WAITING TO INHALE: Recent changes in Kilauea's eruptive activity

After a period of relative stability and quiet, instruments on Kilauea's flanks signaled the beginning of what could mean changes - a big deflation.

Changes in pressure in the magma beneath the summit and Pu'u 'O'o vent cause the ground to rise or fall minute amounts, as if the volcano is breathing. Scientists monitor these changes to try and understand what's going on beneath the surface.

Inflation is caused by magma moving up closer to the surface and deflation occurs when pressure drops and magma recedes or erupts. The significance of these cycles is not yet well understood by science.

This week we saw the very first Deflation/Inflation cycle in over a month begin with a big deflation. The green line on the chart below tracks deflation at Kilauea summit, which dipped dramatically on the 18th. The blue line tracks deflation at Pu'u 'O'o cone. The cone, which is fed by magma from the summit, followed the summit's deflation about 5.5 hours later.

Changes we've seen so far include the collapse of the northeast spatter cone within Pu'u 'O'o crater which has fed the Kahauale'a 2 flow (the island's only active surface lava flow at this time). The spatter cone collapsed, presumably due to reduced pressure. For the last few days it appeared that the cone complex still fed the Kahauale'a 2 flow, however the flow has dramatically weakened.

The lava lake within Halema'uma'u crater at Kilauea summit dropped more than 65 feet in response to the deflation. You can see in this screenshot from the webcam the lake deep within the cavity.

Yesterday, after 4 days totaling more than 5.5 microradians of deflation, a cycle of inflation began at the summit. Scientists from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory expect an increase in eruptive activity with inflation over the next few days. It will probably occur on the Kahauale'a 2 flow field or somewhere else within or near Pu'u 'O'o crater.

Below is a screenshot of spattering at the margin of the lava lake within Halema'uma'u.

These changes are exciting to us and we're watching closely to see what happens.
Check out our DAILY LAVA ACTIVITY UPDATE to find out what's happening!

LAVA, WINE and STARS!!!

Another Gorgeous Sunset Over the Lava Fields

 Glow Watching for the Gourmand!

Our new Lava Wine and Stars Tour is a real hit and we've been having a whole lot of fun with it. It's a chance for us to share the beauty of this unreal place with fun and interesting guests from all over the world.

Interesting shapes are everywhere and some of it is still hot!

The tour begins with an fairly easy walk through the 1990 lava flow which covered the Village of Kalapana. We'll see amazing rock formations with wonderful colors and textures and interesting artifacts from the time before the lava flowed. 

Rainbow Colors Shine from a Gorgeous Lava Rock

Kipukas are places of refuge for native plants and animals and serve as seed banks 

Then we'll explore some of the island's newest lava, the 2010 flow. We'll even get to visit an area where the lava flow is so deep that it's still cooling and you can feel the warm steam escaping from cracks in the rock. It really is alive!

A visit to a patch of forest that was spared by the flows (a kipuka) rounds out the tour as we'll see interesting plants and animals and explore how they arrived, changed and survive in the unique geographic isolation of the Hawaiian Islands.

Kipukas are really special places. They're oases of life in a sea of fresh lava. Some people believe that if a place was spared by lava it means it is special in some way. The plants and animals who live in these island oases must certainly believe the same! 

Mmmmmm....Hiking makes you hungry!

We'll enjoy the expansive view at sunset with a glass of wine or cold beer and an assortment of delicious appetizers made with many fresh, local ingredients.

Peaceful Evening Light as We Wait For the Glow

At dusk the stars begin to appear and sometimes we can see the entire Milky Way above us. Quite often we can see the red glow from Pu'u 'O'o Vent reflected in clouds above the pali.

Half Moon and a Million Stars

 I stayed a little while longer to clean up and enjoy a little moonlit hula Pele all by myself.

For more information about the Lava Wine and Stars Tour click HERE

For reservations click HERE

Mahalo to all of our wonderful guests for visiting this land. May all of you take something special from this magical place and keep it always in your memory.

Aloha!