Tag Archives: volcano

Amazing Pictures of Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii

Here are some more pictures of the amazing new vents at Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii taken in early July 2008. Got your own great pix of the volcano? Get Your FREE Photo Prints here.

For more details about how to see the current eruption, driving directions and tips for the best viewing, see my previous post “New Vents in Kilauea Volcano Spout Fountains of Lava”. For a humorous take on volcano watching, see “Volcano Viewing Etiquette”.

Boat next to active vent

Steam cloud billowing into sunset

Pu’u O’o vent at sunset with Pele’s hair

Newly formed land

Volcano Viewing Etiquette

There is an etiquette to watching the spectacle of molten lava flowing into the ocean (as described in the post “New Vents in Kilauea Volcano Spout Fountains of Lava”). Here are my top five tips for good volcano viewing manners:

  1. Come prepared. Walking out to a recently hardened field of lava to watch another, active field of lava is about as rugged as terrain gets. No one is waiting there with a tray of cool towels and cocktails. Bring your own water, snacks, sunscreen, hat, jacket, tushie cushion, and wear sturdy shoes.
  2. Down in front. Crowding up to the front of barrier erected by the park service seems like a good idea, but it actually just blocks everyone’s view. A lava field isn’t stadium seating. Plus, all those flash pictures of your partner in the dark with the lava flow a mile in the distance will still be dark, even if you take one more.
  3. Aim your flashlight at your feet. Pointing your flashlight up into other people’s eyes does help you to see them, but then they are blinded. If you really want don’t want to trip and fall into a deep crevice of sharp lava, aim your flashlight on the ground just in front of your feet.
  4. Don’t throw rocks. This may seem obvious, but just in case it’s not, lava stones are sharp, jagged and could easily take someone’s eye out. That could put a real damper on watching Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, in action.
  5. Pack out what you pack in. Leaving trash, empty bottles and soiled toilet paper on newly formed land is pretty insulting, as is taking home pieces of it for souvenirs. According to local lore Pele will find you, and in case you hadn’t noticed, she’s pretty powerful.

Vents in Kilauea Volcano Spout Fountains of Lava

The latest eruptions at Kilauea volcano on the island of Hawaii are spectacular. New vents opened up in early July 2008 at Pu’u O’o (shown above) and Halema’uma’u. Molten lava hits the warm ocean, sending billowing plumes of smoke and sparks of rock high in the sky.

Lava is currently flowing from the Pu’u O’o vent, which is outside of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The site is east of the eastern boundary of the park and about 12 miles from the summit caldera of Kilauea.

(Pele’s Hair July 9, 2008; courtesy of Adam Burgasser)

To see the fire goddess Pele in action, Hawai`i County has opened a viewing area in Kalapana at the end of Highway 130 (the Kea`au – Pahoa bypass road; View Larger Map). Visitors may access the viewing area between 2 pm and 8 pm daily. However, vehicles must exit the area by 10 pm when the gates will be locked. For a humorous look at volcano viewing etiquette, see the post “Volcano Viewing Etiquette”.

Suggested Itinerary

Leave Hilo in the afternoon, around 4 or 5 pm, and drive south to Kalapana. There will be some local traffic through Kea’au, so just be courteous and patient.

  • Tip #1: By going later in the day, you’ll hit a little traffic, but you’ll avoid walking across the scorching sun-baked, hot, black lava beds.

Park and take the 15-minute walk across the hardened lava field by about 6 pm, just in time for “magic hour” (that gorgeous light around sunset).

  • Tip #2: Wear sturdy, closed toe walking shoes. Follow all posted safety precautions.

Plan to stay until well after dark to really see the show.

  • Tip #3: Bring a flashlight and a liter of water per person. You may also want to bring a small beach chair or mat to sit on. Lava is not easy on the tush.

Visitors may call the lava update recorded message for more information about the lava viewing area: (808) 961-8093 or visit the National Park Service website .

Got your own great photos of the volcano? Get Your FREE Photo Prints here.

Additional articles on the eruptions have been published in the area newspapers:

Additional information: