Pali lava slowly moving down – glowing bright at night ~ Small quake on coast

The photo above was taken from the Hawaii County lava viewing road parking area on highway 130 at 10:00 PM last night. (Click on any of the images to open a larger view window)

The 350 visitors who drove down to the Hawaii County viewing area road-walk enjoyed a beautiful afternoon walk along the road, many gathered at the high spot on the road at dusk and into nightfall to watch the pali lava glow come on.

This surface lava is being fed by lava tubes from the TEB eruption site far above the edge of the pali where the lava is resurfacing as A`a and pahoehoe breakouts from the 1900 and 1600-foot elevation.

A 3.6 earthquake shook the southeast coast of the Big Island at 8:55 this morning, six-miles northwest of Ka`ena point and at a depth of 21-miles:


Halema’uma’u Crater has been going through cycles of varied lava levels within the crater’s eruptive pit vent, which has often manifested during the day with distinct changes in its sulfur dioxide plume strength (and varied glow brightness at night). The two photos below, captured directly from the USGS/HVO cam demonstrate this well:

Below: May 22nd, 2010

Above: Today, June 29th, 2010


As I have posted before; there are no active lava breakouts on coastal flats and no ocean entry lava at this time, but there has been some new heat arriving into the April-May Quarry flow field and manifesting visually when ocean waves break onto the new lava shoreline creating steam where there recently was none. It is very likely that the Quarry flow lava plumbing system is being re-energized by molten lava further up the mountain, which could further lead to a reemergence of lava within the coastal flats flow fields.

I will update these blog postings next when there are some significant changes or newsworthy reports to offer you :)

Active lava viewing prospects for the public:
1) The Halema’uma’u crater has been degassing sulfur dioxide fumes by day and glowing strongly at times after dark from lava deep within the craters pit vent. The broiling molten lava moves up and down inside this massive eruptive vent by hundreds of feet at times, in kind of a pistoning action. This raising and lowering of lava has the potential to breach the floor of the crater and likely will do so in the future. Great views of this impressive crater are from the Jaggar Museum balcony within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, depending on the weather; and the park is open to the public 24 hours a day with a nominal entrance fee by day..

2) Coastal viewing: A one mile walk to the very end of highway 130; this is the same location where lava came onto the highway there on May 5th, 2010 but the lava there has now cooled, though is still hot a short distance away. The lava fuming/degassing can be seen coming down the distant pali during the day. After dark lava glow can possibly be seen in two or three places high atop the mountain slopes.

Official viewing hours are from 2:00 PM until around 9/9:30 PM - everyday, with last car allowed in at 8:00 PM. On site are security personnel, a few port-o-potties at both the parking lot and at the end of the road, vendors occasionally have drinking water and flashlights but it is best to bring both these things with you and also some decent walking shoes. The road is open to all traffic on all other hours.

Clear skies, full moon and distant surface lava

Full moon as seen from the viewing area on highway 130 last night.
(Click on the image to open a larger view window)

The 300 visitors who drove down to the Hawaii County viewing area road-walk enjoyed a beautiful afternoon sunset and rising full moon, soon to be followed after dark by some bright surface lava along the top edge of the distant pali.

This surface lava is being fed by lava tubes from the TEB eruption site far above the edge of the pali where the lava is resurfacing as A`a and pahoehoe breakouts.

There are no active lava breakouts on coastal flats and no ocean entry lava at this time, but there has been some new heat arriving into the April-May Quarry flow field and manifesting visually when ocean waves break onto the new lava shoreline creating steam where there recently was none. It is very likely that the Quarry flow lava plumbing system is being re-energized by molten lava further up the mountain, which could further lead to a reemergence of lava within the coastal flats flow fields.

I will update these blog postings next when there are some significant changes or newsworthy reports to offer you :)

Active lava viewing prospects for the public:
1) The Halema’uma’u crater has been degassing sulfur dioxide fumes by day and glowing strongly at times after dark from lava deep within the craters pit vent. The broiling molten lava moves up and down inside this massive eruptive vent by hundreds of feet at times, in kind of a pistoning action. This raising and lowering of lava has the potential to breach the floor of the crater and likely will do so in the future. Great views of this impressive crater are from the Jaggar Museum balcony within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, depending on the weather; and the park is open to the public 24 hours a day with a nominal entrance fee by day..

