KALAPANA, Hawaii – June 30 was opening night for the public lava viewing area in Kalapana. Many decided to take the three mile journey by foot – out along the dusty county emergency road – in order to get as close as possible to the active channels burning down the slope of the Pulama pali.

As security guards were helping motorists find space in the busy parking lot, entrepreneurs were already setting up tables to sell their volcano-related wares.

Glass artist Kimball Trump already had his table set up, his works of blown glass on display.

We also spoke to Venus and Sammy, two hula-hooping residents of the nearby Kalapana Gardens subdivision. Life is once again getting busy for those who live on the private property near the viewing area. Some – like Venus and Sammy – are looking to make the best of the situation.

As of mid-day on July 7, the flow front was about 0.7 miles from the ocean. Given the flow’s current advance rate, scientists with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory say lava could reach the ocean for the first time since August 2013 in the coming days or weeks.