Categories: In the News

Lava Flow Overtakes Pāhoa Japanese Cemetery

On Monday, October 27, a small, predominantly Buddhist cemetery in Pāhoa, Hawaii was overtaken by the relentless push of lava from Kilauea volcano.

“From a personal perspective, it was very saddening to see the flow cross over. At one point, we could see larger monuments protruding through the lava flow as it went through,” he said.

Members of the Pahoa area Japanese community association, known as Pahoa Kinjinkai, and other Buddhist groups gathered together several weeks ago to hold a special closing ceremony for the cemetery, which members said was at least 100 years old.

Pahoa resident Cary Tanoue, who was attending on Sunday afternoon a function at the Puna Hongwanji Mission, said that he believed he might have ancestors buried there, making the news of the lava flows passing through very troubling.

Read the full story: Lava Engulfs Cemetery

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