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Suze | profile | all galleries >> Kilauea, Big Island, HI tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Kilauea, Big Island, HI

After being inspired by the experience of live lava on Mt. Erebus a few years ago (pictures on this site), I stopped on the Big Island of Hawaii on the way home to check out a different kind of hot lava.
I spent 3 weeks living out of the rental car and exploring Volcanoes National Park plus a couple days on the Puna coast when the Park was closed because of toxic gases during a wind shift.
There are two areas of current volcanic activity: the decades-long flow from Pu'uO'o, a vent along the rift zone off of Kilauea. The lava starts de-gassing the Pu'uO'o vent then flows in lava tubes for miles, by the subdivision and out at the "ocean entries", where the state has set up a viewing area.
The other is the recent ash/gas eruption in the Halema'uma'u sub-crater on Kilauea proper, below the Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory. There is great interest as no one knows what it will do. The downwind part of the Park is closed and the plume creates a great deal of gasey volcanic fog on the island.
I enjoyed an amazing trip to a unique place on our lively planet. Recommended if you're into this sort of thing! Click on any photo to see it larger.
Hanging out 'in camp', lots of great reading.JPG
Hanging out 'in camp', lots of great reading.JPG		 Another meal overlooking Kilauea Iki crater.JPG
Another meal overlooking Kilauea Iki crater.JPG		 Incredible local sweet potatoes, lady finger bananas.JPG
Incredible local sweet potatoes, "lady finger" bananas.JPG		 Kilauea Iki cinder/ash cone and crater.JPG
Kilauea Iki cinder/ash cone and crater.JPG
Halema'uma'u plume and resultant vog volcanic fog.JPG
Halema'uma'u plume and resultant "vog" volcanic fog.JPG		 Kilauea Iki (little Kilauea) cinder/ash cone (1959).JPG
Kilauea Iki ("little Kilauea") cinder/ash cone (1959).JPG		 Coring of crater floor to see if lava solidified.JPG
Coring of crater floor to see if lava solidified.JPG		 Scientific instruments on Mauna Ulu (1974 eruption).JPG
Scientific instruments on Mauna Ulu (1974 eruption).JPG
Lava gets its way, also called repaving.JPG
Lava gets its way, also called "repaving".JPG		 Wrinkles folding on pahoehoe surface.JPG
Wrinkles folding on pahoehoe surface.JPG		 Whirly surface.JPG
Whirly surface.JPG		 Guts! Or is it brains?.JPG
Guts! Or is it brains?.JPG
You decide what this looks like.JPG
You decide what this looks like.JPG		 Ropey pahoehoe surface flow.JPG
Ropey pahoehoe surface flow.JPG		 Surface cools, interior keeps flowing.JPG
Surface cools, interior keeps flowing.JPG		 Smooth flow with turbulent center surface.JPG
Smooth flow with turbulent center surface.JPG
Pahoehoe & heinous-travel loose a'a on R.JPG
Pahoehoe & heinous-travel loose a'a on R.JPG		 Pahoehoe and a'a are essentialy identical chemically.JPG
Pahoehoe and a'a are essentialy identical chemically.JPG		 Flow channel, small lava tube formed within.JPG
Flow channel, small lava tube formed within.JPG		 Larger lava flow channel.JPG
Larger lava flow channel.JPG
Spatter along edge of lava channel.JPG
Spatter along edge of lava channel.JPG		 Irridescence in lava rock.JPG
Irridescence in lava rock.JPG		 Reticulite, like pumice, but more extreme.JPG
Reticulite, like pumice, but more extreme.JPG		 The tree island mentioned in my story.JPG
The tree island mentioned in my story.JPG
Tree isl w/i subdivision, smoking lava.JPG
