Kilauea volcano spares family gravestone in Hawaii cemetery

AS RED hot lava smothers fences and backyards in Hawaii, one family has been surprised by a ‘miracle’ that left one very special item untouched.

AS SLOW-moving lava approached a cemetery in a Hawaii town, Aiko Sato placed flowers at the headstone of the family plot she’s tended to over the years, thinking it would be the last time she would see it.

“I made peace with myself,” Sato said Monday of visiting the Pahoa Japanese Cemetery October 23. A few days later, lava smothered part of the cemetery and the family believed the headstone had been buried.

But a photo taken on October 28 by a scientist documenting the lava’s progress showed the headstone engraved with the Sato name standing in a sea of black lava.

The gravestone has somehow managed to avoid being smothered by lava. Picture: AP/US Geological Survey.

“I feel like it’s a miracle,” said Sato, 63. “I know subsequent breakouts could cover the grave, but at least I know it survived like a first round.”

The lava’s flow front stalled over the weekend and early Monday remained about 146 meters from a main road that goes through downtown. A breakout of the flow remained about 91 meters from a house. Residents have left or are preparing to leave.

The volcano has forced some residents out of their homes while others are waiting to leave.

President Barack Obama signed a disaster declaration for the lava on Monday, allowing for federal emergency help with issues such as repairs and restoration, Governor Neil Abercrombie’s office said.

Sato’s aunt, Eiko Kajiyama, 83, said she was heartbroken when she heard lava covered the cemetery. When she got the photo from the scientist, she hugged and thanked him, she recalled.

The Hawaii Volcano Observatory wouldn’t normally release such photos out of respect for the family of the deceased but provided the Sato family with a copy after a chance encounter between the family and an observatory scientist, spokeswoman Janet Babb said in a statement.

“During their conversation, the scientist recalled that he had just seen the family headstone the night before and was able to provide information about its status,” the statement said. “Days later, while looking through HVO’s photos, he realised that this particular image showed the Sato headstone and offered to provide a copy to the family.”

It’s been slowly creeping towards homes for months.

Kajiyama said it feels like Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, spared the headstone. “We’re so thankful we know the tomb is still there.”

Her sister and brother, who died as infants, are buried there, along with the urns of her parents.

Kajiyama knows a breakout of the flow could later cover the cemetery. And while her home is not in the lava’s path, she is bracing for the possibility it could reach her house.

The flow is near the town of Pahoa on the Big Island of Hawaii. Picture: Pete Stachowicz, Paradise Helicopters.

Locals watch as it comes close to homes. Picture: Bruce Omori/Paradise Helicopters.