Lava from Hawaii's erupting Kilauea volcano has destroyed more than 100 homes in a rural Big Island district.

As of Monday, lava burned down 117 homes, said Hawaii County spokeswoman Janet Snyder.

On Friday, the count was at 87 homes.

Officials had previously been updating the number of structures burned because it was difficult to tell from aerial surveys which were homes or other buildings.

Snyder said from now on, the county will provide counts of homes destroyed.

Officials were waiting for a count of how many homes were destroyed in an area called Kapoho.

Snyder said it was difficult to count homes in that area from the air because of steam produced from lava entering the ocean.

Helicopter footage from USGS on Monday showed lava from one fissure entering the ocean at Kapoho Bay.

Scientists said a laze plume was blowing inland from the ocean entry but dissipating quickly.

Laze is formed when hot lava hits the ocean, reacts with sea water and sends hydrochloric acid and steam with fine glass particles in the air.