Hawaiian homeowner toasts the final moments of his house as lava takes it

[Liberal_in_LA]

Hawaiian homeowner watches home engulfed by lava
A Hawaiian homeowner was able to toast the final moments of his house as it was slowly engulfed by lava.

Gallery of the last moments of the home:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/7910626/Kilauea-Volcano-on-Hawaii-homes-destroyed-by-lava-from-volcano-that-has-been-erupting-since-1983.html



Tom Leonard in New York
Published: 5:17PM BST 26 Jul 2010

Gary Sleik has known for at least three years that his house was doomed due to its proximity to Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes.

When the end finally came in the early house of Sunday morning, the lava crept slowly towards the front of the two-storey wooden house in the Kalapana Gardens neighbourhood of Hawaii's Big Island, setting fire to the outdoor stairs before it even reached the building.

Deepest undersea vents The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that the lava was moving at a speed of 250ft in 24 hours. By sunrise, all that could still be seen of Mr Sleik's modest home was the roof and water tank.

Watching the destruction of his home with a close friend, Darlene Cripps, and a bottle of wine, Mr Sleik admitted that he felt relief that the ordeal was finally over.

It was hardly a surprise. The town of nearby Kalapana was destroyed and partly buried in 1990 by lava flow that created a new coastline. A few people still live there but the town remains cut off to anyone without a four-wheel drive vehicle.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/hawaii/7910851/Hawaiian-homeowner-watches-home-engulfed-by-lava.html

[bobbolink]

1. It is sad, but on the other hand, I understand hs relief.

From what I understand (when I visited there) is that the people whose homes are stranded in outlying areas cannot get insurance repayment unless they actually stay in the house. So, they don't have utilities, or as the article mentions, even the roads are practially inaccessible, so this homeowner has been living very precariously for quite a while.

Aloha to him and his famiily. :pals:

[Abq_Sarah]

2. What I don't get

Is why any insurance company would insure someone who builds on the side of an active volcano.

[bobbolink]

6. No, I'm sure you don't get it.

Because if you did, then you wouldn't be able to feel so superior.

[Abq_Sarah]

8. Okay, I'll admit it

I do feel superior to a man who built a house 5 years ago in a lava flow zone, knowing it was going to eventually be destroyed.

[bobbolink]

11. When people in Albuquerque pretend to know what people in a totally different area should do, and

JUDGE before finding out the facts, then, yes, they NEED to admit their own sense of superiority and entitlement.

Crap like this makes me ashamed to be called "liberal". It is precisely why the opposition can use the "Elite Liberal" meme and get away with it.

Congratulations.

[rbixby]

12. So why does it make sense

to build a house in a lava flow area? Enlighten us?

[bobbolink]

13. That should have been asked BEFORE the judgment.

I swear, we say that the conservatives are the judgmental ones, then the "progressives" do the very same things and get all defensive when called on it.

Its "Look in the mirror" time.

[Abq_Sarah]

14. oh please.

So if a parent allows their child to play in the middle of a busy intersection, we shouldn't "judge" them?

Sorry, I don't buy into that bullshit standard.

[bobbolink]

15. So, you consider others to all be "children"? Oh please, indeed.

Look at your own elitism.

Judging is NOT a democratic value. Being hell-bent on proving your superiority is what has us in wars.

And if you can't hear that, there is no use in discussing it further.

I'm sure your elitism demands that you have the last word, so have at it. The more you say, the more you demonstrate just how destructive it is to judge others.

[uncommon]

17. Aren't the "children" in this comparison actually the "house" in the OP?

To build a house in a dangerous area

v.

To allow a child to play in a dangerous area

[rbixby]

18. What about the original question

How is it a good idea to build your house in the path of a lava flow? If you know that the end result is going to be that your house is destroyed by lava, are you a victim of the lava, or a victim of your own decision to build in its path?

See, I don't understand why there's any need to be angry about it. I would question the judgment of someone who builds their house in the path of lava as well, it seems like something a reasonable person wouldn't do.

[bobbolink]

20. What a reasonable person DOESN'T do is make assumptions.

You made an assumption, and then judged on the basis of that assumption.

We have spent YEARS decrying the RW for doing that, and its time we look at ourselves when we do exactly the same thing.

There are clearly people on both sides who like being harsh and judgemental.

You chose your path.

I'm done arguing. Find the facts first, or just give up. I don't argue with RWers, and I won't argue with people who judge first.

[rbixby]

22. I think what's happening is we're speculating

on the judgement of someone who builds their house on a lava flow. Personally, I'm not judging the person for doing it, there must be some kind of reason that someone would do such a thing, I just can't think of why. If that's being judgmental and makes you angry, wouldn't that be one of the things that we accuse the RW of doing as well? "Why are we passing the patriot act?" "Questioning this means you hate america".

Just looking for some enlightenment here, I didn't mean to spur such anger.


But the original question remains.....why would someone build a house or move into a house in a place like this? Is asking that question being judgmental?

[Abq_Sarah]

19. And you're not being judgemental?

Or are the rules different for you?

[LiberalAndProud]

21. Did he build it 5 years ago?

Where did you get that info?

[uncommon]

16. I don't understand...

why it is elitism to assert that a person might have thought it unwise to build a home in such a dangerous place?

Traditionally some people didn't have a choice of where to live, but surely there was other land available in this area that was safer?

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Bank of America branch of the lava flow, I expect.

[kiapolo]

4. These people aren't Hawaiian...

The correct term should be Hawaii resident NOT Hawaiian. We Hawaiians are a race of people indigenous to these Islands. These homeowners were residents of Hawaii, but NOT Hawaiians.

Sucks for them. The State will compensate them as Hawaii does not give mineral rights to the "owners" of property, so when lava overruns your property, it becomes property of the State! But land is pretty cheap in these areas of the Big Island (as compared to anywhere else in Hawaii) they should've know the risks of building in a lava plain.

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. sorry about the error

:hi:

[Obamanaut]

7. Off topic. I was in a judo club in Pearl City in the early 70s. Every time

the Sensei called out to change partners during rondori, one could hear several voices shout "I want the Haole."

I was the only one. I learned a lot.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. I went through much the same. Not all that haole, but marked taller than my fellow students

Kaimuki Y in my case

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. So what is your position on blood quantum required to be considered Hawaiian?

I keep reminding those who want to restore/return to when the Hawaiians ruled the islands that it means Princess Kawanakoa would be in charge with no democracy.