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Published: October 11th 2008
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Halema'uma'u crater, Kilauea
Fiery furnace in the night sky Volcano, Hawaii Friday 10th October 2008
According to Hawaiian legend and tradition, Halema’uma’u Crater on Kilauea volcano is the home of Pele the goddess of fire and volcanoes. Pele is responsible for the fiery eruptions of this, the world’s youngest and most active volcano on land and so is both feared and revered as the bringer of disaster and the giver of life as the island continues to grow. The soil on Big Island, so lush and tropical is continually enriched by the lava flows. Mauna Loa, an older volcano, also active and spewing forth steam from its vents towers over Kilauea to the north. To stand on the rim of Halema’uma’u whilst it billows forth steam and ash, whilst the sun sets, seeing the glow from the vent redden as the sky darkens is a remarkable and unforgettable experience. The power of these huge emissions, billowing toxic fumes high into the sky is truly daunting; one feels very small amidst such power; one is watching the birth of land. To hike over sulphur beds (on raised wooden walkways) is pretty awesome too. In 1996 a teenage boy stepped off the trail on to what just looks like rock and
Kilauea Caldera
Near the crater's edge. was swallowed into the burning mass below. He wasn’t the first and sadly will not be the last despite clear warning signs. To stand in the steam of a steam vent is like having a scary sauna. This is what we came to Hawaii to see and do and we were not disappointed. We have stood on Etna, which is also pretty active, and seen the smoke rise high from Stromboli’s crater but never before have we stood on a volcano that, just a matter of metres below our feet, is a mass of molten magma from the earth’s core.
Our guide for the day was Stanley, a 35 year old Vietnamese, fathered by a Norwegian/American serviceman and left with his mother in poverty after the Vietnamese war. Stanley is a very special guy who has a love of nature and people so he was the perfect gentle guide. On the way to the volcanoes we stopped at the Akaka waterfalls, passed through rainforest and saw many of Hawaii’s famous orchids (they even grow around the sulphur beds). We also picked and ate some wild guava fruits (which I don’t think one is supposed to) - just blame Stanley!
Kilauea Caldera
Smoke, gasses and ash have continually been spewing forth from the vent since the last eruption in March 2008 and the lava is still flowing. It was a wonderful day. We got back to the hostel late, ate a sandwich and went to bed. We still have four days on this beautiful exotic island but if we do nothing else now, just walk about, snorkel and swim, we have seen the big feature, the glory of Kilauea, and home of the fiery tempestuous goddess Pele. Anything else (especially if a green turtle decides to swim near to us) will be a bonus but we are more than satiated with spectacle and wonder so we are more than satisfied!
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