The Pu‘u‘ō‘ō eruption began in 1983, and ranks as the longest and most voluminous known outpouring of lava from Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone in more than 500 years. Lava fountains and flows have profoundly altered the landscape and repeatedly challenged residents with lava inundation. In 2010 I visited the Kalapana Gardens subdivision on the Big Island and was closer to flowing lava than I had ever thought possible.