After leaving Kona Village we headed to Kilauea Volcano. We were really excited about this trip because the lava flows were supposed to be quite a sight. Unfortunately, it was TOO MUCH. While we were at Kona Village, the flows started going through the forest, starting a huge fire, which closed the road. Then the flow actually crossed the road! They reopened the road the day after we got home. So all we got to see of lava this trip was pictures on the web. (This photo from the Kilauea Volcano Observatory.)
While we didn't get to see the lava flow, we did get to do some hiking. This is the Devastation Trail, where Kilauea erupted in 1959. The mound in the center is Pu'u Pua'i, a cinder cone formed in that eruption.
This is the OTHER side of Pu'u Pua'i, with the Kilauea Iki crater. Looks more impressive from this side, doesn't it? The floor of Kilauea Iki is a great hike.
Where lava has been recently is usually rather barren, but there may be abundant trees just a few feet away. This flowering tree was just outside the fallout from the 1959 eruption.
While we didn't get to see molten lava, we did get a glimpse of Pu'u 'O'o vent, where Kilauea has been erupting almost non-stop for 20 years. This picture was taken from Kalapana, which was destroyed when it was overrun with lava in 1990.
The lava flow that destroyed Kalapana extended the coastline out about 1/3 of a mile, forming a new beach. Here, someone has place lava rocks into the shape of a turtle on this new black sand beach, which was created in 1990. This beach was created when molten lava (at 2000 degrees) hit the ocean water, causing it to solidify and break apart. Waves then pushed the resulting sand onshore.