Hot Rock!!
Trip Start
May 16, 2008
1
7
9
Trip End
May 26, 2008
Kalapana, Hawaii
Monday, May 19, 2008
A hotel, a quick bite, some questions to a info guide and we were off again down to The Kalapana viewing site, located at the end of Highway 130 in the Puna District.
And wow is it a sight to behold. Firstly reaching the area we then have to drive up and over old lava flows. It amazes to see houses on top of these flows and people reclaim? their land lost in the 80s. Have a look at Mike Cusack's photo to see.
Parking up with dozens of cars we then trek for a good 20 minutes to the coastline and the vantage point. We've all seen photos before but to see rock shaped from the movement of its liquid state is just mind blowing.
PS mind that step!!
We had been noticing the steam plume for a while now but as we walked we started thinking about what it meant. This huge plume was just ahead and to think about the heat required to boil the sea water and send so much of it sky high really gets you thinking.
We reach the viewing point with a moderate crowd already there. Initially disappointed that we can't walk closer to the lava flow entering the sea we get comfortable and really look at the sight.
It takes a moment and then the breeze parts the steam and wow!! we notice red stripes.
Oh-mi-god!
You realise that is lava (hot melted ROCK!) flowing into the ocean. As the swell surges in, large quantities of water are instantly turned to steam and more plumes rise to the skies.
The crowd ohs and ahs and then exclaim "there's another!" and then "there's a third". Wow 3 rivilets of lava can be seen flowing into the ocean. One is obvious, the second you catch regular glimses but the third you only really notice when the wind gusts, the swell drops and it peaks through.
Mandy gets comfortable, Paul just gets clicking. A miniscule selection of the resulting shots and video is below.
Pele gives plenty of heat to Namakaokaha`i
Where I stayed
