Kalapana is a town on the Island of Hawai‘i in the Hawaiian Islands that was completely destroyed and partly buried by the eruptive flow of lava from Kīlauea volcano in 1990. A nearby housing subdivision, Royal Gardens, was also largely destroyed, though some of its structures remain untouched to the present day. The lava flow that destroyed Kalapana erupted from the southeast rift zone of Kīlauea. Along with the destruction of Kalapana were those of the nearby town of Kaimū and Kaimū Bay, both of which now lie buried beneath more than 50 feet of lava. The lava flow also created a new coastline. Kalapana is now considered a ghost town.
External link
- USGS: Pictures and information on Kalapana's destruction
