Kalapana gained notoriety when the 1986 KÄ«lauea lava flow from the KÅ«paÊ»ianahÄ vent destroyed and partly buried most of the town, as well as Kalapana Gardens and nearby Royal Gardens subdivisions. Along with the destruction of Kalapana were those of the nearby town of KaimÅ« and KaimÅ« Bay, both of which now lie buried beneath more than 50 feet of lava.