The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says that dozens of small lava flows have moved down the pali and across the coastal plain of Kilauea's south flank in the past several weeks.

Dr. Jim Kauahikaua, scientist in charge of the observatory, says the recent flows have burned a structure, come to within 300 feet of the trailhead leading to Hawaii County's lava viewing area, and entered the ocean about 2,300 feet west of the still-active ocean entry at Waikupanaha.

Kauahikaua says the flows are also creating a new lava tube system adjacent to, and over, the main tube that has supplied lava to the ocean since March 2008.

As of Thursday, the flows near the trailhead to the public viewing area are stagnant, but flows that crossed over the Waikupanaha tube in the past week are forming a new lava tube system above it and are still entering the ocean at the west end of the Waikupanaha delta.

Also, the beginning of a new deflation-inflation cycle will likely affect the tube system and change the surface flow activity again this weekend.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Web site is at:

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov