On October 21, 1997 lava began flowing from the vent inside the Kilauea Volcano.
Lava then overflowed repeatedly until the evening of October 19. The vent was continually erupting.
Throughout September, lava erupted from vents and flowed through lava tubes to the
sea. Lava destroyed the 700-year-old Wahaula Heiau temple,
which is considered to be the most sacred of Hawaiian temples. In 1990 lava came near the temple but was diverted around it. Since January, 1983, Kilauea has produced more than 1 billion yards
of lava. This has produced 60 acres of land for the island.
On August 4, 1997 lava at Kilauea was no longer flowing into the ocean.
