Loading ...Most people do not understand the prevailing attitude we have on this island about living with a volcano. I adopted it early when I was stunned by the geology of this place… like nowhere else on earth. I learned decades ago to respect the power of the volcano, and yes, I chose my location carefully. Lower Puna south of the rift ridge are Pele’s lands, and I was always mindful of that when I explored there…. but I would not live there. I stayed north of the rift zone.
There is nowhere completely ‘safe’ on the south half of the Big Island within the domain of Mauna Loa or Kilauea volcanoes. (Yes, we have TWO active volcanoes here!) Even the city of Hilo was threatened in 1984 when Mauna Loa erupted and sent a lava flow down to the outskirts of town before it stopped.
I have always had a kind of supernatural relationship with the volcano over the years. Respectful from a distance, but Pele seems to like to display her power shows for me to enjoy. Close, but not harmful to me, at least. I enjoy her ‘fire in the sky’ every night from my home, and I could easily enjoy it for another 35 years! 🙂