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.