Weekly Volcano Watch

Kilauea Eruption Status

(Reprinted from the U.S. Geological Survey, Hawaii Volcano Observatory webpage)




Kilauea summit and Pu`u `O`o are slowly deflating. Seismic tremor levels at the summit are elevated to nearly moderate levels. Summit sulfur dioxide emission rates have remained elevated at nearly 10 times background levels since early January 2008. Earthquakes were located primarily beneath the general summit area, the southwest rift zone, and the south flank faults.

Lava from the 2007 Thanksgiving Eve Breakout (TEB) flow, erupting from fissure D of the July 21 eruption, continues to flow through what remains of the Royal Gardens subdivision and across the coastal plain. On Wednesday, March 5, the flow entered the ocean in the vicinity of Kapa`ahu. The Waikupanaha delta has since grown to a width of about 1,000 m (3,280 ft) and has multiple entry points. On March 15, another branch of the flow reached the ocean farther to the east, within a few hundred meters of the lava viewing area. As of Thursday, March 20, both the Waikupanaha and Ki entries remained active, though the Waikupanaha entry is far more vigorous.

The public should be aware that the ocean entry areas could collapse at any time, potentially generating large explosions in the process. The steam clouds rising from the entry areas are highly acidic and laced with glass particles. Do not venture onto the lava deltas. Even the intervening beaches are susceptible to large waves suddenly generated during delta collapse; these beaches should be avoided. Check the County of Hawai`i Civil Defense website (http://www.lavainfo.us) for information on public access to the coastal plain and ocean entry.

In the past week, sporadic breakouts, some large enough to form channelized `a`a flows, have burst from the lava tube on the steep slopes within the Royal Gardens subdivision. A few of these have reached the base of the pali before stalling. Other breakouts have been spotted at the top of the pali near the upper boundary of the Royal Gardens subdivision. Closer to the TEB vent, an area of persistent breakouts on the northeast side of the shield complex also continues to produce small flows. These northeast-directed flows are restricted to a broad, flat area on the south side of Kupaianaha.

Weak incandescence has been intermittently observed at night in Pu`u `O`o in the past week. As in years past, Pu`u `O`o likely is serving as a large chimney, beneath which lava is briefly stored and substantially degassed on its way to the eruption site.

On March 11, a new fumarole appeared low on the southeast wall of Halema`uma`u Crater, within Kilauea's summit caldera. The new vent is located directly beneath the Halema`uma`u Overlook about 70 m (230 ft) down. Incandescence could be seen at this vent, starting on March 13, and, by March 18 incandescence had grown to cover an area about 30 m (98 ft) across. At 2:58 a.m. on March 19, a small explosion occurred from this fumarole. The explosion scattered rock debris over an area of about 75 acres, covering a narrow section of Crater Rim Drive, the entire Halema`uma`u parking area, and the trail leading to the overlook. The overlook was damaged by rocks that reached up to 90 cm (3 ft) across. No lava was erupted as part of the explosion, suggesting that the activity was driven by hydrothermal or gas sources. The new explosion pit continues to glow at night, with incandescence reflecting on the fume emitted from the vent.

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rates from the summit area have been substantially elevated at 2-10 times background values since early January. During these conditions, SO₂ concentrations frequently exceed 1 ppm for much of Crater Rim Drive between Halema`uma`u parking lot and the southwest rift zone. SO₂ concentrations exceed 20 ppm for approximately 200 m (650 ft) of the road between the Halema`uma`u parking lot and the south caldera pullout.

The increase in sulfur dioxide emission rates at the summit means that SO₂ concentrations are much more likely to be at hazardous levels for visitor areas downwind of Halema`uma`u, especially during weak wind conditions or when winds blow from the south. Most people are sensitive to sulfur dioxide at these levels, especially children, individuals with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other breathing problems. Stay informed about SO₂ concentrations in continuously monitored areas (Jaggar Museum and Kilauea Visitor Center) by visiting the Kilauea Visitor Center and the web at:
http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/havoso2alert/havoalert.cfm. To minimize these potentially harmful effects, the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park has closed all access to the southern half of Kilauea caldera.