Tree isl w/i subdivision, smoking lava.JPG		 This (distant) was my 1st crossings (story).JPG
This (distant) was my 1st crossings (story).JPG		 Future tree molds when trees are gone.JPG
Future "tree molds" when trees are gone.JPG		 Flightseeing, one of many I hid from (story).JPG
Flightseeing, one of many I hid from (story).JPG
Hot, sooty travel up the left edge by that house.JPG
Hot, sooty travel up the left edge by that house.JPG		 The smoky nasty a'a I crossed.JPG
The smoky nasty a'a I crossed.JPG		 Large lava tube hidden below surface.JPG
Large lava tube hidden below surface.JPG		 Lava tube below feeds the 3 ocean entries.JPG
Lava tube below feeds the 3 "ocean entries".JPG
Easy-travel, metallic-smelling pahoehoe.JPG
Easy-travel, metallic-smelling pahoehoe.JPG		 Halema'uma'u plume foretelling wind shift, park closure.JPG
Halema'uma'u plume foretelling wind shift, park closure.JPG		 This was a wonderful sighting!.JPG
This was a wonderful sighting!.JPG		 Hot springs, like most volcanic areas.JPG
Hot springs, like most volcanic areas.JPG
Imua, who helped me learn about coconuts.JPG
Imua, who helped me learn about coconuts.JPG		 I wrestled the fibers off, he cracked lid with rock.JPG
I wrestled the fibers off, he cracked lid with rock.JPG		 What a novelty, the ultimate in fresh coconut milk.JPG
What a novelty, the ultimate in fresh coconut milk.JPG		 The meat is soft, slippery, jelly-like, tasty.JPG
The "meat" is soft, slippery, jelly-like, tasty.JPG
Imua using his coconut hook.JPG
Imua using his coconut hook.JPG		 Using piece of outside to scrap up the meat.JPG
Using piece of outside to scrap up the "meat".JPG		 Machetes work great to open coconuts.JPG
Machetes work great to open coconuts.JPG		 Ate a week's worth of saturated fat this morning.JPG
Ate a week's worth of saturated fat this morning.JPG
Coconut grove by coast.JPG
Coconut grove by coast.JPG		 Decades or more of harvest debris.JPG
Decades or more of harvest debris.JPG		 How they sprout.JPG
How they sprout.JPG		 Kapaho tide pools.JPG
Kapaho tide pools.JPG
Sub-pool on old lava.JPG
Sub-pool on old lava.JPG		 Coral and striped fish.JPG
Coral and striped fish.JPG		 Sea urchins eating holes into coral.JPG
Sea urchins eating holes into coral.JPG		 Great snorkeling here.JPG
Great snorkeling here.JPG
Beautiful!.JPG
Beautiful!.JPG		 Great to be here at low tide.JPG
Great to be here at low tide.JPG		 More myterious coral.JPG
More myterious coral.JPG		 Some kind of brain coral(s?).JPG
Some kind of brain coral(s?).JPG
WHAT is this? Renee says pencil urchin. Thx!.JPG
WHAT is this? Renee says "pencil urchin". Thx!.JPG		 Tree molds from burned out trees.JPG
Tree molds from burned out trees.JPG		 Another tree mold.JPG
Another tree mold.JPG		 These were along/below the above tree island.JPG
These were along/below the above tree island.JPG
Base of a lava tree: lava stuck, mostly fell off.JPG
Base of a "lava tree": lava stuck, mostly fell off.JPG		 Lava tree many decades later.JPG
Lava tree many decades later.JPG		 Bigger lava tree now overgrown.JPG
Bigger lava tree now overgrown.JPG		 Lava tree still with tree! 1974 flow.JPG
Lava tree still with tree! 1974 flow.JPG
Can see the bark imprint.JPG
Can see the bark imprint.JPG		 Some of the lava stuck, some fell off.JPG
Some of the lava stuck, some fell off.JPG		 Spatter on this one: next to fissure.JPG
Spatter on this one: next to fissure.JPG		 This was an O'hia forest, native tree.JPG
This was an O'hia forest, native tree.JPG
Lava might have flowed back into source.JPG
Lava might have flowed back into source.JPG		 Can see the fissure where the lava flowed from.JPG
