Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

The Hawai'i Volcano National Park was a must see; top of our list when we rented a car. We were hoping for hot lava entering the sea but that stopped over a month ago. The park was still well worth visiting. Hawai'i's volcanoes are still active. From 1983 to 1991, lava flows repeatedly invaded communities on Kilauea's coastal south flank burying eight miles of highway and destroying 181 houses and a visitor center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve (1980) and World Heritage Site (1987) in recognition of its outstanding values.

The park lies  southeast Mauna Loa and runs to the ocean. Due to dangerous volcanic gases most of the Crater Rim Drive around the Kilauea Caldera was closed but there was still a lot to see.

We started at the visitor center and then went to the Jaggar Museum which overlooks the Halema'uma'u Crater. This small museum was packed with great displays relating the volcanology and seismology.




Greg at the visitors' center.



Kilauea Iki Crater

                                                                                                                                  

There is a trail that actually crosses thru Kilauea Iki Crater. You can walk over the cooled heaving lava  and watch the steam escape from below. I don't know how wise this is since they told us that the last time there was an eruption they only had three hours warning. We decided to skip it but note the people within the red circle in the photo below.

'A'a Lava

There are two types of lava: pahoehoe and 'a'a. They are chemically alike but form differently. Pahoehoe has
smooth and ropey surface while 'a'a is jagged and frothy looking.

A large air bubble creates a mini lava tube.



Devastation Trail




The Devastation Trail leads to Kilauea Iki Crater.

I found the process of revegetation especially interesting. The soil that develops from volcanoes is very fertile.

Lava blown into crotch of tree.

This fern looks like it landed on the moon. Somehow a spore landed and found some moisture.

 

This is how the land will look after many years.

'Ohi'a lehua      Mountain apple

This plant was plentiful on the path of Devastation Trail.

Kalij Pheasant

I came across a pair of these pheasants feeding beside the trail. They were eating the red Pilo berries. They jumped straight up two feet to reach them - like little jack-in-the-boxes.

Unfortunately I didn't see the endangered Nene, the Hawaiian goose.

I spotted several red honey creepers.

Park staff concentrates of the biologically diverse habitats and those offering the best chance for restoration. The strategy is to control or eliminate the most disruptive invasive plant and animal pests. They build fences to keep out feral animals, track and kill feral pigs and destroy invasive plants. As native plant communities establish themselves again, the populations of Hawaiian honeycreepers, nene geese, Kamehameha butterflies and happyface spiders may flourish.


Pukiawe with pink berries.

 


At the edge of the rim of the crater.

 


Wild Orchid




Lava Tube Walk







Entrance




 

Looking back at entrance.

Looking into the lava tube.





Wild fuchsias hand from the walls leading down to the entrance.



 



Large trees and ferns grow above tube.