Two earthquakes beneath Hawai`i Island were reported felt within the past week. A magnitude-3.4 earthquake occurred at 2:22 a.m., H.s.t., on Friday, March 14, 2008, and was located 6 km (4 miles south of Mauna Loa summit at a depth of 3 km (2 miles). A magnitude-2.4 earthquake occurred at 2:28 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, and was located 2 km (1 mile) northwest of Pahala at a depth of 13 km (8 miles).

Mauna Loa is not erupting. One earthquake was located beneath the summit. The rate of extension between locations spanning the summit, indicating inflation, has decreased to values below current detection limits.

Visit our Web site (http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov) for daily Kilauea eruption updates and nearly real-time Hawai`i earthquake information. Kilauea daily update summaries are also available by phone at (808) 967-8862.

For maps, photographs, and more current information see Kilauea's eruption update page. Visit The Hawaii Center for Volcanology for captivating eruptive photos and a history of the eruption.

For more information on visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and seeing the volcano, visit www.tourguidehawaii.com.

Frank's Travel Hints #8: Mysterious Puna!

Exploring Mysterious Puna...

For your next day of driving, let’s go south on Highway 11 headed for the Puna District. Leave early and expect to get back just after dark because this area is furthest from Kona and contains some of the most beautiful, yet hidden, wonders on the Big Island. It is from Puna that, currently, the only up-close viewing of flowing lava is possible. You may want to pack a cooler for this day trip.

As you’re passing through Kainaliu, just south of Kona, a quick stop at Kona Joe’s Coffee Plantation, for some great Kona Coffee, will jump start your day. See their ad in the sponsors section in your Tour Guide. If you are driving straight to Puna, plan on about 3½ hrs drive time to get to the first sights in this discussion. If you have missed any sights that you wanted to see on the southern route, refer to Frank’s Travel Hints #1 and #2 and catch them on the way...just don't forget to allow for extra time.

Along the way you will pass Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This is a fascinating place and not to be missed, but we will reserve it for a full day later.

The first turn is about 20 minutes past the park entrance at the town of Kea’au. Look for the stop light on the highway and the Highway 130 sign. The Kea’au Shopping Center has some great places to eat, like Paradise Bar and Grill, and is a good restroom break.

The first stop, in the Puna district, is the town of Pahoa. You will think you have just stepped back into the Wild West as Pahoa has a unique atmosphere like nowhere else on the island. Cute shops, and a great farmer’s market on Sundays, lends to picture taking and shopping. Tour Guide will suggest that parking is easiest at the Community Pool just a block from downtown, and there are public restrooms here.

Continue driving further into Puna on Highway 132 through the lovely tree tunnels to a magical stop at Lava Trees State Park. This gorgeous rainforest park is filled with birds and tropical plants and flowers. What makes this park so intriguing is the lava trees. Tour Guide will tell you how old lava flows surrounded the trees, leaving spires of hardened lava, giving it an eerie look. There are trails for hiking and bird watching is spectacular. This is also a good place for a restroom break as it will be a good while before the next restrooms are available. Highway 132 leads you to Highway 137, the Kapoho-Kalapana Road--the only road in America that is named for two towns buried by a volcano.

Turning toward Kapoho on Highway 137, the next stop is the Kapoho Tide Pools where you can experience great shoreline shell collecting and fantastic snorkeling amongst vibrant corals and tropical fish in protected tidepools. Though hard to find on your own, Tour Guide again knows the way to this secluded sanctuary and ancient village. Port-a-potties and showers are the only facilities here.

