Into the heart of Kalapana
These aerial views of the Kalapana area show the initial lava flows
advancing through the community between April and June; circle marks the location of the same
structure in all three images. Lava continued moving into the Kalapana area
through February 1991.
Lava claimed 44 homes in April, 35 homes in May, and 10 structures in June, including the Mauna Kea Congregational Church, Walter's store, and the Puna Canoe Club Halau. By the end of summer, Kalapana was buried beneath lava more than 10 m thick.
With losses mounting daily, President Bush signed a Federal Disaster Declaration for the Kalapana area in late May. The declaration was retroactive to the beginning of the eruption in 1983, thereby allowing Royal Gardens and nearby Kapa`ahu residents to make claims for assistance. Total losses were estimated at $61 million.