Kilauea - Hawaii Information

Kilauea - Hawaii

Ancient Hawaiians attributed the fiery fury of volcanic eruptions to Pele , the hot-blooded goddess who has systematically fled from Kauai, to Oahu to Maui and now lives and breathes fire and ash on Kilauea. Even as she creates another island deep under the ocean adjacent to Hawaii, her tempers stimulate the volcanoes of the Big Island into being the most potent on earth. Although I’d formerly visited the Kona side of the island, Kilauea continued to be familiar to me only in mythical tales,, photographs and documentaries. How could I live in Hawaii and not have confronted one of the earth''s true marvels?
Disembarking the ship at Hilo Harbor, we easily found our way to the rental car agency and headed directly to the Volcanoes National Park entrance a few miles south of Hilo town. Our first stop was the Park Visitor Center, where we collected trail maps and explored National Park-style displays and volcano facts. Then, flooded with a lust for lava, we hit the road in search of Kilauea''s hot spots.
Crater Rim Drive makes an 11 mile loop around the caldera with points of interest clearly designated by the map and signs. Our first stop was the steam vents, where evidence of Pele’s hot breathe deep in the earth transforms into a misty vapor above ground. Unlike the dangerous fumes at the Halema‘uma‘u Crater down the road, these steam vents do not present respiratory hazards. Nevertheless, hold your breath, pose for a photo engulfed in the steam, and move on to the Kilauea Overlook . From there visitors can peer across the giant caldera that displays a spectacle of color when the sun shines.
Next, stop in at the Jaggar Museum , named after volcanologist, Thomas Jaggar, who came to Hawaii in 1909 to study the island''s unique geology. The center houses a brilliant layman’s description of volcanic activities along with a collection of fascinating eruption byproducts including Pele’s tears, hair and other spatter. What is surely the widest-ranging collection of books, tapes and posters celebrating volcanic science, lore and legend are available for purchase.
Driving the Crater Rim Drive, it is apparent that the constant eruptions and flows over the years have been both destructive and productive. Entire communities and countless antiquities have been destroyed, even as eruptions have created 560 acres of new land mass. Considering the potential gravity of such forces and the unique opportunity to watch the earth as it gives birth to new land, it is not suprising that thousands of visitors make the trek to behold such a spectacle - and take such chances. Indeed, in small print the park map states, “The park, situated on two active volcanoes, contains hidden hazards that may be life-threatening. Stay alert and heed warning signs.” Pele may be ready to stomp her feet at any time.
Now, prepare yourself for a stroll through a lava tube!

Beyond the crater overlook and museum, drive onward to the wide open lava field and gaze awestruck at what appears to be dozens of bonfires smoldering in the distance. Steam vents, revealing a tiny hint at the forces at work below, encourage wandering across the lava fields to take photos and indulge the urge to touch the rock. Not surprisingly, they are hot, driving home the point that you are standing on a volcano, indeed.
Notice how the road weaves and humps over lava spilled onto its former path. For twenty years Kilauea has been constantly erupting and although most of the flow is at the end of the Chain of Craters road, Mother Nature, or Pele, in particular, bears close watching.
The Halema’uma’u Overlook lies ahead. This point gives visitors an alternative view of the Caldera seen from the Jaggar Museum. But beware! The sulphur fumes are dangerous to those with respiratory issues. Instead, you may want to check out the Keanakako’I Lookout, glimpsing into an entirely different crater of the same name.
Next, encounter Devastation Trail, a great place to take a walk in pleasant weather. This trailhead is the starting off point for various hikes from a short .5 to the 3.9 mile Kilauea Iki Loop which is also accessed from the Thurston Lava Tube. Allow enough time for a visit to the Lava Tubes, as it is unlike anything you’ve seen before. This is the largest lava tube in America, and superlatives such as this are always worth a look.
After a short hike to the entrance of the Lava Tube through a tropical forest rife with pohole ferns and (Hapu’u), enter the dank, dark, cave ten feet high and 600 feet long. You’ll likely step into puddles unaware, be dappled with dripping water, and occasionally loose your footing in the slippery darkness. Equipped with a miner’s helmet and boots, you may even venture into the deeper recesses of the cave for some true exploration.
A further option is driving the Chain of Craters Road, a 20 mile drive through “the most desolate land on earth” revealing Hawaii’s mugshot at birth. One section of the road was closed 13 years ago when a lava flow covered seven miles of the road with a bubbling black blanket of lava up to 30 yards thick. At the end of the road, take the twenty minute walk over lava toward the ocean where active flows pour into the sea. But, in the rain on a gray day, visibility was not good enough to warrant the drive. Besides, it is best to make the trek at night by the light of flashlight and with the help of sturdy shoes to protect yourself from the sharp, jagged trail. Do so, and be rewarded with the high-contrast sight of red glowing surface flows and the a’a and pahoehoe that light up the distant mountains.

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