Just a few miles down Highway 137 is Ahalanui Hot Pond. This tropical park is centered around a hot spring that mixes with ocean water to create one of the most relaxing and soul recharging oases anywhere. Tour Guide gives you the history of what this area meant to the ancient Hawaiians. Picnicking, hiking, swimming and “expert only” surfing are some of the things to do here. There are restrooms, showers and water available also.

As you continue along the coast road, you will next encounter McKenzie State Park. Here the Ironwood trees create an unusual ambience of a pine tree forest. The sheer cliffs and majesty of the ocean beg for photographing. Swimming would be near impossible here, but the hiking is spectacular. Tour Guide will give more information about this other- worldly park. A permit is required for camping and the facilities are a bit run down.

Not far away is Kahena Beach. This beautiful black sand beach involves a bit of a scamper to get down the cliff, but is well worth the effort. Tour Guide will give you the easiest path to take. You may notice that this beach is “clothing optional”, thus it’s popularity. Swimming here is good, but currents can be strong if you get too far from shore.

Highway 137 used to become the Chain of Craters Road in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, but it has been cut by several miles of intervening lava flows. Today, it ultimately ends at Highway 130, the road back to Kea'au and the Hawaii Belt Highway. At the intersections of Highways 137 and 130 are the remnants of the town of Kalapana, buried in the 1960 eruption of Kilauea. Tour Guide will tell you all about the eruption, the heroic recovery efforts, and lead you on a brief hike to Kaimu Black Sand Beach, the newest beach on the Island of Hawaii. From the end of the road you can frequently see the both the eruption cloud over Pu'u O'o Vent and the steam plume where lava is entering the ocean, both several miles distant. At night, the glow from streams of lava pouring down the pali can sometimes be seen from here. Although hiking to the lava can be an experience to cherish, it is dangerous and hard work. The best, and most consistent, viewing is by taking an air tour, such as Big Island Air or Paradise Helicopter Tours.

Heading back from Kalapana, you will want to take Highway 130 toward Pahoa and Kea'au, you pass the famous "Painted Church". Tour Guide can tell you the history of this fascinating place. Just a little farther north is the intersection of Highway 130 with the road to Royal Gardens Estates, which currently leads to the Hawaii County-maintained lava viewing area. Call the Lava Hotline at 808.961.8093 for current eruption updates, lava viewing information and times of road openings and closures. As you continue towards Kea'au you will pass the Steam Rooms--a field of steam vents in small craters where locals go to take steam baths. Tour Guide has information on finding these craters and how to safely enjoy the wonders of natural, volcanic steam baths.

Upon returning to the Hawaii Belt Highway at Kea'au, one can proceed in either direction back to Kona, north through Hilo, a bit shorter and faster, or west through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park which, though longer, is much more scenic. If time permits, you may want to stop in Volcano Village, just off the highway, for some food, gasoline, shopping or maybe even some wine tasting. This may be the last gasoline available until you get back to Kona as it is many times hard to find an open gas station in the rural part of Hawaii Island after dark. Find your hotel in your Tour Guide and get turn-by-turn directions right to the door.

***Eruption Update***Eruption Update***

Ash, lava erupt from crater

by Erin Miller
Reprinted from the West Hawaii Today

Tuesday, March 25, 2008 8:08 AM HST

Ash started spewing continuously from Halemaumau Crater Monday following a small eruption Sunday evening, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported Monday afternoon.

"It is significant," Park Ranger Mardie Lane said. "It's a huge ash plume."

The ash is flowing from a new gas vent in the crater, and turned the fume cloud, which previously was white, to a "dusty-brown color," Scientist-in-Charge Jim Kauahikaua said in a prepared statement. Sunday evening, incandescent particles were seen erupting from the vent below the Halemaumau Overlook; some of the particles were ejected with enough force to be deposited on the rim of the crater, HVO said. Geologists found Pele's hair, Pele's tears and spatter in the overlook area, signs of the first molten lava to erupt from the vent, which is now about 100 feet wide. It is also the first lava to erupt anywhere in Halemaumau since 1982. The largest fragments of spatter were about 4 inches.

