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- NATION, Page 35American NotesHAWAIILava or Leave It
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- It bore a disconcerting resemblance to an asphalt driveway
- on the move and gone berserk. As an immense flow of 2000
- degrees F lava from Kilauea volcano oozed across Hawaii's Big
- Island, one dwelling after another smoldered, then burst into
- flames. Roads were buried, palm trees and utility poles snapped
- and fell. At least 53 homes in the sleepy village of Kalapana
- have been destroyed since April, and all 300 residents had been
- evacuated by the weekend.
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- Some volunteers remained behind to move the historic Star
- of the Sea Roman Catholic church -- a structure noted for its
- interior wall paintings -- out of the path of destruction. By
- the time the lava flow sputters off into the ocean, Kalapana
- will be no more. Says Harry Kim, Hawaii County's civil-defense
- chief: "This community is finished. This land won't be
- productive for 150 years."
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