2) Coastal viewing: A one mile walk to the very end of highway 130; this is the same location where lava came onto the highway there on May 5th, 2010 but the lava there has now cooled, though is still hot a short distance away. The lava fuming/degassing can be seen coming down the distant pali during the day. After dark lava glow can possibly be seen in two or three places high atop the mountain slopes.

Official viewing hours are from 2:00 PM until around 9/9:30 PM - everyday, with last car allowed in at 8:00 PM. On site are security personnel, a few port-o-potties at both the parking lot and at the end of the road, vendors occasionally have drinking water and flashlights but it is best to bring both these things with you and also some decent walking shoes. The road is open to all traffic on all other hours.

Surface lava high on pali expands but with little downhill advancement ~ Full Moon

While many sections of the Hawaii Islands face drought conditions and wildfire threat, lower Puna district has been getting some nice Trade Showers, which often produce morning and afternoon rainbows too. Those visitors walking the highway 130 lava-viewing road at Kalapana Gardens saw some nice double rainbows the past few days.

Ever notice how double rainbow color bands are mirror opposites of each other? (Click on the images to open a larger view window)

Below is what we are seeing up high on the mountain to the northwest from highway 130 lava walk road after dark on most nights. I took this photo at 10:00 PM last night and if we compare this with previous nights this past week (the last image below) we can see the small advancement the lava has made along the edge of the pali. Apparently the surface lava up there is swelling and expanding around itself but not heading down slope by much. This type of shield-building lava does have the potential of suddenly breaking out and moving quickly. Above: June 24th

Above: June 19th from same location.

This surface lava is being fed by lava tubes from the TEB eruption site far above the edge of the pali where the lava is resurfacing as A`a and pahoehoe breakouts.

There are no active lava breakouts on coastal flats and no ocean entry lava at this time.

I will update these blog postings next when there are some significant changes or newsworthy reports to offer you :)

Active lava viewing prospects for the public:
1) The Halema’uma’u crater has been degassing sulfur dioxide fumes by day and glowing strongly at times after dark from lava deep within the craters pit vent. The broiling molten lava moves up and down inside this massive eruptive vent by hundreds of feet at times, in kind of a pistoning action. This raising and lowering of lava has the potential to breach the floor of the crater and likely will do so in the future. Great views of this impressive crater are from the Jaggar Museum balcony within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, depending on the weather; and the park is open to the public 24 hours a day with a nominal entrance fee by day..

2) Coastal viewing: A one mile walk to the very end of highway 130; this is the same location where lava came onto the highway there on May 5th, 2010 but the lava there has now cooled, though is still hot a short distance away. The lava fuming/degassing can be seen coming down the distant pali during the day. After dark lava glow can possibly be seen in two or three places high atop the mountain slopes.

Official viewing hours are from 2:00 PM until around 9/9:30 PM - everyday, with last car allowed in at 8:00 PM. On site are security personnel, a few port-o-potties at both the parking lot and at the end of the road, vendors occasionally have drinking water and flashlights but it is best to bring both these things with you and also some decent walking shoes. The road is open to all traffic on all other hours.

Full Moon today

CURRENT MOON

moon phase info

Pali lava advance is slow ~ New USGS maps and photos

(Click on the image to open a larger view window)

USGS/Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory has surveyed the active zone of the TEB(Thanks Giving Eve Breakout) vent’s rootless shield eruptive lava and posted their findings, including the overview map and photo above. In the photo, looking northwest, we can see a large section of the hot rootless shield, the TEB fuming tube system as well as the Kupaianaha eruption site and Pu`u O`o crater fuming in the distance.

While looking at the large size of this map take note of the TEB yellow line and brighter red areas just above Royal Gardens. It is the lower edges of this active lava I have been posting photos of this past couple of weeks, as seen from the coast looking mauka and as shown in my previous posting below:
The photo above was taken (Sunday the 19th) night 600-feet further southwest up the road from the Hawaii County visitors parking area near the terminus of highway 130. Looking west-northwest, this image was taken at 10 PM with a 70mm lens and shows the surface lava reflecting into low clouds across the top edge of the pali above the old Royal Gardens subdivision as well as some bright orbs of A`a on the surface at about the 1800-foot elevation. No longer can we see any reflective glow from the Pu`u O`o because, according to USGS/HVO reports, the lava pond within the crater subsided during the recent DI deflation event.

After nightfall, visitors were able to see this pali glow as they walked southwest down the road from the parking lot to where the road is elevated a bit and clear of roadside trees. As is often the case, we had a few light rain showers waft through but most of the evening was a beautiful starry night along this part of the coast.