The exact significance of the ash plume and changes in emissions levels is something scientists are studying, Mayor Harry Kim said.

"I asked that question, too," said Kim, who is also the acting Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator. "The

answer so far is, we don't know. This is the first time Halemaumau has emitted this amount of sulfur dioxide. The scientists are trying to make an assessment of what's happening."

Kim said a variety of county, state and federal agencies are working together to collect data from the new vent, to determine which warnings need to be issued to county residents. He reminded residents to be watchful of the vog, adding that sulfur dioxide levels could be elevated from normal without the telltale vog cloud, however.

An air space safety warning was issued for private and commercial aircraft, alerting pilots to the possibly safety hazards because of the emissions, Kim said.

Members of the Hawaii National Guard's 93rd Civil Support unit were at the park Monday, helping county agencies measure sulfur dioxide emissions levels at the vent, as well as in other areas affected, Lt. Col. Trey Johnson said.

The team is conducting "hazard and risk assessments, identifying debris, and the location of sulfur dioxide emitting from the lava flow," Johnson said. "It's designed to get some tangible readings in accurate, real time."

The data will be put into a program that, based upon current weather conditions, can show where the plume will drift. Members of the unit also hope to install five permanent monitors near the vent, to help to continue to track emissions, Johnson said.

For more information on seeing the lava or touring Hawaii VOlcanoes National Park, visit www.tourguidehawaii.com.

Weekly Volcano Watch

Something had to change after 25 years

Reprinted from the USGS website.

The Halema`uma`u gas plume at sunrise. March 15, 2008.

2008 will be known as the year that Kilauea Volcano had a mid-life crisis. After 25 years of almost continuous, effusive eruption from its east rift zone, an incandescent gas vent mysteriously appeared in Halema`uma`u Crater sometime on March 11 or 12, and exploded early on the morning of March 19, 2008.

Now that it happened, we are looking back to see whether we missed any precursors to the explosion. We're also trying to piece together exactly what happened. Here's what we know so far:

The event started at 2:55 a.m. with a few seismic events that were either small earthquakes, very small explosions, rockfalls, or a combination of all three. At 2:56 a.m., the steady incandescence of rocky rubble covering the top of the gas vent started to founder. At 2:58 a.m., a second series of even larger explosive earthquakes began.

At 2:59 a.m., the newly opened vent started to vibrate strongly at a frequency too low to hear but recorded by instruments operated by our colleagues at the Infrasound Laboratory of the University of Hawai`i at Manoa. Their sensors detect infrasound, or acoustic energy, that travels through the air. Seismic energy traveling through the ground was also recorded by our seismometer network as increased tremor.

At 3:02 a.m., HVO's automatic earthquake-location software concluded that the combination of energy from the earthquakes and explosions was a magnitude-3.7 earthquake in the upper east rift zone and posted that to our Web site. Several hours later, when an analyst had a chance to look at the signals, he realized that the vibrations were explosions, not earthquakes, and our Web site was updated.

At first light on March 19, scientists rushed to the rim of Halema`uma`u and found the nearby area scattered with angular rock debris that was coarser and thicker closer to the vent. Not surprisingly, the rock debris lay directly beneath the gas plume from the new vent. And that's not all! Some folks in Pahala and Wood Valley found their cars covered with a light coating of fine white grit 30 km (19 miles) downwind probably courtesy of this early-morning Halema`uma`u explosion.

Debris blanketing the area was composed of rock fragments blasted from Halema`uma`u Crater, probably from the rubble pile covering the gas vent. Many of the rock fragments were too hot to touch more than 5 hours after the explosion. But there was no lava. This was an explosive eruption that blasted out old rocks.

