H. JENNINGS SHEFFIELD

Up until the early 1980's, Kalapana was a thriving fishing village in the Puna district on the Island of Hawai'i. It had beautiful, black-sand beaches and was home to the historical "Queens Bath".  By all standards, Kalapana was a beautiful, tropical paradise.  In 1983, however, lava began to flow from the Kīlauea volcano, and by 1986 lava flowed from the K?pa?ianah? vent and the majority of the town was destroyed. What once resembled a tropical paradise, quickly transformed into something more closely resembling the surface of the moon.  By 1990, the majority of the town was under 30 feet of lava. Over the next two decades, lava would continue to destroy what little man-made structures existed (over 180 homes, businesses, and roads).
 
In 2010, lava from the Kīlauea volcano continued into the Kalapana region, leaving only 35 homes remaining in the Kalapana Gardens subdivision. Although only a handful of people still reside in Kalapana Gardens, the self-professed “lavatics" must endure this ever-changing artwork of Pele with no running water and no electricity.  Even for those who wish to flee, they cannot. Unable to sell their current, lava-covered property, the majority of lavatics do not have the funds necessary to purchase property somewhere else on the island.  Today, they are attempting to accept the conditions of Pele, embrace their circumstances, and continue to live as "fringers".