This surface lava is being fed by lava tubes from the TEB eruption site far above the edge of the pali where the lava is resurfacing as A`a and pahoehoe breakouts.

There are no active lava breakouts on coastal flats and no ocean entry lava at this time.

I will update these blog postings next when there are some significant changes or newsworthy reports to offer you :)

Active lava viewing prospects for the public:
1) The Halema’uma’u crater has been degassing sulfur dioxide fumes by day and glowing strongly at times after dark from lava deep within the craters pit vent. The broiling molten lava moves up and down inside this massive eruptive vent by hundreds of feet at times, in kind of a pistoning action. This raising and lowering of lava has the potential to breach the floor of the crater and likely will do so in the future. Great views of this impressive crater are from the Jaggar Museum balcony within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, depending on the weather; and the park is open to the public 24 hours a day with a nominal entrance fee by day..

2) Coastal viewing: A one mile walk to the very end of highway 130; this is the same location where lava came onto the highway there on May 5th, 2010 but the lava there has now cooled, though is still hot a short distance away. The lava fuming/degassing can be seen coming down the distant pali during the day. After dark lava glow can possibly be seen in two or three places high atop the mountain slopes.

Official viewing hours are from 2:00 PM until around 9/9:30 PM - everyday, with last car allowed in at 8:00 PM. On site are security personnel, a few port-o-potties at both the parking lot and at the end of the road, vendors occasionally have drinking water and flashlights but it is best to bring both these things with you and also some decent walking shoes. The road is open to all traffic on all other hours.

Surface lava now visible on pali edge

(Click on the image to open a larger view window)

The photo above was taken last night 600-feet further southwest up the road from the Hawaii County visitors parking area near the terminus of highway 130. Looking west-northwest, this image was taken at 10 PM with a 70mm lens and shows the surface lava reflecting into low clouds across the top edge of the pali above the old Royal Gardens subdivision as well as some bright orbs of A`a on the surface at about the 1800-foot elevation. No longer can we see any reflective glow from the Pu`u O`o because, according to USGS/HVO reports, the lava pond within the crater subsided during the recent DI deflation event.


After nightfall, visitors were able to see this pali glow as they walked southwest down the road from the parking lot to where the road is elevated a bit and clear of roadside trees. As is often the case, we had a few light rain showers waft through but most of the evening was a beautiful starry night along this part of the coast.

This surface lava is being fed by lava tubes from the TEB eruption site far above the edge of the pali where the lava is resurfacing as A`a and pahoehoe breakouts.

There are no active lava breakouts on coastal flats and no ocean entry lava at this time.

I will update these blog postings next when there are some significant changes or newsworthy reports to offer you :)

Active lava viewing prospects for the public:
1) The Halema’uma’u crater has been degassing sulfur dioxide fumes by day and glowing strongly at times after dark from lava deep within the craters pit vent. The broiling molten lava moves up and down inside this massive eruptive vent by hundreds of feet at times, in kind of a pistoning action. This raising and lowering of lava has the potential to breach the floor of the crater and likely will do so in the future. Great views of this impressive crater are from the Jaggar Museum balcony within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, depending on the weather; and the park is open to the public 24 hours a day with a nominal entrance fee by day.

2) Coastal viewing: A one mile walk to the very end of highway 130; this is the same location where lava came onto the highway there on May 5th, 2010 but the lava there has now cooled, though is still hot a short distance away. The lava fuming/degassing can be seen coming down the distant pali during the day. After dark lava glow can possibly be seen in two or three places high atop the mountain slopes.

Official viewing hours are from 2:00 PM until around 9/9:30 PM - everyday, with last car allowed in at 8:00 PM. On site are security personnel, a few port-o-potties at both the parking lot and at the end of the road, vendors occasionally have drinking water and flashlights but it is best to bring both these things with you and also some decent walking shoes. The road is open to all traffic on all other hours.

Kilauea magma deflation may slow surface eruptions

(Click on the image to open a larger view window)

The photo above was taken last night directly behind my lava photo display booth, which is located at the visitors parking area for the Hawaii County lava-viewing hike down highway 130. This image, taken at 7:50 PM with a 16mm camera lens, shows the surface lava reflecting into low clouds across the top edge of the pali above the old Royal Gardens subdivision, as well as the surface lava glowing into its own fumes. The bright star is the planet Venus.

