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  3. TRAVEL: 2007 through 2011
  4. JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, 2010: HAWAII

February 5, 2010: From Hilo to Volcano

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LAVA TREE STATE PARK. If you are curious about exactly where this is, use the "Map This" button above the photo to bring up a totally cool zoom-able map, complete with markers for many of the photos in this album.<br /> <br /> Prior to 1790, there was a forest of 'Ōhi'a Trees here. Then, all the sudden, rapidly flowing, extremely hot lava filled this area to a depth of 11 feet. Where the lava contacted the trees, both tree and lava changed the other: The trees were nearly instantly burned to ashes. However, the contacting lava was cooled just a few degrees -- enough to become more viscous than was the surrounding pool.<br /> <br /> Comments and photo ratings are always welcome (see button to your lower left for leaving comments, hover your mouse over the photo for a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" thumbnail).
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LAVA TREE STATE PARK. If you are curious about exactly where this is, use the "Map This" button above the photo to bring up a totally cool zoom-able map, complete with markers for many of the photos in this album.

Prior to 1790, there was a forest of 'Ōhi'a Trees here. Then, all the sudden, rapidly flowing, extremely hot lava filled this area to a depth of 11 feet. Where the lava contacted the trees, both tree and lava changed the other: The trees were nearly instantly burned to ashes. However, the contacting lava was cooled just a few degrees -- enough to become more viscous than was the surrounding pool.

Comments and photo ratings are always welcome (see button to your lower left for leaving comments, hover your mouse over the photo for a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" thumbnail).

lavacasteforest

  • LAVA TREE STATE PARK. If you are curious about exactly where this is, use the "Map This" button above the photo to bring up a totally cool zoom-able map, complete with markers for many of the photos in this album.<br /> <br /> Prior to 1790, there was a forest of 'Ōhi'a Trees here. Then, all the sudden, rapidly flowing, extremely hot lava filled this area to a depth of 11 feet. Where the lava contacted the trees, both tree and lava changed the other: The trees were nearly instantly burned to ashes. However, the contacting lava was cooled just a few degrees -- enough to become more viscous than was the surrounding pool.<br /> <br /> Comments and photo ratings are always welcome (see button to your lower left for leaving comments, hover your mouse over the photo for a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" thumbnail).
  • I'm not sure how long the pool remained, but I suspect that it was only minutes. Then fissures opened and the pool drained as quickly as it had risen. Except that the lava which had contacted the 'Ōhi'a Trees was viscous enough that it did not flow with the rest. Once the pool drained, there were casts left where the trees had been. Look closely at the cast next to Dad. Notice that it is hollow. Such was true of most of the casts we saw. In fact, when we looked inside, we could see the pattern of the bark of the original tree, permanently molded into the wall of the cast!
  • Bee and pink banana flower.
  • Ahalanui Hot Spring. Naturally fed. Heat comes up from the sandy bottom. There is also an opening to the sea. Flow from the spring outward is very slow, so waves regularly come all the way in through the outlet. Therefore, if you like hot, you can stay in the body of the spring. If you prefer cooler, move more toward the outlet. You are likely to find the ideal temperature someplace in the pool. Or, do what most other folks do: Go back and forth, so you can experience how wonderful it feels when you can cool yourself down once you are TOO hot!
  • Spend 3 minutes, 21 seconds looking around Ahalanui Hot Spring, if you would like.<br /> <br /> Music: Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
  • MacKenzie State Recreation Area.
  • Sometimes it can be difficult to check your camera's LCD screen in the bright sun (but it beats film any day).
  • 3 minutes and 21 seconds of wave action at MacKenzie State Park.<br /> <br /> Music: Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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  • Bev is photographing a fern fiddle head. This particular fern has lots of "hair," which myth says came from a god who was pretty much half hog, half human (and could change into other things, too). It was used by the ancients to dress wounds, and has been found to have some significant antibiotic properties.
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  • We are at the Jagger Museum, on the Kilauea Crater Rim. The smoke you see coming from the bottom of the crater is from a crater within a crater, so to speak, called Halema`uma`u (Actually, I believe that Kilauea is a caldera, meaning an area of a collapsed mountain, which can contain many craters). This was considered to be the home of Pele, goddess of fire, lightening, dance, and volcanoes (Interesting that dance is included in there -- interesting to ponder the Ancient Hawaiian's idea of the power of dance). The floor of this crater is now a lake of molten lava. Totally awesome!<br /> <br /> Below are two links, the first is to an up-to-date web cam of Halema`uma`u from the roof of Jagger Museum, the second is for more information:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/KIcam/">http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/KIcam/</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm">http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm</a>
  • We are inside the Jagger Museum now. There are many very interesting exhibits. These seismographs monitor various locations around the area. the one fourth from your left (third from your right) is at the Halema`uma`u crater. Catches Pele's personality, with the dancing of the indicator pen!<br /> <br /> Video is just 1 minute, 29 seconds, and ends with a view of Halema`uma`u Crater.<br /> <br /> Music: Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
  • Dad photographs an'Ōhi'a Tree.
  • We are about to enter into Thurston Lava Tube!
  • Lava tubes form as surface lava (exposed to relatively cool air) cools and hardens, leaving the still-molten lava beneath to continue flowing. The hardening of the surface then insulates the underlying, flowing lava, which allows it to flow for long distances without cooling significantly. If the molten lava flows all the way through, such that the tube empties, then an air-filled tube remains.
  • There are two tubes at the Turston area (maybe more, but two of which are easily accessible to tourists). The first tube (seen in the last two shots, and just behind Bev and Mom here), has lights and is developed for pretty much everyone to easily walk through. The second one has been kept in a condition to allow those who are slightly more adventuresome to proceed without installed electric lighting. Dad and I decided to walk a ways into the second tube, while Bev and Mom decided to wait for us above.
  • Interesting roots from the ceiling.
  • Just in front of Dad is a fairly steep drop-off, which could be a hazard to anyone not bringing lights!
  • Just off the main part of Kilauea Caldera is Kilauea Iki, a sort of "suburb crater" (my term, I'm sure there is a more appropriate one). Just about 50 years ago, the bottom of it was a molten lake. In fact, it had several eruptions and drainings over the course of only a few weeks.
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