Can see the fissure where the lava flowed from.JPG		 Hmm.JPG
Hmm.JPG		 Spatter around crack that lava shot out from.JPG
Spatter around crack that lava shot out from.JPG
Another cool spatter cone and source-hole.JPG
Another cool spatter cone and source-hole.JPG		 Spatter directly related to giraffe color patterns.JPG
Spatter directly related to giraffe color patterns.JPG		 Pu'uO'o, w/ wind as wish it had been that night (story).JPG
Pu'uO'o, w/ wind as wish it had been that night (story).JPG		 Offical viewpoint for ocean entries.JPG
Offical viewpoint for "ocean entries".JPG
Pu'uO'o is source of all the flowing lava.JPG
Pu'uO'o is source of all the flowing lava.JPG		 All 3 ocean entries from the other side.JPG
All 3 ocean entries from the other side.JPG		 Ken and others filming ocean entry.JPG
Ken and others filming ocean entry.JPG		 Waves hitting the flow shoots up lava blobs.JPG
Waves hitting the flow shoots up lava blobs.JPG
On-site, blobs look like blobs, not steaks.JPG
On-site, blobs look like blobs, not steaks.JPG		 We were less than 50m away.JPG
We were less than 50m away.JPG		 Great to be out with a volcanologist.JPG
Great to be out with a volcanologist.JPG		 This area officially off limits to public.JPG
This area officially off limits to public.JPG
Amazing sounds accompanied the visuals.JPG
Amazing sounds accompanied the visuals.JPG		 Radiant heat (look at skyline) showing hole site.JPG
Radiant heat (look at skyline) showing hole site.JPG		 Skylight (puka) in roof of lava tube.JPG
Skylight (puka) in roof of lava tube.JPG		 Gases escape as lava flows to ocean.JPG
Gases escape as lava flows to ocean.JPG
Have to approach from upwind: heat, gases.JPG
Have to approach from upwind: heat, gases.JPG		 Check out the lava-cicles!.JPG
Check out the lava-cicles!.JPG		 Tossing in rocks to see the flow.JPG
Tossing in rocks to see the flow.JPG		 Moving maybe 4-5mph?.JPG
Moving maybe 4-5mph?.JPG
Rock gives eye focal point in the brightness.JPG
Rock gives eye focal point in the brightness.JPG		 So fun!.JPG
So fun!.JPG		 Still molten close to surface.JPG
Still molten close to surface.JPG		 Another skylight nearby.JPG
Another skylight nearby.JPG
The other 2; less stable edges.JPG
The other 2; less stable edges.JPG		 View into fiery interior, prob 1800-1900F.JPG
View into fiery interior, prob 1800-1900F.JPG		 Ken in his heat protection suit.JPG
Ken in his heat protection suit.JPG		 Gathering samples for chemical analysis.JPG
Gathering samples for chemical analysis.JPG
Dumping the samples out to cool.JPG
Dumping the samples out to cool.JPG		 Gathering samples of a sublimate (sublimated).JPG
Gathering samples of a sublimate (sublimated).JPG		 Rainforest switchback.JPG
Rainforest switchback.JPG		 'Ohelo, a vaccinium, like huckleberry.JPG
'Ohelo, a vaccinium, like huckleberry.JPG
O'hia tree, early colonizer.JPG
O'hia tree, early colonizer.JPG		 O'hia flowers; dominant native tree.JPG
O'hia flowers; dominant native tree.JPG		 Lentana; problematic alien.JPG
Lentana; problematic alien.JPG		 Pothos-related giant coastal plants.JPG
Pothos-related giant coastal plants.JPG
Pothos-related, coastal forest.JPG
Pothos-related, coastal forest.JPG		 Ti, planted for good luck at house doorsteps.JPG
Ti, planted for good luck at house doorsteps.JPG		 Wonderful dense rich rainforests.JPG
Wonderful dense rich rainforests.JPG		 Giant tree ferns, native; beautiful.JPG
Giant tree ferns, native; beautiful.JPG
Tree fern frond, 1.5m in length.JPG
Tree fern frond, 1.5m in length.JPG		 Tree fern fiddleheads, 1.5m tall or so.JPG
