Lava Photos and Advice
 

Aloha~just got back from the lava viewing. It was AWESOME! The lava flow was blessed at 12 noon today and by 3 o'clock it had closed off the ocean entry viewing area. Pele is not happy! The Civil defense will be assessing where and when to move the ocean entry viewing area but as of today you could not see the lava entering the ocean.
Some advice:
No matter how long the line of cars is, drive to the turnaround and then find a parking place. I thought it would be full so parked at the 2 mile point and walked...there was plenty of parking much closer.
Bring water, comfortable sturdy shoes, extra camera batteries, sunscreen and a hat. Being 6 feet from 2000 degree lava is HOT!
Plan on going around 4 and stay until after dark. I left before dark and will go back next week, but there were many more cars and people heading in after 6.

to see my pictures go to:
www.kodakgallery.com/dennisinzambia and click on the lava viewing album

Anyone coming here soon...you're going to love it!

Wow! Your pictures are awesome! Thanks so much for posting them. I've never seen so much red glowing lava, and the pictures really show how the land has evolved.

those are some great quality pics.

our kumu is taking the halau to pay their respects and camp this thursday. i'm told you can hear the lava underneath, sounds like glass crackling. i can't go but i'm certainly jealous.

mahalo for sharing

These pictures are hot! Thanks for sharing.

Mahalo for that- awesome.

Can I ask a dumb question? We haven't been to the park in like, eight years and see the flow is closer to Hilo...

So, should we drive around the other side if we're coming from Kona instead of coming from Volcano Village side? Like is it any closer not having to go down and around the South this time?

Thanks for that.

leavingsoon~either way would be o.k. but I think the route through Hilo is a bit faster time wise.

matnikstym,

GREAT photos. How did you get those close ups of the lava?

Were you using an extra zoom lens or is the flow that close to the viewing area?

We'll be there in 2 weeks and can't wait!

adventureseeker~we were about 6-10 feet from the lava. Hope it's still flowing when you get here!

Thank you for sharing your awesome photos! I wish I could hop on a plane and fly over.

P.S. I also peeked at your New Zealand photos - wonderful!

Mahalo matnikstym for sharing your awesome photos. I thought photo 41 was particularly impressive. We're going to be there hopefully Friday or Saturday of this week and I'm so excited about the possibility of seeing the lava flowing, though I know it's unpredictable.

matnikstym,

Mahalo for taking the time to post this before you left.
They're wonderful pics and your advice, as always, is really valuable.

Mahalo for that! Hilo way it is then..

Your pictures are so great!

Just heard on KGMB TV that the lava flow has stopped.

Can't find any details on their site or any other site to confirm this.

Wow, Dennis, thanks for posting the pictures! I hope it's still going when we're there in the fall.

Lee Ann

AMAZING photos!

From the 3/10 update: http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/kilaueastatus.php
It sounds like lava continues to flow in the same areas that matnikstym was at on Saturday. But, it appears that lava flowing into the ocean has slowed or nearly stopped at times.

According to the news reports from several TV stations, there is no flowing lava seen anywhere right now.

Officials say that Kiluea is still erupting, but evidently the flow is inside lava tubes right now and cannot be seen anywhere.

Some really sweet shots; Good eye!
I loved your Zambian shots, brings back memories of when I once spent 4 months crossing Africa.

Since you shared such excellent photos, I'll share this little gem.
There is an award winning African film called Tsotsi, that you may enjoy.
If you do watch it be sure to watch the 2 or 3 alternate endings AND a wonderful interview with Gavin Hood the director. Our 16 year old daughter loved the soundtrack so much that she bought it on-line.

There is also a supplemental short 10 min. film that may remind you a little of Mfuwe.
Thanks again for the lava shots!
Cheers!

From KGMB today;

Officials now say that it was an erroneous report that lava had stopped flowing into the ocean.

They said after they got the chance to see it themselves, that the flow had slowed & was difficult to see. But it was still visible.

Whew! Thanks dusty!

More photos c/o the Honolulu Advertiser....

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar...7/ln/lava.html

Amazing photos you took, I can almost feel the heat under my feet.

Thanks so much and take care,

Aloha!

The lava is changing daily...as of today it is visible going into the ocean but not too much on the surface. Glad I went out when I did and will go out again this week-end if it's still going into the ocean.
Will update.

Aloha, Many thanks for the outstanding photos you have shared. We just returned from Kauai, planning on Maui next year, went to the Big Island last year and had almost no lava!

Several years ago I did try to cross the lava fields and I fell. I got back to the car blood pouring from my knee into my shoe, people staring, husband fuming, daughter pretending she did not know me, and me ... well what do you think???

Be so careful out there, don't be a ME!! I ruined it for my family. I will go hide now.

Karin

Karin -- Not fair, I'm sure you don't fume or act like a stranger when you see blood pouring from your DH and DD's knees!

I am the poster child for not being able to walk in my family.

Karin,
Don't you feel bad. People fall on lava all the time. I did.

It's just I was more prepared. We wear gloves, bring lots of water, had hiking poles, and flashlights and first aid kits(eventhough my kids think they are too good to use them). The poles helped me climbed over the lava hills. It was really bad on the knees.

Last year we saw a lady bleeding on her knees. We offered our band-aids. She refused and kind of laughed like it was funny. There was a lot of blood though.

I meant the kids think they are too cool to use hiking poles. LOL.

The viewing from the Kalapana side is much easier to get to. No hiking over lava fields except the last quarter mile, and it's nothing like going from the park side. There's a road to walk on, smooth and flat. Still be careful though.

Thanks for the support. We must have 10 first aid kits, 2 were at the hotel.

My husband did want to tear apart his tee shirt to wrap my leg but I thought it would make me look even more silly.

Now I just put a small bottle of water, tiny shampoo (for cleasing), gauze pads, tape, and of course triple antibiotic cream, in a zip lock bag, as I leave the condo each morning.

Karin,
Your husband repented.
He took you to Kauai!
I'm taking my wife to both Maui & Kauai for a week each, simply because she has to look at me every day!! Where did u stay on Kauai?
pete

Today's update: the viewing area for ocean entry is open and there are 4 fingers of lava going into the sea. No ground lava visible. The walk from the turnaround to the viewing area is now 3/4 mile.

Mahalo for the update. You were so lucky to have seen the lava flow on land. What a spectacle.

I was just out to the lava viewing yesterday. It was amazing. The walk out to the view point was fairly easy. It was over older lava (I think from 1990 flow), but it was relatively flat compared to lava at the end of the Chain of Craters Road. We were able to see some lava on the surface plus an amazing display of lava flowing into the ocean. I highly recommend seeing the lava at sunset and afterwards. You will be able to see so much more of it.

You can see our video montage here and also find a link to our photo gallery.
http://www.govisithawaii.com/2008/03...ea-lava-video/

great video and pics govisit! I was going to go out there tonight but something else came up. Glad you enjoyed it

Cool video!!!!! Thanks for sharing.

thanks for posting the photos and video. those sunset shots and into dark are amazing.

KarinNp: Do not feel badly about your fall on the lava fields, that mishap is a lot more common than most people realize (just ask the rangers). The lava is 50 percent silica and as one of the geologists there put it "falling on it is like falling on broken glass."

Aloha Lava Watchers....

Any news on current lava flow?

As of 3/17/08~ There are still 4 fingers of lava going into the ocean, visible from the viewing area. Not much surface flow but at night you can see some hot spots.