BIG ISLAND, Hawaii. -- It's been more than two months since lava began flowing through the Big Island of Hawaii. 

  • The Big Island volcano erupted more than two months ago
  • Many residents were displaced
  • Some are calling St. Pete thier new home 

The Kilauea volcano is still active today with no end in sight. The lava has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced many people to evacuate. 

Dhalia Winter was one of the residents who left the island days after the first eruption. She had been planning to relocate to Florida months prior. 

Her fiancé had moved to St. Petersburg and she was planning to meet him here. Once the volcano began erupting, she says she knew she had to leave quickly. 

"If we would have stayed there's just no way we would have been able to make it," said Winter.

Looking back on that day, she says she began feeling the effects of the lava quickly.

"That whole day was more plumes and more explosions and more earthquakes," said Winter. "The intensity of the air. It was so thick with this sulfur dioxide. My throat was burning, my eyes were burning."

Winter lived a simple life in Hawaii. Now, many of her favorite spots are destroyed. 

Her family and friends have lost homes, land and crops. Many of them are now living in tents.

"Every beautiful little coastline, little nook and cranny, what we call Mermaid pond- they're all gone," said Winter.

Winter is looking forward to settling into her new community in St. Petersburg, which has welcomed her with open arms.

She plans to get involved by helping  people in need and animals. In the future she wants to start a new business with her fiancé.