Kilauea Volcano

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     You have seen that Kilauea Volcano is sending lava moving towards the ocean.  The above picture is of the Halema'uma'a Crater that is located in the Kilauea Caldera.  A caldera is a crater that is at least three times wider than it is deep.  This caldera is presently 3000 feet wide and around 500 feet deep.  The walls of the caldera collapse from time to time.  When we visited, there were areas near the edge that had warning tape up to keep people away.  The cracking rock was very easy to see.  We could not get close to the edge to look down.  It was something to feel what is called "Pele's Breath" by standing over a small vent from which hot, moist air is escaping.

Now the gases you needed to stay away from the sulphur vents.  This gas causes immediate breathing problems if inhaled.  Not fun.  A cloud sulphur dioxide gas drifted over our group as we were walking back to the bus.

     The Halema'uma'u pit crater is just over 4,000 feet above sea level.  The latest lava flow from this crater is not flow in the same path.  It is flowing away from populated areas; unlike the lava flows from Pu' u' o' o' vent that creeped into several towns in the Eastern Rift Zone covering everything in up to ten feet of lava.  So peoples' properties is now covered by lava rock.  When we were there as we flew over in a helicopter we saw that two families are now living on their properties in campers without water, sewer, and electric service.  Why would they do that?  Simple.  Land is very expensive in Hawaii these days.  In some cases there are several families living together just to earn enough money to pay the rent or mortgage payments.  Hawaii is a very expensive state to live in.  Great place to visit! 

     Scientists says that the Eastern Rift Zone part of the island will one day slide into the ocean depths.  There is a fissure that runs right along the inland edge of the rift zone. 

     To learn more just on to on-line websites about the Kilauea.  It is fascinating learning.