thus the hawaiian volcano is less likely to dump destructive ash on surrounding towns. 20 miles an cal apanna is not 234 imminent danger, that is until something changes. >> late 1986. it stopped high fountaining and started to form lava flows and lava tubes which is the transportation system that allows the lava to go long distances. >> because of this new tube formation the lava flowing from kilauea has a much greater reach, putting kalapana and other nearby towns on high alert. many residents of kalapana have a theological explanation for all of this. some hawaiians traditionally attribute the predictable volcanic activity to the fire goddess pele. >> the fire goddess in hawaiian mythology it is the manifestation of pele. when she's active, it's obvious why the hawaiians gave a deity to that, because it looks like it's alive. >> kilauea continues to pump out lava, and for three years residents live with on again/off again lava flows that once reach into their community, causing isolated destruction. but then in june of 1989, the lava creeps to within a mile and a half of the village