Pele's masterpiece is beautiful

            We finally had a chance on May 5, to go to Kilauea and view the that has filled the Overlook Crater. We had a meeting in Hilo and arrived at Volcano National Park at around 10:00 PM. At that hour the crowds had dispersed and we were able to park at the Jaggar Museum. A short walk to the viewing area revealed a spectacular sight. We have been to the VNP hundreds of times since our first visit in 1979. We have seen active lava flows, stood right next to them and watched fire hoses of lava enter the ocean. We have seen lava advance down the road in Kalapana. Nothing that we have seen has come close to the view of the lava lake that now exists.

            As we viewed the lava lake there was a lava fountain occurring at the far side that was spectacular. The surface consisted of floes of cooled lava that drifted across the lava lake. Molten lava separated the floes and occasionally gas bubbles would burst in those bright red molten areas. There is a telescope set up in the viewing area which affords a great close-up view of the lava lake.

            Be aware that it is cool at the viewing area and often rains. When we were there the temperature was 55 degrees F, however there was no rain and we had a beautiful, almost full moon. It was a fantastic view with the moon just to the left of the lava lake. If you are on the Big Island, do not miss the opportunity to take in the view of a lifetime.

Pele puts on a show

            On March 19, 2008 a lava lake was formed by an explosion in Halemaʻumaʻu crater in the summit of Kilauea Volcano. The lava lake exists in what has come to be called the Overlook Crater within Halemaʻumaʻu. Over the 7 years of its existence the level of the lake has fluctuated but never was visible from the Jaggar Museum observation area. That has now changed.

            The photo above, captured from the Hawaiʻi Volcano Observatory web site, shows the extent of the lava lake. As of today, April 25, the level of the lake is about 40 feet below the rim of th Overlook Crater. That is a high enough level that some of the lava lake surface can be seen from the Jaggar Museum. In addition spattering of the lava in the lake can also be seen and the roar of gas release from the lake can be heard. So, if the weather cooperates Pele is putting on a show that hasn't been seen since the lake formed. There is no way of knowing how long the lava lake will be visible. The lake level typically fluctuates due to inflation/deflation episodes. We are presently in an inflation phase, but it may reverse at any time.

Has Pele stopped her march to the sea?

            I have not provided recent updates regarding the lava flow in the Puna district because the leading edge of the flow has stalled. All is quiet in the town of Pahoa and life there has returned to normal. Businesses that had closed in the face of advancing lava have now reopened. If you examine the map below produced by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory you will see that the red area (active flow) is about six miles from the town. 

            That does not mean that all danger is past. Those red areas on the map are still active which means lavas is flowing and moving down slope. However, at the normal rate of movement, any close approach to Pahoa is months away in the worst case scenario. Of course, in the best case the eruption will cease and all worry will end. Unfortunately, there is no indication that the eruption will end. It has been erupting since 1983, varying the direction of the lava flows from time to time.

            If there is a change in the eruption or flow direction I will let you know.

Check the weather on Mauna Kea

            If you want to go to the summit of Mauna Kea, you will need to know what the weather is going to be like. The summit is not a pleasant place if the weather is not nice as snow and ice often close the summit road. Fortunately there is a web site that astronomers use to determine the probability of them having a good night of observation. It is called the Mauna Kea Weather Center and can be found at http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/forecast/mko/index.cgi. On that site you can get current weather conditions, road conditions, and current pictures from a variety of webcams on the mountain as well as satellite and radar images. Of course, to actually travel up to the summit you will need a four-wheel drive vehicle. But having made that trip frequently over the last 20 years, I can say that it is well worth the effort.

Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs

            When you drive down Chain of Craters Road at Volcanoes National Park you will eventually come to a relatively flat area as you approach the ocean. On the left side of the road is a  parking area for the Puʻu Loa petroglyphs trail. From the parking area the trail is marked by cairns which lead you on a 15-20 minute hike, depending on your fascination with the petroglyphs. This is the largest petroglyphs field on the island and contains thousands of petroglyphs. Puʻu Loa, or Long Hill, was believed to hold great power for the Hawaiians. If a child’s umbilical cord was properly buried there, the child would be assured a long life; unless a rat ate the umbilical cord. So it was a two edged sword which controlled the destiny of a child. The umbilical cords were placed in simple holes carved in the rock. Superstition was rampant back then, just as it is now. Most people have superstitions which control some of their actions; just think of athletes and some of the gyrations they go through. Also, remember the umbilical cord offering that we made on Mauna Kea.