Fourth Supplementary Emergency Proclamation August 31, 2018

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WHEREAS, on May 30, 2018, the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i issued Mayor’s Emergency Rule #1 restricting access to the area containing Kapoho Beach Lots, Vacationland and Kapoho Farm Lots; and WHEREAS, on May 31, 2018, the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i issued a Mandatory Evacuation Order for identified areas within the Leilani Estates subdivision; and WHEREAS, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Hawai‘i Volcano Observatory (HVO), cannot project an end date to this eruptive event and has noted that previous eruptive events in the area have continued eruptive activity after lengthy periods of lull; and WHEREAS, on August 28, 2018, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Hawai‘i Volcano Observatory (HVO) reported, ” Seismicity remains low and ground deformation is negligible at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. Earthquakes, probably aftershocks of the magnitude-6.9 earthquake in early May, continue on South Flank faults. On the volcano's lower East Rift Zone (LERZ), a small lava pond was visible deep within the fissure 8 cone on Saturday morning (8/25) but lava was no longer visible in the cone yesterday morning or during UAS flights later in the day. A single small lava dribble was oozing lava into the ocean from the Kapoho Bay lobe and a sand bar still blocks the Pohoiki boat ramp from an HVO overflight yesterday morning (8/27)”; and WHEREAS, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Hawai‘i Volcano Observatory (HVO) has stated that there are many hazards when traversing on lava fields and that injuries while doing so is common; and WHEREAS, Chapter 127A-12(c)(12) Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, provides that the Mayor may restrict the congregation of the public in stricken or dangerous areas or under dangerous conditions; and WHEREAS, I find that the lava field created by the present eruptive event of May 3, 2018 and further depicted in Exhibit “A”, is a dangerous area and condition and therefore, the public should not be traversing it. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Harry Kim, Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, do hereby proclaim and declare that a state of emergency due to this eruptive event continues to exist and continues to pose threat of imminent disaster on the Hawai‘i Island and that all provisions of my prior Proclamations shall remain in full force and effect, effective 10:00am., August 31, 2018, and continuing thereon for 60 days or until further act by this office.