Lava zones

The Big Island of Hawaii has 9 lava zones that rate the risk of volcanic activity over time. Per the USGS:

"Nine lava-flow hazard zones for the volcanoes on Hawai‘i Island (Kīlauea, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Hualālai, and Kohala) are shown on the map. The zones, ranked from 1 through 9, represent a scale of decreasing hazard as the numbers increase, based on the probability of coverage by lava flows.

The land area classified under Zone 1, the most hazardous, includes volcanic vents in the summits and rift zones of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, Hawai‘i's two most active volcanoes. Zone 9, considered the least hazardous region, consists of Kohala, a volcano that has not erupted for 60,000 years."

Why is this important?  Insurance may cost more in lava zones 1 and 2, and it may be more difficult to get financing in these areas.

Here's a listing of subdivisions in lava zones 1 and 2.  These are generalizations and a mortgage or insurance issuer would use their own criteria to make a final determination:

Lava Zone 1: Leilani Estates, Kapoho, Kalapana Vacation Lots, Royal Gardens, parts of Hawaiian Ocean View estates.

Lava Zone 2: Black Sand Beach, Nanawale Estates, Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Shores, Hawaiian Parks, Kehena, Puna Beach Palisades, Kalapana Seaview Estates, Kaimu-Makena Houselots, Papa Bay, Mililii, Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos, Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, Honomalino, Lani-Kona, Kona Paradise, Coffee Farm Lots, Opiihale, Kaohe Estates.

Because the above list is not exhaustive, we created a searchable map of all 9 lava zones based on USGS data.  To search by address, search term, or clicking on an interactive map, click here to search our exclusive lava zone map.  

You may have to zoom out of the map after entering your search term to see what lava zone it's in.