Category Archives: Volcanoes

Pu’u O’o trail

It took me a while to discover the various trails off Saddle Road. That’s because, from the road, they look like they’re mostly lava with some scrubby vegetation, but this is misleading. The kipukas (areas of land where lava has flowed around leaving it relatively untouched) are full of plants and a haven for wildlife including many endemic species. The whole area is an example of the cycle of destruction and regeneration that shapes this island and, indeed, the Earth.

The Pu’u O’o Trail, off of Saddle Road, has nothing to do with Kilauea’s Pu’u O’o vent. It refers to the Pu’u O’o Ranch on Mauna Loa. The trail was used for moving cattle from one grazing area to another.

The trail alternates between crossing lava flows and passing through kipukas. Depending on the age of the flow, it might have a good deal of greenery on it, but more recent flows are stark lava fields. While the open lava flows offer great views of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea (assuming it’s a clear day), the kipukas offer shade and are alive with bird calls, most of which I don’t recognize.

After about 4 miles the trail intersects with the Powerline trail and a loop can be made back to the start, or simply retrace your steps. Bear in mind that if the clouds roll in, which they do on a regular basis, the trail is a good deal harder to follow.

For more information about this, and other hikes on the Big Island, go to bigislandhikes.com.

The view from from Pu’u Ahumoa

Maui and Kohala Mountain as seen from Pu’u Ahumoa on the lower slopes of Mauna Kea. The structure on the left is what remains of an old beacon for low-flying aircraft.

Saddle Road sunset

The sun sets off to the side of Hualalai volcano as seen from old Saddle Road.

Mountain of water

Sometimes I get caught up taking a set of photos of certain things. Lately, I’ve been trying to capture waves breaking toward me. On this day the water looked promising, but mostly the waves refused to break.

However, it was a pleasant surprise to find that I’d managed to capture this image. The water has lumped into a pleasing mountain shape and the coral below looks like aspects of its rocky face.

Hualalai in early morning light

This is Hualalai volcano soon after sunrise, as seen from the western slope of Mauna Kea.

Abstracts: Morning webs

I was on the west side of Mauna Kea, at around 7,500 feet, when I saw these lines all over the ground. I don’t know what they are. I doubt they’re spider webs, though they look like it. If they’re trip wires, they didn’t work. But I did like how they caught the early morning sun, which had just cleared the edge of the volcano.

Abstracts: A softer, gentler firehose of lava

One last photo from my trip to see the firehose of lava from Kilauea Volcano gushing into the sea. I tried a few longer exposures and I particularly like the effect of this one. More lava photos here.

For more information about Kilauea Volcano and it current eruption, go to hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php.

Firehose of lava at sunset

As the sun sinks slowly in the west, a firehose of lava from Kilauea Volcano gushes into the sea. More photos here. A good video of the firehose, since the cliff collapse, can be found here.