The photo below, taken from the near same spot at 10:00 PM shows the same scene except Venus has set and we see my lens has turned the setting crescent moon into a large star ;)


Shown in the graph below, and as I indicate in my title, a serious drop in magma pressures continues for a second day as registered by the USGS/HVO tilt monitors at both Halema’uma’u and Pu`u O`o craters, as pictured below at 9:30 this morning. According the USGS Kilauea update status page, this drop in magma pressure has already registered as a lessoning of activity within the two active craters. It may also slow down the advancing surface flow of lava we have begun to watch along the upper mountain ridge these past few days.

This surface lava is being fed by lava tubes from the TEB eruption site far above the edge of the pali where the lava is resurfacing as A`a and pahoehoe breakouts.

There are no active lava breakouts on coastal flats and no ocean entry lava at this time.

I will update these blog postings next when there are some significant changes or newsworthy reports to offer you :)

Active lava viewing prospects for the public:
1) The Halema’uma’u crater has been degassing sulfur dioxide fumes by day and glowing strongly at times after dark from lava deep within the craters pit vent. Great views are from the Jaggar Museum balcony within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, depending on the weather; the park is open to the public 24 hours a day.

2) Coastal viewing: A one mile walk to the very end of highway 130; this is the same location where lava came onto the highway there on May 5th, 2010 but the lava there has now cooled, though is still hot a short distance away. The lava fuming/degassing can be seen coming down the distant pali during the day. After dark lava glow can possibly be seen in two or three places high atop the mountain slopes.

Official viewing hours are from 2:00 PM until around 9/9:30 PM - everyday, with last car allowed in at 8:00 PM. On site are security personnel, a few port-o-potties at both the parking lot and at the end of the road, vendors occasionally have drinking water but it is best to bring some with you and also some decent walking shoes. The road is open to all traffic on all other hours.

Molten lava advances further into view high on the pali

Above: last night’s sunset and a swelling crescent moon as viewed from the lower Puna area. The planet Venus was also showing brightly below and to the right of the moon after dark.(Click on the image to open a larger view window)

Surface lava has continued its slow advance into view as seen from the coast along highway 130. Lava was visible near the top of what was once the Royal Gardens subdivision, (long since lava-destroyed except for one fragment and residence). In the distance, trees along the upper region of this area could occasionally be seen bursting into flames as lava encroached; most noticeably after dark.

Will this lava continue on down the pali to the coastal flats? No one knows, but so far the advance continues. This lava is being fed by lava tubes from the TEB eruption site far above the edge of the pali where the lava is resurfacing as A`a and pahoehoe breakouts.

This advance of lava may be slowed by a recent drop in magma pressures, as are being recorded by the USGS/HVO tilt monitors right now. In the past any pronounced drop in pressure has often resulted soon after by a drop in surface flow activity.

There are no active lava breakouts on coastal flats and no ocean entry lava at this time.

I will update these blog postings next when there are some significant changes or newsworthy reports to offer you :)

Otherwise there has been little change and I will leave portions of my previous posting from the 14th below, which contains more details about this weeks viewing:

At 7:50 PM last night (June 13th) I took the photo above from in front of my lava photo display booth on Highway 130 at the Hawaii County viewing area parking lot in Kalapana Gardens with a 200mm lens.

The lava glow in the picture is from several sources: Pu`u O`o crater lava pond (on upper left) reflecting into the low clouds; surface lava flows breaking away from the Kupaianaha eruption site, which is beginning to show itself across the very top edge of the pali in two locations: directly above & near the lava covered Royal Gardens subdivision area, and thirdly, just out of range to the right of this photo is a new, visibly small, emergence of surface lava beginning to show above & east of there near the zone that the April-May Quarry lava flow first showed itself in late March of this year. The surface lava can be seen more clearly further along the highway walk towards the ‘viewing area’ at roads end, especially with binoculars or long camera lenses.

Active lava viewing prospects for the public:
1) The Halema’uma’u crater has been degassing sulfur dioxide fumes by day and glowing strongly at times after dark from lava deep within the craters pit vent. Great views are from the Jaggar Museum balcony within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, depending on the weather; the park is open to the public 24 hours a day.

2) Coastal viewing: A one mile walk to the very end of highway 130; this is the same location where lava came onto the highway there on May 5th, 2010 but the lava there has now cooled, though is still hot a short distance away. The lava fuming/degassing can be seen coming down the distant pali during the day. After dark lava glow can possibly be seen in two or three places high atop the mountain slopes.

