Eruption! Viewing lava at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Written directed and produced by Donald B. MacGowan; Narrated by Frank Burgess; Original Musical Score by Donald B. MacGowan

Can you believe this? It's absolutely outstanding and amazing! You can actually walk right up to flowing lava here; see a volcano erupt before your eyes and the molten rock pour into the sea. This has to be one of the four or five most exciting, amazing, wonderful, mystical experiences on earth...you must not miss this!

Mauna Loa is active but not currently erupting. The summit area is slowly inflating, filling with magma and the flanks are subject to frequent minor earthquakes, but no obvious activity is apparent to the visitor. Kilauea, the most active volcano on Earth, started its current eruptive phase in 1983, the longest eruption in history. Since then it has ejected almost 3 billion cubic meters of lava. Flowing from various vents in the rift, most notably Pu'u O'o, in streams and tubes at over 1000 degrees Celsius, much of the lava makes its way into the sea in fiery, steamy explosions or the incredible incongruity of glowing hot lava pouring directly into the sea with little more apparent than a mere bubbling of the water.

Although surface flows and breakouts are frequent and common, there is no guarantee that over any given trip to the Big Island they will be visible or easily accessible to the casual visitor. Since the flow of lava over the moonscape plains and into the roiling sea can be seen nowhere else on earth, it is certainly the most exciting, unique and moving highlight of any trip to Hawai'i. People stand at the edge of the flow and weep at the majesty and mystery of the earth remaking itself; it is wondrous, remarkable and unforgettable. Before planning a hike to see the lava, check with the Rangers at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for information on the hike length and location of surface flows and a review of safety information.

The lava seems to glow with only a dull petulance during the day and may be less than inspiring until nightfall brings it alive and the madly glowing, fiery goddess within is revealed. Thus knowledgeable hikers plan their hike to commence in the afternoon, reaching their destination at dusk, and to hike back in the dark. The lava streams and tubes migrate back and forth from time to time over a pali and plain of about 8 miles breadth. Sometimes the hike is a few hundred meters, sometimes a few miles, but it is always over an uneven, rough surface, hot during the day even when it rains, cold at night and navigation can sometimes be counterintuitive. The trail at first is marked with cairns and reflectors, but after the viewpoint overlook at a few hundred meters, you are on your own to navigate the basalt wilderness. Take at least 3 quarts of water for each person and two working (check before you leave!) flashlights per person. It is further recommended that you carry sunscreen, snacks, a first aid kit (that rock is SHARP, cuts are common) and wear sturdy hiking boots and long pants. Remember that you are hiking on a highly active volcano, if flowing streams of lava strand you, no rescue is practical or possible; plan, take care and pay strict attention accordingly.
For more information on viewing the lava, visit www.tourguidehawaii.com and www.tourguidhawaii.blogspot.com.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• travel
• hawaii
• vocano
• eruption
• donnie
• donald
• macgowan
• big
• island
• tour
• GPS
• adventure
• solitude

[Jure225]

What's the song in the beggining called??

[DrBlizzardo]

@Jure225 You mean the bagpipes?  That's "Scotland the Brave", more or less the Studio's adopted theme music. Otherwise, the rest of it are all compositions I wrote.

[DrBlizzardo]

Ya, Eva2607, good ears...Kilauea started in 1983, you are correct. I'm the guy in the vid, and I'm fessing up to making that mistake--fortunately, on the final version, the date is correct...all these are just draft versions of my videos, ya see.

Thanks for listening close enough to hear this--means you were paying attention!

[nmbnunes1]

1000 degrees C= 1768 degrees F

[gadionson1]

heheh .. yah .. so bored...:)

[stefanisthebest100]

@Jure225 boring



[17LindsayLohan]

5*****

[Jure225]

@DrBlizzardo Yes, I ment that. Thanks for the answer. Nice work though!

[smellyjonnie]

nice way to end a happy video LOL

[Fireturf]

Quick!!!! Quick!!!! We need to call Al Gore and stop these horrible volcanoes from spewing this crap into our precious environment. We are going to have to cap every volcano and scrub the toxic gasses coming out!!! We are going to have to put every resource we have on this!!! It will only cost 100 trillion dollars but we can get it done!!

[entoris476]

ya i imagine like 3086 hawaii wil get so big at it will join with a country