{"id":412,"date":"2022-04-03T15:47:42","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T01:47:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavalightgalleries.com\/blog\/?p=412"},"modified":"2022-04-03T15:48:09","modified_gmt":"2022-04-04T01:48:09","slug":"april-update-on-the-big-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavalightgalleries.com\/blog\/april-update-on-the-big-island\/","title":{"rendered":"April Update on the Big Island"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A quick update on the eruption, the Big Island and our gallery…<\/p>\n

The eruption continues, all of it within the Halema’uma’u crater. \u00a0It has built up a lake of lava that is quite large, is over 300 feet deep and filled with something like 17 billion gallons of lava. \u00a0It is quite a sight.<\/p>\n

To view the eruption you go to the opposite side of the crater than you used to visit before the crater collapsed…opposite of the Jaggar Museum. \u00a0That Museum is still closed, but there are viewing areas around it that are quite good. \u00a0The real prize is the view from the Crater Rim Road observation area.<\/p>\n

You get to that area by entering the Volcanoes National Park, taking the very first left turn and heading downhill to the Devastation Trail Parking lot. \u00a0Park there and look for the outhouses and signs that are on Crater Rim Road…right where you enter the parking lot. \u00a0Bring a jacket and a flash light. \u00a0The crater is best viewed at night. \u00a0It will look almost exactly like the photo in this blog.<\/p>\n

For photographers…bring a wide angle lens for shots like the one above and a telephoto of at least 200mm, if you want more detail from the lava lake and any fountaining that is taking place. \u00a0Also…got to have a tripod…that wide angle shot is 30 seconds at low ISO and wide open.<\/p>\n

From the parking lot, it is a one mile hike on flat, paved road and a one hundred yard walk on a lava rock trail to get to the viewing area. \u00a0The area is safe (or as safe as anything can be inside a very active volcanic area) and legal. \u00a0It is also well marked. \u00a0Avoid sunrise and sunset if possible…those times are often so busy that you can not find a place to park. \u00a0I also suggest that you check the Volcano, Hawaii weather report…look at the hourly report…and expect that it will rain if it says the chances are 25% or higher. \u00a0Not a lot of fun out there in the rain. \u00a0You can also check to see the current volcanic activity on the USGS…the Geological Service site…looking for the twice daily reports on the eruption from Kilauea. \u00a0Eruptions vary in intensity…and can go out completely and quite quickly…but the report will give you a good update. \u00a0If it does go out, it is likely to come back on in a day or two.<\/p>\n

Call me at 808 9388383 if you get lost or need advice…Don Hurzeler. \u00a0My phone is usually on until about 10 pm…later if I am at the volcano.<\/p>\n

The whales are leaving…still a few around. \u00a0The surf is going down and the sand will soon return to the beaches. \u00a0It has been a busy winter, but visitors will start to leave in a couple of weeks and not return until mid June. \u00a0Mantas have been abundant…I swam with 30 the other night. \u00a0The Milky Way is starting to look great…as long as the moon is down. \u00a0Most businesses are open…the ones that survived the pandemic. \u00a0Restaurants and rental cars seem to be the pinch points. \u00a0As of now…and things could change quickly…the pandemic protocols are gone…no masks required and travel no longer requires a bunch of paper work and tests. \u00a0And no surprise…prices of everything are going up. Supplies are adequate, but not great.<\/p>\n

Waipo Valley is completely closed…you can not even walk down to it. \u00a0They are working to find solutions to the dangerous road and may have something soon. However, the original notice said it would be closed to any one other than valley residents until 2025…OUCH. \u00a0The Mauna Kea summit is open, but things are still a little bit controversial up there…check before you go. \u00a0I know all of the services have been going each night, so I am guessing it is settling down.<\/p>\n

Our gallery is doing great. \u00a0CJ just returned from a long trip chasing aurora in Alaska…and he scored big with some great shots. \u00a0More about those shots next blog.<\/p>\n

Come see us if you can…and I am thankful that things are finally returning to near normal.<\/p>\n

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Aloha,<\/p>\n

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Don Hurzeler…for CJ Kale and Linda Hurzeler and our entire Lava Light Galleries, Inc team.<\/p>\n

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A quick update on the eruption, the Big Island and our gallery… The eruption continues, all of it within the Halema’uma’u crater. \u00a0It has built up a lake of lava that is quite large, is over 300 feet deep and filled with something like 17 billion gallons of lava. \u00a0It is quite a sight. To […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":413,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-412","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t