Official viewing hours are from 2:00 PM until around 9:30 PM - everyday, with last car allowed in at 8:00 PM. On site are security personnel, a few port-o-potties at both the parking lot and at the end of the road, vendors occasionally have drinking water but it is best to bring some with you and also some decent walking shoes. The road is open to all traffic on all other hours.

More lava glow being seen high on the pali ~ No significant overall change otherwise

At 7:50 PM last night I took the photo above from in front of my lava photo display booth on Highway 130 at the Hawaii County viewing area parking lot in Kalapana Gardens with a 200mm lens.

The lava glow in the picture is from several sources: Pu`u O`o crater lava pond (on upper left) reflecting into the low clouds; surface lava flows breaking away from the Kupaianaha eruption site, which is beginning to show itself across the very top edge of the pali in two locations: directly above & near the lava covered Royal Gardens subdivision area, and thirdly, just out of range to the right of this photo is a new, visibly small, emergence of surface lava beginning to show above & east of there near the zone that the April-May Quarry lava flow first showed itself in late March of this year. The surface lava can be seen more clearly further along the highway walk towards the ‘viewing area’ at roads end, especially with binoculars or long camera lenses.

I will update these blog postings next when there are some significant changes or newsworthy reports to offer you :)

Active lava viewing prospects for the public:
1) The Halema’uma’u crater has been degassing sulfur dioxide fumes by day and glowing strongly at times after dark from lava deep within the craters pit vent. Great views are from the Jaggar Museum balcony within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, depending on the weather; the park is open to the public 24 hours a day.

2) Coastal viewing: A one mile walk to the very end of highway 130; this is the same location where lava came onto the highway there on May 5th, 2010 but the lava there has now cooled, though is still hot a short distance away. The lava fuming/degassing can be seen coming down the distant pali during the day. After dark lava glow can possibly be seen in two or three places high atop the mountain slopes.
Official viewing hours are from 2:00 PM until around 9:30 PM, with last car allowed in at 8:00 PM. On site are security personnel, a few port-o-potties at both the parking lot and at the end of the road, vendors occasionally have drinking water but it is best to bring some with you and also some decent walking shoes. The road is open to all traffic on all other hours.

I will leave portions of my previous post below here as they still contains some valid information:
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No active lava breakouts on coastal flats ~ Bright glowing lava orbs high on the pali

The small and scattered surface breakouts near the end of Highway 130 and down near the coast nearby have continued to stall and become simply hot-spots. The hot spots can only be seen easily after dark and even then, only if within fifty feet; one such hot-spot is only 150 feet west from the viewing area at the terminus of the highway, but can not be seen from there.

Over the past few days, by looking up west-northwest from the end of Highway 130 after dark, an ever growing line of orange-red lava can be seen slowing advancing over the very top edge of the mountain slopes above the Pulama pali and below the TEB eruption site. It looks possible that this advancing surface lava may begin a decent down the pali in the days ahead; perhaps bringing yet another surface lava flow to the coastal flats. It is too early to know if that is the case though.

Also viewed from along the end of 130 after dark, when low clouds are present, we have been seeing a broad reddish-orange glow above the distant Pu`u O`o crater, which according to USGS/HVO updates , has a lava lake ponding on the crater’s floor. The glow we see is this ponding lava reflecting up into the low clouds above it.

Meanwhile, the Halema’uma’u crater’s hot vent has been giving nighttime viewers a good show most nights as seen from the Jaggar Museum’s balcony. USGS reports that the broiling lava down inside the vent has been occasionally reaching ever-higher levels then receding back down the massive vertical tube.

In case you have not seen the movie trailer for my new feature length (76 minutes) lava flow movie, you can watch it below:

All video and stills used for the movie were recorded between April 14th and May 22nd, 2010 of a surface flow of lava moving down the Pulama Pali on the south slopes of Kilauea Volcano on the Island of Hawaii, eventually entering the ocean.

On the way towards the ocean the sprawling surface flow travels through two Hawaii County viewing areas, two forests and pours into the sea – all in spectacular fashion. The movie contains limited commentary and has original music and theme song, as well as four classic Hawaiian chants, which all honor the Volcano Goddess Pele.