Tree fern fiddleheads, 1.5m tall or so.JPG		 Tree fern fiddlehead, bigger than my palm.JPG
Tree fern fiddlehead, bigger than my palm.JPG		 Buckhorn fern, native, much smaller.JPG
Buckhorn fern, native, much smaller.JPG
Rhizome-like buckhorn fern fiddlehead.JPG
Rhizome-like buckhorn fern fiddlehead.JPG		 Buckhorn fern takes over.JPG
Buckhorn fern takes over.JPG		 Am'u fern, early colonizer of cooling lava.JPG
Am'u fern, early colonizer of cooling lava.JPG		 Steam vent with common offerings to Pele.JPG
Steam vent with common offerings to Pele.JPG
Introduced but non-problematic orchid.JPG
Introduced but non-problematic orchid.JPG		 Lava makes roads into trails.JPG
Lava makes roads into trails.JPG		 Funny to find chunks of road in backcountry.JPG
Funny to find chunks of road in backcountry.JPG		 Ubiquitous warnings.JPG
Ubiquitous warnings.JPG
Steam vents: hydrogen sulfide and more.JPG
Steam vents: hydrogen sulfide and more.JPG		 I returned one night to the ocean entries.JPG
I returned one night to the ocean entries.JPG		 Flash almost hides orange just below this surface.JPG
Flash almost hides orange just below this surface.JPG		 Flowing lava on L, ocean-entry action R.JPG
Flowing lava on L, ocean-entry action R.JPG
This was my return now that knew hazards.JPG
This was my return now that knew hazards.JPG		 This 'break-out' was near an ocean entry.JPG
This 'break-out' was near an ocean entry.JPG		 This time I was alone to enjoy the magic.JPG
This time I was alone to enjoy the magic.JPG		 Was actually orange, not purple.JPG
Was actually orange, not purple.JPG
Flowing close to me, I hid frm heat behind ledge.JPG
Flowing close to me, I hid frm heat behind ledge.JPG		 Slow motion tip of flow, banged on it with a rock.JPG
Slow motion tip of flow, banged on it with a rock.JPG		 Sounds were capitivating: creak, pop, snap.JPG
Sounds were capitivating: creak, pop, snap.JPG		 Smells too, metallic, acrid but not nasty.JPG
Smells too, metallic, acrid but not nasty.JPG
Watched this slowly irregularly move, for half hour.JPG
Watched this slowly irregularly move, for half hour.JPG		 Flow stops in one place, restarts elsewhere.JPG
Flow stops in one place, restarts elsewhere.JPG		 More distant view.JPG
More distant view.JPG		 How it might have looked by day.JPG
How it might have looked by day.JPG
Should be orange. Night is best viewing.JPG
Should be orange. Night is best viewing.JPG		 Visual, sound, scent, heat... all encompassing.JPG
Visual, sound, scent, heat... all encompassing.JPG		 Yay! Made it back to car before light.JPG
Yay! Made it back to car before light.JPG		 Halema'uma'u sub-crater in main Kilauea crater.JPG
Halema'uma'u sub-crater in main Kilauea crater.JPG
This is the new eruption: ash, gas (sulfer dioxide).JPG
This is the new eruption: ash, gas (sulfer dioxide).JPG		 Of great scientific attention: what will it do?.JPG
Of great scientific attention: what will it do?.JPG		 Wind change blew toxic gas to populous area, park closed.JPG
Wind change blew toxic gas to populous area, park closed.JPG		 Another night hike, Halema'ma'u crater.JPG
Another night hike, Halema'ma'u crater.JPG
400' above the crater, alive and kicking.JPG
400' above the crater, alive and kicking.JPG		 This further exploded a few times in April.JPG
This further exploded a few times in April.JPG		 Cultural site in Park.JPG
Cultural site in Park.JPG		 Historic and current(?) use.JPG
Historic and current(?) use.JPG
These are petroglyphs: chipped into rock.JPG
These are petroglyphs: chipped into rock.JPG		 (not pictographs: drawings).JPG
