So shocked to hear about Kapoho Bay... I almost bought a house there last year (Hilo: real estate, insurance)

[rhbj03]

Came here and asked many questions, some about the lava risk. I remember thinking to myself... "What are the odds that it can get covered by lava in my life time?! Seems a safe bet."

But I never took action. Prices were too high.

Now, a property that was once listed for $12 mil, is completely covered by lava.

I'm just shocked. It was such a beautiful place.

[rhbj03]

Anyone know if the geo thermo pool is still there?

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by rhbj03

Anyone know if the geo thermo pool is still there?

Ahalanui park is a few miles south of Kapoho and is still standing. There have been a couple separate flows to the ocean near it though too. Who knows-I'm hopeful it will survive.
Kapoho was a much nicer location though., with so many people affected

We walked by a couple of those high priced homes this past winter too. Idyllic settings, but I remember thinking they're subject to just about every natural disaster imaginable-tsunami, earthquake, hurricane and lava flow.

I honestly didn't think lava flow would be the first one to show up-should have known better. If you're going to buy in a high hazard zone for lava flows, study a topography map of the area first.

[rhbj03]

[rhbj03]

[rhbj03]

What's gonna happen to those houses trapped in the middle of lava field? Will they just become unaccessible and decay away?

[Harpaint]

Buying in Lava zone 2 was a known risk. The land was so cheap for so long though, that lots of mainlanders took the risk for an opportunity to buy and live on the beatiful Big Island. So sad to see it now. I hope the thermal pool is spared. We bought in Hilo and went to the pool fairly often and admired the lovely homes out there.

[terracore]

All of us, myself included, who live on the flanks of an eruption volcano know that we are gambling in the lava casino. Cheap real estate on one hand, uncertainty on the other. Before we bought I did as much research as was practical and ruled out lava zones 1 and 2, and further tried to choose a location in LZ3 that seemed liked it could dodge Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Maybe I was right, maybe I'll be wrong. But for now at least, I'm appreciating the research that I did for steering me away from those areas. In the meantime, at least in LZ3 our mortgage and insurance situation is no different than anywhere else on the mainland. If Llyods's of London is your only insurance option the risks are high.

[Open-D]

Originally Posted by terracore

All of us, myself included, who live on the flanks of an eruption volcano know that we are gambling in the lava casino. Cheap real estate on one hand, uncertainty on the other. Before we bought I did as much research as was practical and ruled out lava zones 1 and 2, and further tried to choose a location in LZ3 that seemed liked it could dodge Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Maybe I was right, maybe I'll be wrong. But for now at least, I'm appreciating the research that I did for steering me away from those areas. In the meantime, at least in LZ3 our mortgage and insurance situation is no different than anywhere else on the mainland. If Llyods's of London is your only insurance option the risks are high.

Hopefully, you will be spared any such problems there.

[Open-D]

Originally Posted by rhbj03

What's gonna happen to those houses trapped in the middle of lava field? Will they just become unaccessible and decay away?

The lava on the left is from 1960.