Aloha!
Recently I visited the ongoing flow from Kilauea to the ocean near Kalapana. Approaching a lava flow is a humbling experience, and it is interesting to watch oneself and others to see where the humility (or outright fear, in some cases) kicks in, and how so. When you are treading on freshly cooled lava crust, fear is not an unreasonable reaction. The thin and brittle crust can break easily beneath your feet. Many consider it a walk (or a trespass, perhaps) upon sacred ground, which is why some folks bring an offering for
Pele. In any case, a lava flow is a tremendous force to behold, which is why the officials often keep the curious at a distance.
If you visit a flow, take safety precautions. I recommend:
(1) shoes with good tread and no open toes;
(2) at least a pint of water per person, and maybe a snack;
(3) long pants (I do not recommend shorts, in case you slip and fall; sharp lava going into bare skin will cost you a visit to the hospital), and
(4) a poncho, in case it rains. Downpours can happen very suddenly on this part of Hawaii Island. Also, wet lava is very slippery.
(5) If there is any chance you will be out on the lava after dark, then take a flashlight (pref. the kind that straps to the head, available at Home Depot and Ace Hdwe.). I also highly recommend that you leave a blinking light with a good battery at a high elevation point near your vehicle, to help you find your way back. Some folks recommend marking the trail with glow sticks, although this can be expensive.
Most of all, I suggest that you be willing to turn back if you become anxious or otherwise feel that moving any closer to an active flow is a Bad Idea. There are steam vents and superheated rock, for starters, and you WILL feel the heat rising from either.
Presuming, however, that over 99% of you reading this post will never visit a lava flow for themselves, I took a few pictures. I hope you enjoy them. Please read my notes below about borrowing pictures from my site before you copy any of these for your own use. Mahalo!
Here is further info about the recent volcanic activity on Hawaii Island.
Wishing you a beautiful day,
Bill Brent
[this page last updated: 2008.09.18, 12:25 a.m. Hawaii time]
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