(not pictographs: drawings).JPG		 Most were simple little holes.JPG
Most were simple little holes.JPG		 Read sign for purpose of holes.JPG
Read sign for purpose of holes.JPG
Maybe 2 kids from one family?.JPG
Maybe 2 kids from one family?.JPG		 159.JPG
159.JPG		 160.JPG
160.JPG		 These I found on coast. 2-3' across.JPG
These I found on coast. 2-3' across.JPG
Relentless crashing waves....JPG
Relentless crashing waves....JPG		 ...erode the basalt cliffs.JPG
...erode the basalt cliffs.JPG		 Holei Sea Arch, one of many.JPG
Holei Sea Arch, one of many.JPG		 When sitting on the edge above....JPG
When sitting on the edge above....JPG
... and a big wave comes crashing....JPG
... and a big wave comes crashing....JPG		 ...you sometimes feel the rock actually vibrate!.JPG
...you sometimes feel the rock actually vibrate!.JPG		 Waves flow into lava tube and back out.JPG
Waves flow into lava tube and back out.JPG		 People fish from these cliffs!.JPG
People fish from these cliffs!.JPG
Lava landscape in Volcanoes National Park.JPG
Lava landscape in Volcanoes National Park.JPG		 Different flows, slowly plants recolonize.JPG
Different flows, slowly plants recolonize.JPG		 A'a and pahoehoe flows, alien grass takes over.JPG
A'a and pahoehoe flows, alien grass takes over.JPG		 Harder for a'a to be colonized.JPG
Harder for a'a to be colonized.JPG
Evidence of Polynesian settlement.JPG
Evidence of Polynesian settlement.JPG		 Mass acreage of terrain like this.JPG
Mass acreage of terrain like this.JPG		 Another tree island on fault scarp (pali).JPG
Another tree island on fault scarp (pali).JPG		 These tree islands provide seeds to colonize lava.JPG
These tree islands provide seeds to colonize lava.JPG
Pahoehoe and a'a difference mostly flow temp.JPG
Pahoehoe and a'a difference mostly flow temp.JPG		 Another repaving job, road re-routed.JPG
Another repaving job, road re-routed.JPG		 Common warnings.JPG
Common warnings.JPG		 Little lava tube in roadcut.JPG
Little lava tube in roadcut.JPG
Collapsed lava tube ceiling; hard access.JPG
Collapsed lava tube ceiling; hard access.JPG		 Lava flowed back into this fissure.JPG
Lava flowed back into this fissure.JPG		 Looking out from one of MANY lava tubes.JPG
Looking out from one of MANY lava tubes.JPG		 Crawled out of this slot!.JPG
Crawled out of this slot!.JPG
Imagine the river of lava flowing within.JPG
Imagine the river of lava flowing within.JPG		 Bifurcation within the flow; common.JPG
Bifurcation within the flow; common.JPG		 Not all tubes are smooth easy travel like this!.JPG
Not all tubes are smooth easy travel like this!.JPG		 Some lava back-flow; easy access.JPG
Some lava back-flow; easy access.JPG
This one in coastal forest.JPG
This one in coastal forest.JPG		 The entrance into the 'special' cave (see story).JPG
The entrance into the 'special' cave (see story).JPG		 Tubes emptying into sea, lava bench failure exposed them?.JPG
Tubes emptying into sea, lava bench failure exposed them?.JPG		 Waves pouring into that same special cave.JPG
Waves pouring into that same special cave.JPG
Lava-cicles, iron colored, gypsum crystals?.JPG
Lava-cicles, iron colored, gypsum crystals?.JPG		 From Kazumura Cave, Harry said gypsum crystals.JPG
From Kazumura Cave, Harry said gypsum crystals.JPG		 Different kinds of lava-cicles.JPG
Different kinds of lava-cicles.JPG		 Close up; can see where one broke off.JPG
Close up; can see where one broke off.JPG
Roots reaching down into old lava tubes.JPG
Roots reaching down into old lava tubes.JPG		 Magnesium ferrite coating.JPG
Magnesium ferrite coating.JPG		 More of the common, beautiful metallic coating.JPG
