Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Hilo, Hawaii
On Wednesday we arrived in port at Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. We had a "Kilauea Lava Viewing Adventure Hike" booked for that day. Kilauea ranks among the world's most active volcanoes and is the home of Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess.
We disembarked from the ship where we were met with vans ready to take us to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. We drove through the park and caught views of past lava flows that had hardened into vast lava fields. Remnants of tress, with only burnt stumps remaining, dotted the landscape.
Kilauea Lava Fields
The road eventually ends where a 2003 lava flow crossed, making driving any further impossible. We all got out and were given gloves and rain ponchos to wear. The gloves were to protect our hands from the super sharp lava shards we'd be walking on. The ponchos were given to us because it was drizzling slightly. We were given instructions to walk single file and told that there would be a guide every 15 people or so. We were only to walk where they walked so that we didn't accidentally step on a hidden lava flow (yikes!).
Kilauea Lava Hike
We hiked for a couple of hours when one of the scouts that was sent out ahead told the leader where he had spotted active lava flow. We headed towards it and were amazed at how close we were able to get to it. You could literally reach out and touch it if you wanted to (with the intense heat coming off of it, getting within a couple of feet was close enough).
Kilauea Lava Flow
We stopped to rest and take photos of the lava flow before heading back to the vans.
Ian & Christina at Kilauea Lava Flow
The hike was challenging, with sharp uneven rocks and a couple of people fell and cut themselves. My legs were a bit sore, but seeing the lava made it worth it! Once back at the vans we had a bag lunch waiting for us. We ate and then our guide drove us through the park some more, stopping so we could take photos of a waterfall.
Kilauea Waterfall
Then it was back in the van and back to the ship for the night. That evening we set sail for Kona and did an evening sail by mount Kilauea to see the lava flow at night. It was beautiful but difficult to photograph, so no photos.
~ Christina
Next Hawaii January 1-15, 2006 Post:
January 12 Chocolate Buffet
We disembarked from the ship where we were met with vans ready to take us to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. We drove through the park and caught views of past lava flows that had hardened into vast lava fields. Remnants of tress, with only burnt stumps remaining, dotted the landscape.
Kilauea Lava Fields
The road eventually ends where a 2003 lava flow crossed, making driving any further impossible. We all got out and were given gloves and rain ponchos to wear. The gloves were to protect our hands from the super sharp lava shards we'd be walking on. The ponchos were given to us because it was drizzling slightly. We were given instructions to walk single file and told that there would be a guide every 15 people or so. We were only to walk where they walked so that we didn't accidentally step on a hidden lava flow (yikes!).
Kilauea Lava Hike
We hiked for a couple of hours when one of the scouts that was sent out ahead told the leader where he had spotted active lava flow. We headed towards it and were amazed at how close we were able to get to it. You could literally reach out and touch it if you wanted to (with the intense heat coming off of it, getting within a couple of feet was close enough).
Kilauea Lava Flow
We stopped to rest and take photos of the lava flow before heading back to the vans.
Ian & Christina at Kilauea Lava Flow
The hike was challenging, with sharp uneven rocks and a couple of people fell and cut themselves. My legs were a bit sore, but seeing the lava made it worth it! Once back at the vans we had a bag lunch waiting for us. We ate and then our guide drove us through the park some more, stopping so we could take photos of a waterfall.
Kilauea Waterfall
Then it was back in the van and back to the ship for the night. That evening we set sail for Kona and did an evening sail by mount Kilauea to see the lava flow at night. It was beautiful but difficult to photograph, so no photos.
~ Christina
Next Hawaii January 1-15, 2006 Post:
January 12 Chocolate Buffet
# posted by Christina @ 8:30 PM 