Below is the 6 1/2 minute trailer for my movie as posted on YouTube - It is cropped for YouTube so some of the actual movie image & text will be partially cut off for this trailer: {To see this view box better I also have it placed at the bottom of this page or double-click it and watch it on YouTube}
Shot in full HD wide-screen but reduced to HD for the DVD, I have DVD’s ready to mail out now, to order a copy of the movie please email me at
leigh.hi1@hawaiiantel.net -- It costs $30 locally and add $4 if you want one sent to the mainland – and worth every penny! (Check or credit card)
(And also... you may have noticed I don't have any outside advertising on this site at all-- so you would help me keep that tradition going by purchasing my lava DVD, and Mahalo Nui to those that already have!!! ;)

No active lava breakouts on coastal flats ~ Bright glowing lava orbs high on the pali

The small and scattered surface breakouts near the end of Highway 130 and down near the coast nearby have continued to stall and become simply hot-spots. The hot-spots can only be seen easily after dark and even then, only if within fifty feet; one such hot-spot is only 150 feet from the viewing area at the terminus of the highway, but can not be seen from there.

Over the past few days, by looking up northwest from the end of Highway 130 after dark, an ever growing line of orange-red lava can be seen slowing advancing over the very top edge of the mountain slopes above the Pulama pali and below the TEB eruption site. It looks possible that this advancing surface lava may begin a decent down the pali in the days ahead; perhaps bringing yet another surface lava flow to the coastal flats. It is too early to know if that is the case though.

Also viewed from along the end of 130 after dark, when low clouds are present, we have been seeing a broad reddish-orange glow above the distant Pu`u O`o crater, which according to USGS/HVO updates , has a lava lake ponding on the crater’s floor. The glow we see is this ponding lava reflecting up into the low clouds above it.

Meanwhile, the Halema’uma’u crater’s hot vent has been giving nighttime viewers a good show most nights as seen from the Jaggar Museum’s balcony. USGS reports that the broiling lava down inside the vent has been occasionally reaching ever-higher levels then receding back down the massive vertical tube.
------------------------------------------

Active lava viewing prospects for the public:
1) The Halema’uma’u crater has been degassing sulfur dioxide fumes by day and glowing strongly at times after dark from lava deep within the craters pit vent. Great views are from the Jaggar Museum balcony within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, depending on the weather; the park is open to the public 24 hours a day.

2) Coastal viewing: A one mile walk to the very end of highway 130 to possibly see a new surface flow of lava; this is the same location where lava came onto the highway there on May 5th, 2010. The lava fuming/degassing can be seen coming down the distant pali during the day. After dark lava glow can possibly be seen in two or three places high atop the mountain slopes.
Official viewing hours are from 2:00 PM until around 9:30 PM, with last car allowed in at 8:00 PM. The road is open to all traffic on all other hours.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

In case you have not seen the movie trailer for my new feature length (84 minutes) lava flow movie, you can watch it below:

All video and stills used for the movie were recorded between April 14th and May 22nd, 2010 of a surface flow of lava moving down the Pulama Pali on the south slopes of Kilauea Volcano on the Island of Hawaii, eventually entering the ocean.

On the way towards the ocean the sprawling surface flow travels through two Hawaii County viewing areas, two forests and pours into the sea – all in spectacular fashion. The movie contains limited commentary and has original music and theme song, as well as four classic Hawaiian chants, which all honor the Volcano Goddess Pele.

Below is the 6 1/2 minute trailer for my movie as posted on YouTube - It is cropped for YouTube so some of the actual movie image & text will be partially cut off for this trailer: {To see this view box better I also have it placed at the bottom of this page or double-click it and watch it on YouTube}

Shot in full HD wide-screen, I have DVD’s ready to mail out now, to order a copy of the movie please email me at:
leigh.hi1@hawaiiantel.net -- It costs $20 locally and add $4 if you want one sent to the mainland – and worth every penny! :)
(And also... you may have noticed I don't have any outside advertising on this site at all-- so you would help me keep that tradition going by purchasing my lava DVD, and Mahalo Nui to those that already have!!! ;)

Surface lava breaking out again very near the end of Highway 130

Photo by Ron Boyle

Pahoehoe has re-emerged on the surface within a 100-feet of the lava-covered terminus of Highway 130 and the Hawaii County end-of-the-road viewing area; as of 11:00 PM last night. This slow moving lava breakout may reach the highway by tonight unless it stalls, as it often does. But it should provide some viewing for the visitors that do come out to see lava during the official opening hours from 2:00 Pm to 9:30 PM daily.

Unfortunately, visitors are still having to park a mile away and walk in to the end of the road. After dark, his hike does provide a view of the new lava we are also seeing high atop the Pulama Pali.

Active lava viewing prospects for the public:
1) The Halema’uma’u crater has been degassing sulfur dioxide fumes by day and glowing strongly at times after dark from lava deep within the craters pit vent. Great views are from the Jaggar Museum balcony within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, depending on the weather; the park is open to the public 24 hours a day.

