As the Kilauea Volcano oozes lava through small Hawaiian town, residents debate diverting its path

A lava flow that is chest-high in some places is oozing a destructive path over fields, roads and even a cemetery as Hawaii's Kilauea volcano continues to expel a molten mass of trouble. The residents of the town it is starting to overtake are considering their options divert it, get out of its way or leave it up to the volcano Goddess Pele.

Perhaps it's because the lava from Mount Kilauea helped make Hawaii that people seem so resigned when they speak about the imminent threat to the community of Pahoa. Kilauea's been angry for more than thirty years... but as fury goes, this is a slow burn.

This latest flow of lava has been moving toward the ocean since June. The residents of Pahoa have realized for some time they're in the way. The U.S. National Guard is providing security but there's not much they can do for the 50 households staring down a river of red-hot rock.

Paul Utes owns and operates the Black Rock Cafe. He was in Pahoa, Hawaii.

Lava flow from the Kilauea volcano moves over a fence on private property near the village of Pahoa, Hawaii. in this picture from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) taken October 31, 2014.

John Lockwood has spent his career studying and visiting volcanoes. He is a consulting volcanologist and co-author of Volcanoes: Global Perspectives. He lives near Pahoa, on the slopes of Kilauea.

The lava flow from Mt. Kilauea swirls past a graveyard near the village of Pahoa, Hawaii. (Reuters/ Marco Garcia )

Hawaiians know the destructive and creative power of volcanoes better than almost anyone. But long before these mountains were inspected by scientists investigating magma chambers and pyroclastic flows, they were revered.

Pele is Hawaii's goddess of volcanoes and it's hard not to acknowledge a little of her angry presence -- even now. To take a look at the cultural and historical impact of the goddess and her influence on Hawaiians, we were joined by Douglas Askman. He is an Associate Professor of History at the Hawai'i Pacific University.

This segment was produced by The Current's Shannon Higgins and Ines Colabrese.