The 1959 and 1960 eruptions of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii, and the construction of walls to restrict the spread of the lava flows

Abstract

A summit eruption of Kilauea volcano took place in Kilauea Iki crater, immediately adjacent to Kilauea caldera, from November 14 to December 20, 1959. Approximately 61 million cubic meters of lava was poured into the crater during 16 short eruptive episodes. Following each of the later episodes nearly as much lava drained back into the vent as had been poured out.

On January 13, 1960, eruption commenced on the east rift zone of Kilauea about 40 kilometers east of the caldera. This eruption continued until February 19, liberating 113 million cubic meters of lava, and burying approximately 5.6 square kilometers of land surface, including much agricultural land and most of the village of Kapoho. Several walls were built, to try to prevent or lessen the southward encroachment of the lava. These walls were dams, impounding the lava, not diversion barriers. Lava overflowed the dams, but it is believed that the amount of southward spreading of the lava was sufficiently reduced to more than justify their construction; and it was demonstrated that such walls, properly constructed, will adequately withstand the thrust of even thick lava flows of the type characteristic of Hawaiian eruptions.