2) Coastal viewing: A walk to the very end of highway 130 to possibly see a new surface flow of lava; this is the same location where lava came onto the highway there on May 5th, 2010. The lava fuming/degassing can be seen coming down the distant pali during the day. After dark lava glow can possibly be seen high atop the mountain slopes.
Official viewing hours are from 2:00 PM until around 9:30 PM, with last car allowed in at 8:00 PM. The road is open to all traffic on all other hours.

Below are snippets of my previous recent postings:
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Molten lava breakouts continue at four locations across the coastal flats west and southwest from the lava-covered end of Highway 130. None of these are making it into the ocean but two have come close this week. Some of these breakouts are pictured in my previous post below.

Activity up on the mountain above is a different story. Not only is there more lava breaking out near the TEB eruption site 1 ½ miles east from Pu`u O`o, but all this past week the Pu`u O`o crater vent has been forming a an open pond of molten lava. The Halema’uma’u pit vent inside the crater has also been more active with its broiling lava pond.

The USGS posted an informative and detailed account on June 3rd of both of the crater’s lava ponding, as well as a pretty cool thermal video of the Halema’uma’u ponding .

Below is my previous post announcing my movie about the April May 2010 surface flow of lava and below that, my posting of coastal flats lava activity continues to reflect current conditions:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
My new feature length (84 minutes) lava flow movie is done!

All video and stills used for the movie were recorded between April 14th and May 22nd, 2010 of a surface flow of lava moving down the Pulama Pali on the south slopes of Kilauea Volcano on the Island of Hawaii, eventually entering the ocean.

In the movie we follow the leading front of molten lava as it travels through two Hawaii County viewing areas, two forests and pouring into the sea. It contains limited commentary and has original music and theme song, as well as four classic Hawaiian Pele chants.

Below is the 6 1/2 minute trailer for my movie as posted on YouTube - It is cropped for YouTube so some of the actual movie image & text will be partially cut off for this trailer: {To see this view box better I also have it placed at the bottom of this page or double-click it and watch it on YouTube}

The movie is available through me on DVD. Shot in full HD wide-screen
To order a DVD of the movie please email me at
leigh.hi1@hawaiiantel.net
--------------------------------------------------
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The photos below contributed by Ron Boyle were taken this week along some burned out kipuka forest.

Small scattered surface on coastal flats ~ Molten lava ponds in both Kilauea craters

Photos from the USGS website page linked below.

Thermal image of the Halema’uma’u pit vent

Molten lava breakouts continue at four locations across the coastal flats west and southwest from the lava-covered end of Highway 130. None of these are making it into the ocean but two have come close this week. Some of these breakouts are pictured in my previous post below.

Activity up on the mountain above is a different story. Not only is there more lava breaking out near the TEB eruption site 1 ½ miles east from Pu`u O`o, but all this past week the Pu`u O`o crater vent has been forming a an open pond of molten lava. The Halema’uma’u pit vent inside the crater has also been more active with its broiling lava pond.

The USGS posted an informative and detailed account on June 3rd of both of the crater’s lava ponding, as well as a pretty cool thermal video of the Halema’uma’u ponding .

Below is my previous post announcing my movie about the April May 2010 surface flow of lava and below that, my posting of coastal flats lava activity that continues to reflect current conditions:
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My new feature length (84 minutes) lava flow movie is done!

All video and stills used for the movie were recorded between April 14th and May 22nd, 2010 of a surface flow of lava moving down the Pulama Pali on the south slopes of Kilauea Volcano on the Island of Hawaii, eventually entering the ocean.

In the movie we follow the leading front of molten lava as it travels through two Hawaii County viewing areas, two forests and pouring into the sea. It contains limited commentary and has original music and theme song, as well as four classic Hawaiian Pele chants.

Below is the 6 1/2 minute trailer for my movie as posted on YouTube - It is cropped for YouTube so some of the actual movie image & text will be partially cut off for this trailer: {To see this view box better I also have it placed at the bottom of this page or double-click it and watch it on YouTube}

The movie is available through me on DVD. Shot in full HD wide-screen
To order a DVD of the movie please email me at
leigh.hi1@hawaiiantel.net
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Below is my previous blog post and it still is accurate as of today:

Three areas on the coastal flats off the end of highway 130 are hosting molten lava breakouts; one of which is looking like it may make it to the sea in the next 24 hours and restart the ocean entry. Another is in the old quarry vicinity, and yet another further out to the southwest. The whole lower coastal flats April-May lava fields are heating up again and fuming in areas that had cooled down previously.

