keeping the hope that our favorite spots will remain as they are. I am thankful to Madame Pele for allowing us to experience all of it and hope for the strength to deal with whatever comes.
By Jill Steele
Author "Blood on the Orchids"
A Novel of Murder and Mystery on the Big Island
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