Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Episode 45

Time for another volcano run.

I had skipped or even aborted going to several recent episodes as conditions looked bad. When Episode 42 looked imminent, I was packed and ready to go. Then I looked at the winds… From the south. I aborted before ever leaving the house. A good decision, it rained rock in the main section of the park and on the viewpoints, thus the park and the highway were quickly closed.

Episode 43 occurred in heavy rain, while episode 44 was a repeat of 42 with tephra blowing to the northeast, prompting the park and highway to be closed again. Based on the chatter, I think most of the volcano junkies on-island were feeling a bit of frustration.

With another eruptive episode looking likely, I put my boss on notice that I might just collect that day off I was owed. Waking to a 2 am alarm, I rolled over, grabbed the iPad and checked the USGS webcams… We have a go!!

Fiddlehead

Gas Piston Event

Waiting for Episode 36

It was going to be Sunday.

Regular checking of the tiltmeter data, watching the glow and spatter in the livestream cameras, and nearly a year of experience with the current eruption’s repetitive episodes had allowed me to be fairly certain. Others were betting it would be Friday or Saturday. Some folks had been camping out on the volcano for days. I was sure… Sunday, probably Sunday morning.

Thus I readied the camera gear, made sure the car was fully fueled, and got to bed early Saturday evening for an early morning run.

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

Twin Craters

On the west end of the park is a vast area I had never ventured into, the Kaʻū 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 Kaʻū 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 Maunaʻiki Trail leading to Twin Craters.

Mauna Ulu Crater

The yawning crater at the summit of Mauna Ulu

Hoʻokupu

Yet Another Volcano Run…

This current eruption has been wonderful and frustrating in alternate measure. The eruption started just before Christmas 2024 and has now persisted well into 2025. Along the way it has been an off and on again show, one with frustrating timing.

The plume from the January 2025 eruption of Kilauea

While erupting the volcano has produced some of the most spectacular lava fountains, it then shuts off like somebody closed a valve, often going from full throttle to nothing in minutes.

For the first part of this eruptive series the timing has been horrible, at least from my viewpoint. Through the Christmas holiday I had a series of commitments well timed to prevent my running over to see the eruption while it was going. Then, when I was free to drive over the eruption stopped!