The photos below contributed by Ron Boyle were taken early this morning along some burned out kipuka forest.






Active lava viewing prospects for the public:
1) The Halema’uma’u crater has been degassing sulfur dioxide fumes by day and glowing strongly at times after dark from lava deep within the craters pit vent. Great views are from the Jaggar Museum balcony within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, depending on the weather; the park is open to the public 24 hours a day.

2) Coastal viewing: Very limited to views from highway 130 near Kalapana Gardens homes, or a walk to the very end of highway 130 to see where the lava came onto the highway there on May 5th, 2010. The lava fuming/degassing can be seen coming down the distant pali during the day. After dark lava glow and some brush burning glow can possibly be seen.
Official viewing hours are from 2:00 PM until around 9:30 PM, with last car allowed in at 8:00 PM. The road is open to all traffic on all other hours.

New lava flow movie is done - Trailer here

My new feature length (76 minutes) lava flow movie is done!

All video and stills used for the movie were recorded between April 14th and May 22nd, 2010 of a surface flow of lava moving down the Pulama Pali on the south slopes of Kilauea Volcano on the Island of Hawaii, eventually entering the ocean.

In the movie we follow the leading front of molten lava as it travels through two Hawaii County viewing areas, two forests and pouring into the sea. It contains limited commentary and has original music and theme song, as well as four classic Hawaiian Pele chants.

Below is the 6 1/2 minute trailer for my movie as posted on YouTube - It is cropped for YouTube so some of the actual movie image & text will be partially cut off for this trailer: {To see this view box better I also have it placed at the bottom of this page or double-click it and watch it on YouTube} The movie is available through me on DVD. Shot in full HD widescreen but reduced to HD for DVD. To order a signed DVD of the movie please email me at: leigh.hi1@hawaiiantel.net
Cost is $30 each; plus shipping and handling of $4 in the US. Payment by either check or credit card.
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Below is my previous blog post and it still is accurate as of today:

Three areas on the coastal flats off the end of highway 130 are hosting molten lava breakouts; one of which is looking like it may make it to the sea in the next 24 hours and restart the ocean entry. Another is in the old quarry vicinity, and yet another further out to the southwest. The whole lower coastal flats April-May lava fields are heating up again and fuming in areas that had cooled down previously.

The photos below contributed by Ron Boyle were taken early this morning along some burned out kipuka forest.




Active lava viewing prospects for the public:
1) The Halema’uma’u crater has been degassing sulfur dioxide fumes by day and glowing strongly at times after dark from lava deep within the craters pit vent. Great views are from the Jaggar Museum balcony within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, depending on the weather; the park is open to the public 24 hours a day.

2) Coastal viewing: Very limited to views from highway 130 near Kalapana Gardens homes, or a walk to the very end of highway 130 to see where the lava came onto the highway there on May 5th, 2010. The lava fuming/degassing can be seen coming down the distant pali during the day. After dark lava glow and some brush burning glow can possibly be seen.
Official viewing hours are from 2:00 PM until around 9:30 PM, with last car allowed in at 8:00 PM. The road is open to all traffic on all other hours.

Scattered surface flows on the lower coastal flats – No ocean entry lava

Three areas on the coastal flats off the end of highway 130 are hosting molten lava breakouts; one of which is looking like it may make it to the sea in the next 24 hours and restart the ocean entry. Another is in the old quarry vicinity, and yet another further out to the southwest. The whole lower coastal flats April-May lava fields are heating up again and fuming in areas that had cooled down previously.

The photos below contributed by Ron Boyle were taken early this morning along some burned out kipuka forest.






Active lava viewing prospects for the public:
1) The Halema’uma’u crater has been degassing sulfur dioxide fumes by day and glowing strongly at times after dark from lava deep within the craters pit vent. Great views are from the Jaggar Museum balcony within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, depending on the weather; the park is open to the public 24 hours a day.

2) Coastal viewing: Very limited to views from highway 130 near Kalapana Gardens homes, or a walk to the very end of highway 130 to see where the lava came onto the highway there on May 5th, 2010. The lava fuming/degassing can be seen coming down the distant pali during the day. After dark lava glow and some brush burning glow can possibly be seen.
Official viewing hours are from 2:00 PM until around 9:30 PM, with last car allowed in at 8:00 PM. The road is open to all traffic on all other hours.