Solstice Lava Flows

Solstice in the flow. We saw the sunrise on the solstice while watching lava pour into the sea. This time, we weren't 600 feet away, or on a boat, we were in the flow (or on top of it at least), viewing creation.
The sun rose and the boiling hot sea spewed water spouts; sometimes several funnel clouds at a time were spinning over the smoking water.
We were reluctant to leave, not only because we were headed home that evening to below zero temperatures and two feet of snow dumped by a Nor'easter blizzard. We kept being drawn back, just one more photo, one more look, one more reminder that this earth is truly a miracle in action.

Continuing the adventure

On Tuesday we hiked back in to the county viewing area to see and photograph the lava entering the sea at sunset. From this location, about 600 feet away from the entry point, the plume is visible all day, however, as the light begins to fade, the glow of the red lava is reflected into the steam clouds and the fireworks begin. Each night, a crowd grows bringing snacks, picnics, cameras, videocams, etc., to sit and watch the earth put on her nightly show.
On Wednesday morning at 5:00 a.m. we went aboard a dive boat that took us even closer to the flow. For an hour or so, we rode the swells in front of the plume, listening to Pele's activity before us and below us. The lava travels from a vent at the top of the pali (cliff's), underground in tubes that empty at the sea, creating new land. Some deposit under the waves, and some explode at the surface of the water and air. The exploding hot rock spatters into fireworks of red lava, black ash, offset on a background of white steam, as the sun rose behind us.
This is Pele's best show at the moment. The plume at the summit crater of Halemaumau began to subside about a week ago, although you can still see a weaker column of mostly blue smoke emitting sulfurous particles right below where the visitor's platform once stood. The road to Halemaumau is currently closed because of the hazards of inhaling this "vog" (volcanic fog), and the bombs Pele throws from this new vent. It's a gaping hole in the side of the Halemaumau fire pit where scientists have been able to hear the gurgling and occasionally glimpse the lava lake below. Most of that magma appears to have drained back down to lower levels currently.
Today we may climb to the summit of Mauna Loa where it's been snowing the last few days (not that I miss the snow, but I've never been to Mauna Loa's summit crater). We'll see how I hold up to the vicissitudes of altitude (13,000-14,000 feet I think).
Yesterday we spent time with Brad Lewis, "volcanoman," whose photography of volcanoes I've admired for years. Check out his website at www.volcanoman.com for incredible images!

at sea

Lava Flows Into the Sea

Day 2 and we're seeing the lava flow into the sea. The day began with a downpour. We got up at 3:30 a.m. to see whether we could hike in for sunrise where the lava is entering the sea, but to no avail. We dawdled through the morning downpour, and finally headed out to the county "viewing area" which is a well-marked trail, about 3/4 mile long, where you can go to see the plume from quite a distance away. Towards sunset, the viewing area fills out with families bringing their picnic dinner, a group that proceeded to sit cross-legged, palms to the heavens, and chant to the goddess Pele, and tourists from all over the world. As the sky darkened, the volcanic activity increased, and the glow of the red lava could be seen reflected in the steam cloud. People ooh'd and ahh'd like they were at the fireworks on the Fourth of July!

Day One Spontaneous Combustion

OK, not exactly what you'd expect to see on a trip to Hawaii to photograph volcanoes! Just driving by, and saw this zebra, and thought "hmmm...a zebra" and then I thought "a zebra, in Hawaii?", so we turned around and photographed the zebra on the coffee farm.
Not much to see up at the volcano - lots of rain, fog, and vog.
A great tour of the Hawaii Volcano Observatory however - courtesy of Steve Brandtley.

Lava Rivers

Tickets purchased. Been a long time since I've been this impulsive. Years ago, I would have been on a plane the day I read about a mile-wide lava river. But now, at least I'm going next week. I leave on Saturday, December 13th for Hawaii and I'll be home in Maine for Christmas. I'm hoping Kilauea will cooperate and that lava river will still be flowing when I get there!