Andrew

Geology of Waikoloa

While writing up my visit to Goat House Tube I was again wondering how old the lava tube was, it is clearly old, but how old?

A Google Earth image of Waikoloa overlayed with a geologic unit map showing the various lava flows from Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, pinks are Mauna Kea flows while Mauna Loa flows are green

Most of the Mauna Kea lava flows upon which Waikoloa sits are ten to twenty thousand years old, but the Mauna Loa flows that start just south of the village can be quite a bit younger.

Just a few miles south of the village one can find the 1859 Mauna Loa flow, the longest lava flow in the state representing a very long eruption that produced an enormous volume of lava. This is the flow that reshaped Kiholo bay, destroying the large fishponds that could once be found there.

M67

Goat House… Again

The upper power line entrance to Goat House Tube

It has been a while since I last hiked out to Goat House Lava Tube. A bit obscure, the tube hides in the grasslands outside Waikoloa Village, accessible with a modest hike.

With the new eMTB this tube is even easier to get to. The power line access roads are rough, simple tracks just scraped into the lava, but fun. A good road to enjoy with a full suspension bike bouncing over the bare rock.

Volcano Road

The glow of the January 2025 eruption above Crater Rim Drive — The glow of the January 2025 eruption lights the path above a closed section of Crater Rim Drive

Total Lunar Eclipse

King’s Trail

Observing Episode 4

Photographing and enjoying episode 4 of the Kilauea eruption on Jan 16th, 2025

Plume in the Dawn

The eruption plume from Kilauea catching the light of dawn 12Feb2025

Palapalai

Twin Craters

On the west end of the park is a vast area I had never ventured into, the Kaʻu Desert. This was going to change, the two hikes on the top of the list for this particular stay in the park were Mauna Ulu and the Kaʻu Desert. Having accomplished the prior it was time for the latter.

The Kaʻu Desert along the Mauna Iki Trail

There are two sets of trailheads to enter the Kaʻu Desert. Several of the trailheads are along Highway 11 on the north side of the area. To avoid leaving my car on the side of the main island belt road I chose to use one of the trailheads along the Hilina Pali Road inside the park. Here one can find the Mauna Iki Trail leading to Twin Craters.