Hot Molten Lava! Or is it Magma?

Exploring Kilauea-An Active Volcano

The crater at the summit of Kilauea

A couple of days ago we went to go check out the lava flow at Kilauea. It has been erupting more intensely for the past few weeks. Hot molten lava has been more visible bubbling in the crater at the summit and flowing from the East Rift Zone into the ocean. (more about East Rift Zone later)

From where we live in Waimea (Kamuela) on the north end of the island, we drove east and south around the Big Island along the Hamakua coast past Hilo toward Volcano Village. Kilauea’s crater lies in the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. 

It took us a good two hours to get there. Usually there’s something to stop and check out on the way.  We made a quick stop at Tex’s for a delicious filled malasada. (a Hawaiian doughnut).

A malasada is very similar to a jelly filled doughnut except that it is more square than round. I had one with guava filling. YUM!

So, when we got there it was 11ish. Busloads of people were at the Jaggar Museum viewpoint. 

I had to zoom in A LOT to see any molten lava or magma during our midday visit to the crater.

As you can see there wasn’t too much lava action to see at that time. 

At the Jaggar Museum there are some very interesting exhibits about volcanoes, lava, magma and about Pele, the Hawaiian goddess who has power over volcanic eruptions and lava flow. She is respected for her presence in the land where her work can transform landscapes overnight.

Pelehonuamea - Pele- Lives in Halema'uma'u Crater - the name of the crater at the summit of Kilauea

Next we drove the Chain of Craters Road down to the ocean. In the distance you can see the steam rising from the east rift zone eruption as the lava flows into the sea.

About Rift Zone:
Sometimes hot molten rock moves sideways underground triggering earthquakes, and eruptions alone the side of the volcano. This is called rift zones. The Kilauea East Rift Zone begins on the summit caldera and extends 35 miles eastwards toward the coast and then 50 miles beyond the coast underwater. On the surface we see it as a chain of collapse craters, volcanic cones, fissures, and lava flows. Below the surface lies and ever-changing and complex system of cracks and voids through which magma invades there rock. An eruption occurs when magma breaks the surface.

Diagram with explanation of East Rift Zone

When you get down the hill you are in a barren volcanic landscape. This is some of the newest land on Earth. 

To me, this volcanic landscape looks like the top of baked brownies.  

Where the lava meets the ocean

The road ends down by the coast with a roadblock. If you want to hike 4 miles further, you can go near where the lava is running into the ocean.  We talked to the ranger about it and she said the steam is blowing this way and obstructs the view. 

We walked about a mile down this road to explore the lava landscape and to see if we could get a better view of the lava flowing into the ocean.

View of steam rising from lava flowing into the ocean in the distance

It is fun to let your imagination go wild while gazing at the patterns in the hardened lava.

We decided it would be  better to approach  the lava flow from Kalakana on the other side of the laval flow next time.

It was about 4:30 and we headed back up to the crater to see if maybe we could see any changes in the crater.

We were in luck! There was lava erupting at the back wall of the crater and it was in a good viewing position.

I was mesmerized by watching the molten lava  bubble and boil.