Ruth Crawford, in her car along Pahoa Village Road, holds a hand mixer that she dipped in molten lava at 10 a.m. Thursday.
Corey Lum/Civil Beat
Two Big Island residents who showed reporters “golf clubs and an egg beater that they said they dipped in lava” in Pahoa were arrested yesterday for investigation of criminal trespass on county land.
That’s according to this report in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator Darryl Oliveira said this morning that each posted bail of $250 each.
Meanwhile, our media partner KITV had this report as of 7:30 a.m. today:
PAHOA, Hawaii —On Thursday, the lava flow front wasn’t moving very quickly. But, that didn’t stop onlookers from going to see it.
“It was very hot and I felt like my face was burning. It was really hot,” said Puna resident Ruth Crawford.
Crawford said she and her friends dipped some 15 items into the lava.
When asked why, said said, “Just because it’s lava and I’ve been here 23 years and I was kind of excited and scared and just wanted to do it.”
That’s not what county officials want to see. They’re warning spectators to stay away.
“We’re asking for the public’s cooperation. Obviously, someone’s putting things into the flow subjecting themselves to risk as well as if they get hurt, someone would have to come to their aid,” said Hawaii County Civil Defense Director Darryl Oliveira.
“I know we’re not supposed to, but, OK, I won’t again,” said Crawford.
Meanwhile, others further down the road were following the rules. …
As of this morning, the flow was 160 yards from Pahoa Village Road, the town’s main street, and just a half-mile from Highway 130, Puna’s main road.
Read KITV’s latest related reports:
Lava flow only 160 yards from Pahoa…
Two arrested for trespassing on Big…
New lava breakout occurs near Pahoa…
Pahoa lava flow slowdown could last a…
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About the Author
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Chad Blair is the politics editor for Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at cblair@civilbeat.org or follow him on X at @chadblairCB.