More of the common, beautiful metallic coating.JPG		 40-mile long cave, this entrance on private land.JPG
40-mile long cave, this entrance on private land.JPG
Harry ready to give a really good cave tour.JPG
Harry ready to give a really good cave tour.JPG		 Entering Harry and Elloise's cave section.JPG
Entering Harry and Elloise's cave section.JPG		 He built this door after vandalism incident.JPG
He built this door after vandalism incident.JPG		 He and parents lightly developed cave section for tours.JPG
He and parents lightly developed cave section for tours.JPG
Gypsum crystals (orange is flashlite beam).JPG
Gypsum crystals (orange is flashlite beam).JPG		 Iron bumps. Relatively well-studied cave.JPG
Iron bumps. Relatively well-studied cave.JPG		 Some sort of bacteria.JPG
Some sort of bacteria.JPG		 Slime molds.JPG
Slime molds.JPG
This is human introduced bacteria.JPG
This is human introduced bacteria.JPG		 Another cool unknown bacterial colony.JPG
Another cool unknown bacterial colony.JPG		 This cave is actually very well studied.JPG
This cave is actually very well studied.JPG		 Lava drips.JPG
Lava drips.JPG
Formed in calm air/gases.JPG
Formed in calm air/gases.JPG		 Convective gas currents caused the weirdness.JPG
Convective gas currents caused the weirdness.JPG		 Gas winds blow these out of line.JPG
Gas winds blow these out of line.JPG		 'Floaters' in the lava stuck to ceiling.JPG
'Floaters' in the lava stuck to ceiling.JPG
That MgFe coating slipping; rare.JPG
That MgFe coating slipping; rare.JPG		 Close-up of rare magnesim ferrite coating slip.JPG
Close-up of rare magnesim ferrite coating slip.JPG		 Drips aligned by floaters breaking off others.JPG
Drips aligned by floaters breaking off others.JPG		 Chocolate drips!.JPG
Chocolate drips!.JPG
Awaiting the results for what this is.JPG
Awaiting the results for what this is.JPG		 Important not to touch features.JPG
Important not to touch features.JPG		 Rare effects of super-powered convective wind.JPG
Rare effects of super-powered convective wind.JPG		 These fins point uphill to flow, toward skylight gas vent.JPG
These fins point uphill to flow, toward skylight gas vent.JPG
Lobes related to eddies in lava currents.JPG
Lobes related to eddies in lava currents.JPG		 Fins on eddy lobes. These are all rare features.JPG
Fins on eddy lobes. These are all rare features.JPG		 Eddy chain within lava flow.JPG
Eddy chain within lava flow.JPG		 Eddy and gas current features.JPG
Eddy and gas current features.JPG
Possibly a floater attached on ceiling? Or eddy.JPG
Possibly a floater attached on ceiling? Or eddy.JPG		 Meter across; probably related to current turbulence.JPG
Meter across; probably related to current turbulence.JPG		 Mongoose got in, not out. (Bird-killing alien).JPG
Mongoose got in, not out. (Bird-killing alien).JPG		 Another destructive alien trapped in cave. Oink.JPG
Another destructive alien trapped in cave. Oink.JPG
Harry leaving their entrance to cave.JPG
Harry leaving their entrance to cave.JPG		 Too Much Fun!.JPG
Too Much Fun!.JPG

comment | share
Gene 01-Sep-2009 02:31
GREAT fotoz of the BIG Island!
I've a few friends on the Kona side and over in Hilo and have been to the Volcano Nat Park many times. There use to be a black sand beach that I once stood on, and now it's under many feet of lava.
Hope you doing well!
:-)
Zachary 30-May-2008 15:21
Great Pix Suz!!

Thanks for including me, I just missed the flows when i was passing through, Bummer!

Hope all is well!!

Cheers,
Zach
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