[ MOLTEN ROCK SHOW ]
COURTESY OF U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
A visitor in the distance, above right, views the coastal plain within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Kilauea's south flank. The site is just east of a temporary trail that allows visitor access. Walking distance is about 1 1/4 miles from the end of the Chain of Craters Road. This photo shows a large breakout from a tumulus near the front of the west tongue of the Kohola flow.
Kilauea Volcano
thrilling park visitors
with lava flowsThe rare natural spectacle,
which commenced Friday night,
can still be seen by willing hikers
Lava from Kilauea Volcano is providing a spectacular show for visitors willing to take a hike.
"We've been pretty busy for the last couple of weeks now," said Hawaii Volcanoes National Park ranger Charlie Ricketts, adding that the flow is a little closer to the end of the Chain of Craters Road.
"One of the lava junkies came with photos, and there were some nice aa flows."
Park visitors can drive to the end of the Chain of Craters Road and hike about 1 1/4 miles inland, about 45 minutes, to view the Holei Pali, where lava began cascading Friday night, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Web site, hvo.wr.usgs.govkilauea updatemain.html.
Geologist Don Swanson reported that the best show on Holei was on Saturday night. Swanson, who hikes out to the flows before daybreak every morning, reported cascades of lava between 425 and 492 feet wide.
Unfortunately for viewers, the lava is beginning to crust over in that area, the Web site said.
Visitors can also hike out about an hour to view the surface flows along the coastal flat where the western branch of what scientists call the Kohola flow was about a half-mile from the ocean's edge yesterday.
David Sherrod, of the U.S. Geological Survey, said it is difficult to say when one of the two lobes coming over the Holei Pali will make it to the ocean. He predicted it may be within a week or two.
"Each one is competing to get more supply of lava," he said. "The lobe that gets more milk from Mama wins."
