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Lava Hazard Zones

It is important to remember that the map and table show a historical analysis of past volcanic activity and not a prediction of future threat.
Lava flow and activity is not a threat to life. It is, however, a threat to property that is covered under most standard homeowner's insurance policies.

It is important to remember that the map and table show a historical analysis of past volcanic activity and not a prediction of future threat.
Lava flow and activity is not a threat to life. It is, however, a threat to property that is covered under most standard homeowner's insurance policies.

Living near the California fault zone, the Central U.S. flood plane, the Midwest tornado alley, or the East Coast hurricane belt would all put you at far greater risk than living in volcanic hazard zone 1.


For more information about Hawaii Volcanoes visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Web Site.


Zone % covered by lava since 1800 % covered by lava in the last 750 yrs Explanation
1 > 25 > 65 Includes the summits and rift zones of Kilauea and Mauna Loa where vents have been repeatedly active in historic time
2 15-25 25-75 Areas adjacent to and downslope of active rift zones
3 1-5   15-75 Areas gradationally less hazardous than Zone 2 because of greater distance from recently active vents and/or because the topography makes it less likely that flows will cover these areas
4 about 5 <15 Includes all of Hualalai, where the frequency of eruptions is lower than on Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Flows typically cover large areas.
5 None About 50 Areas currently protected from lava flows by the topography of the volcano.
6 None Very little Same as Zone 5
7 None  None  20% of this area covered by lava in the last 10,000 yrs
8 None None  Only a few percent of this area covered in the past 10,000 yrs
9 None None No eruption in this area for the past 60,000 yrs

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Peter B. Savio is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Savio Group of Companies. Peter has more than 40 years experience in real estate development and sales in the Hawaii market; he has been helping his clients realize the maximum return on their real estate investments since he founded Savio Realty Ltd. in 1980.


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