(ABOVE VIDEO) Pi’ilani Ka’awaloa, HCCD admin Darryl Oliveira, and Mayor Billy Kenoi take turns addressing the overflow crowd during Thursday night’s public meeting in Pahoa.

Video by David Corrigan

PAHOA, Hawaii – A crowd of over a thousand concerned residents packed the Pahoa High School cafeteria on Thursday evening to hear the latest on the approaching lava flow and the government response.

As she has in the past, Piilani Kaawaloa offered a traditional pule to begin the meeting. Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator Darryl Oliveira gave an update on the flow. Mayor Billy Kenoi also spoke.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Deputy Scientist-In-Charge Steve Brantley also made a presentation on the lava flow.

The county offered to hold meetings every Thursday going forward.