We started the day with a steady light rain that tapered off to a steady mist...we are in a rainforest after all! We had breakfast, made our daily lunch and made our way to the Volcanoes National Park. The girls finished up their Junior Ranger booklets and were officially "sworn" into office and got their badge and we explored the Jagger Museum.
There are two different varieties of lava flows 'A'a and Pahoehoe
'A'a flows have rough and jagged surfaces and can be more then 10 meters thick and by contrast Pahoehoe flows are 1-2 meters thick and have smooth and ropy surfaces. The difference is due to temperatures.
'A'a flows have rough and jagged surfaces and can be more then 10 meters thick and by contrast Pahoehoe flows are 1-2 meters thick and have smooth and ropy surfaces. The difference is due to temperatures.
Pele, the ancient Hawaiians believed was the volcano goddess.
From our guidebook it reads"The ancient Hawaiians considered it (Mauna Kea - means "white mountain") the home of Poli'ahu, the snow goddess. She and Madame Pele, next door on Mauna Loa, didn't always get along very well, and the saddle between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea was said to be their battleground. Mauna Kea is 13,796 feet above the ocean and shrinks every year.
Walking along the steaming sulphur banks
Another view of the Kilauea Crater. The sun would come out and then we would have a few minutes of light rain. It is very typical of this area!
Sulphur banks
'Ohi'a-Lehua tree.
These trees grow easily on lava and are endemic to the 6 largest islands of Hawaii. Unfortunately, there is a disease called, "rapid 'ohi'a death" that is effecting these beautiful trees.
Hawaii is full of legends and it is said that Pele fell in love with 'Ohi'a (who was actually in love with Lehua) and in a jealous rage turned 'Ohi'a into a tree and Lehua was devastated and the other gods turned her into a flower and placed her on the tree as they felt sorry for her. They said that if you pick a blossom off the tree the skies will fill with rain as they are tears from heaven for lovers.
This is a sign that helps orient you to our morning here.
We drove to the Thurston Lava tube which was in a lush jungle of ferns and trees. This lava tube is 500 years old.
This was a unique and fun experience!
It was less then a half a mile to walk through the tube. The other half is closed off and dark. This is an example of how lava travels through the earth.
We had our usual lunch of turkey and cheese and chips in the parking lot after our little hike and when you look up, this is what you see...a canopy of trees.
the Devastation trail
On the Devastation trail
This paved path takes you through the landscape that was wiped and buried from the 1959 Kilauea Iki lava fountain eruption.
Looking down the crater of Kilauea Iki. The lava lake floor (1959 eruption) is hardened but still steaming.
This lava fern is called 'Ae and is one of the first plants to settle in the moist cracks of new lava.
We hiked over the 1973-1974 lava flows of the Mauna Ulu eruption. This was a fascinating trail that piles of purposefully placed lava rock guided us. It is amazing that life will continue to persist even after molten fire wipes it all away.
This particular lava chunk looks like a bear!
These are Pukiawe berries and we read that the Hawaiian royalty (ali'i) "could mingle with commoners only after bathing in its smoke".
It was a hike that we didn't run into anyone until we reached the parking lot again.
It is amazing how the lava would crack and buckle as it cooled.
a lava bench!
Early afternoon we headed back to the house and then dined at a restaurant in Volcano. The Kilauea General Store has AMAZING macadamia nut and pecan bars! Their banana bread is also delicious!
A rainbow as we entered the park a last time to finish driving the Chain of Craters Road to the very end at dusk to see the active East Rift Zone eruption at Pu'u 'O'o. Since we have been there, the lava has now entered the ocean.
The water crashing against the 60-foot Holei Sea Arch was a sight to behold. This arch was created by wave erosion and I am not sure how it is still standing. The surf was unbelievably rough!
Overlooking the cliff to see the spectacular ocean views.
Hawaii is breathtakingly beautiful but it is also so dangerous! Ropes and danger signs everywhere!
The road that leads to nowhere but new earth created by lava...lava takes whichever path it wants...including this road.
A small crowd of people gather on the lava plateau to see the glow of the current eruption.
Although quite far away you can see the fumes, smoke and red glow as the lava engulfs trees and the hillside.
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