December 27, 2025

2018 Kilauea Eruption that destroyed our original orchard

In 2018 the eruption in the lower east rift zone is where are original house and macadamia nut farm was located. While it is now covered 30 feet deep in lava we still own the property and still have wonderful memories of what once was. We had off and on 2 weeks to go in and get our belongings out. We only focused on rescuing our pets and mac nut business supplies. We didn’t have time to take anything out of the house. When we were there lava was spuing into the air 100’s of feet nearby with lava bombs falling around us. The air was filled with smoke. The last time I attempted to go and get belongings the air was to thick with smoke to get out of my car. I knew it would be the last time to see our beautiful orchard and home. The leaves on all the mac nut trees were turning brown. As I drove back down Pohoiki Rd to leave 3 small dogs that owners had left behind were in the road looking at me. Even though the smoke was so thick I got out to try to call them over. They were too scared and would not come to me. That night our burglar alarms all went off at the same time. We knew that our home and orchard was melting. It was one of the worst nights of our lives.

This hilltop is what remains of our 15 acre mac nut farm. The gazebo still stand although crumbling at this point and a trailer that my husband drove up the 50 ft hill still remains. We had thought at some point we would be able to get it back down. Little did we know how much lava was to come and that all the roads would be covered.

For years after the eruption I would have dreams about our old property and in my dreams it was destroyed but still there as though it was a fire or flood and you could walk around afterwards. Not being able to have that closure of seeing the remains of your place was one of the hardest parts for me. About a year after the event some neighbors who’s homes were spared bulldozed a path to their houses. We paid to bulldoze a path up to our hilltop. It is still really nice to go up there every once in a while and feel what’s left of the land. Oddly when I think of the property I don’t miss the house just the memories that were made there. Our oldest child’s room that my husband decorated with zoo wallpaper and our dogs that were buried on the property. I mostly miss the orchard and trees. It was so peaceful there. We put our heart and soul into those trees so having to let that go was very difficult. I am very grateful although so many lost their homes and properties that no lives were lost to this event.

 

You can see in these pictures the circles of where our property was as the lava was heading towards it.

 

Here are pictures of our beautiful property prior to the lava. We loved going up to the Gazebo to see the ocean view. We adopted 5 puppies from the Humane society when we first moved in. We still have 2 left that are now 13 years old.

 

 

There has been lots of recent activity from both Kilauea volcano and Mauna Loa in the past several years. Here I took pictures of my girls when Mauna Loa was erupting in 2022. Fortunately it did not affect anyone from this eruption.

Kilauea has been erupting off and on the past year but staying inside The Volcano National Park.

In 2014 Kilauea was erupting and sending lava down toward the highway which would have cut off access to our farm and community from the rest of the island. The night I went into labor with my oldest daughter we packed up all our belonging and pets thinking we would not be able to return after I gave birth. We feel like Kenzie was our good luck charm because the next day she was born and the lava stopped right before it reach the main highway.

Our Pohoiki property post lava is still a magical place in a new way. It has sweeping ocean views as well as views of the line of fissures. When it rains steam still comes out of the fissures. I still love the property but in a new way. They are planning this year to rebuild Pohoiki Rd. We are looking forward to seeing our property from a new angle once the road goes back in. The lava is very dangerous to walk on as you can step on what looks solid and fall several feet into sharp jagged rocks.

We were very fortunate that my parents had a smaller orchard connected to their home on the Big Island that we were able to rebuild our operation on. We now use their nuts as well as nuts from other farms on the Big Island to continue selling in shell macadamia nuts to our wonderful bird customers. We have so many loyal customers that have stayed with us through the tough times. We will be forever grateful to all of you.