Kalapana, Hawai'i

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One of the over 100 houses that were destroyed by the lava flow in 1990

Kalapana in 2008 with an active lava flow at background

Kalapana is a town on the Island of Hawaiʻi in the Hawaiian Islands that was completely destroyed and partly buried by the eruptive flow of lava from the Puʻu ʻŌʻō vent of the Kīlauea volcano in 1990. A nearby housing subdivision, Royal Gardens, was also largely destroyed, though some of its structures remain untouched to the present day. The lava flow that destroyed Kalapana erupted from the southeast rift zone of Kīlauea. Along with the destruction of Kalapana were those of the nearby town of Kaimū and Kaimū Bay, both of which now lie buried beneath more than 50 feet of lava. The lava flow also created a new coastline.

Although most access to the town has been cut off, there is currently a bed and breakfast running, and a few people still live there^[1]. These people mostly get in and out by 4-wheel drive vehicles.