Dayna Robertson, BIC RB-24737 | EXIT Realty Island Living RB-24461
Heads up: we've launched a new Lava Zone Lookup.
Our new lookup tool is faster, more accurate, and works with street addresses, place names, or your device's location. This original map will stay available for now while the new tool gets real-world use, but it will eventually be retired. Please give the new one a try, and let us know if anything looks off.
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.
You may have to zoom out of the map after entering your search term to see what lava zone it's in.
Unsure about how to use the Lava Zone search engine? Here's a quick video showing how:
DISCLAIMER
Dayna Robertson, REALTOR®-Broker, RB-24737, and EXIT Realty Island Living are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), Hawaii County, State of Hawaii, or any government agency responsible for lava-flow hazard zones, volcanic risk mapping, or related assessments. The lava zone lookup tool, map displays, zone explanations (1-9, based on probability of lava coverage), subdivision examples, and all related information on this page are for general informational and educational purposes only, derived from publicly available USGS sources (primarily the 1992 lava-flow hazard zone map, MF-2193). Zones and boundaries are generalizations; individual property determinations, insurance eligibility, financing impacts, or risk assessments are made solely by USGS, insurers, lenders, or authorities and can change with new data/events. No representations or warranties are made regarding accuracy, completeness, currency, or reliability. Use at your own risk. For official, current lava-flow hazard zone information—including maps (e.g., downloadable KMZ), definitions, updates, or property-specific verification—consult directly:
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo or https://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/1992/2193)
Seek independent qualified professionals (e.g., geologists, insurers, lenders, title companies, real estate experts) for any property transactions, insurance, financing, or decisions involving lava zones.