The largest rock observed on the rim of Halema`uma`u above the new gas vent was about 90 cm (2.6 ft) in average dimension. Assuming typical rock densities, that rock weighed about 2,000 kg (2.7 tons), and the explosion was powerful enough to propel it more than 72 m (230 feet) into the air!

We are still gathering details and trying to deduce the exact nature of the explosion. One explanation that HVO scientists are discussing is a "throat clearing" hypothesis. In this scenario, hot gas coming up along the east wall of Halema`uma`u Crater progressively undermined the overlying rubble and created an open conduit underneath. Early Wednesday morning, the surface rubble layer collapsed into the underlying open conduit and temporarily blocked gas from escaping. Pressure built up and, two minutes later, reached a level that blasted the rubble from the gas conduit.

Science is a process of asking questions, and the above hypothesis has raised many. The biggest question is whether pressure can build to explosive levels in only two minutes. Another is whether an explosion could happen at all without involving water that explosively flashes into steam as it did during the last series of explosive Kilauea eruptions in 1924.

Once we feel confident that we understand what happened on March 19, we will be able to assess whether future explosive eruptions are likely. Right now, we cannot rule them out.

Activity update

Kilauea summit and Pu`u `O`o are slowly deflating. Seismic tremor levels at the summit are elevated to nearly moderate levels. Summit sulfur dioxide emission rates have remained elevated at nearly 10 times background levels since early January 2008. Earthquakes were located primarily beneath the general summit area, the southwest rift zone, and the south flank faults.

Lava from the 2007 Thanksgiving Eve Breakout (TEB) flow, erupting from fissure D of the July 21 eruption, continues to flow through what remains of the Royal Gardens subdivision and across the coastal plain. On Wednesday, March 5, the flow entered the ocean in the vicinity of Kapa`ahu. The Waikupanaha delta has since grown to a width of about 1,000 m (3,280 ft) and has multiple entry points. On March 15, another branch of the flow reached the ocean farther to the east, within a few hundred meters of the lava viewing area. As of Thursday, March 20, both the Waikupanaha and Ki entries remained active, though the Waikupanaha entry is far more vigorous.

The public should be aware that the ocean entry areas could collapse at any time, potentially generating large explosions in the process. The steam clouds rising from the entry areas are highly acidic and laced with glass particles. Do not venture onto the lava deltas. Even the intervening beaches are susceptible to large waves suddenly generated during delta collapse; these beaches should be avoided. Check the County of Hawai`i Civil Defense website (http://www.lavainfo.us) for information on public access to the coastal plain and ocean entry.

In the past week, sporadic breakouts, some large enough to form channelized `a`a flows, have burst from the lava tube on the steep slopes within the Royal Gardens subdivision. A few of these have reached the base of the pali before stalling. Other breakouts have been spotted at the top of the pali near the upper boundary of the Royal Gardens subdivision. Closer to the TEB vent, an area of persistent breakouts on the northeast side of the shield complex also continues to produce small flows. These northeast-directed flows are restricted to a broad, flat area on the south side of Kupaianaha.

Weak incandescence has been intermittently observed at night in Pu`u `O`o in the past week. As in years past, Pu`u `O`o likely is serving as a large chimney, beneath which lava is briefly stored and substantially degassed on its way to the eruption site.

On March 11, a new fumarole appeared low on the southeast wall of Halema`uma`u Crater, within Kilauea's summit caldera. The new vent is located directly beneath the Halema`uma`u Overlook about 70 m (230 ft) down. Incandescence could be seen at this vent, starting on March 13, and, by March 18 incandescence had grown to cover an area about 30 m (98 ft) across. At 2:58 a.m. on March 19, a small explosion occurred from this fumarole. The explosion scattered rock debris over an area of about 75 acres, covering a narrow section of Crater Rim Drive, the entire Halema`uma`u parking area, and the trail leading to the overlook. The overlook was damaged by rocks that reached up to 90 cm (3 ft) across. No lava was erupted as part of the explosion, suggesting that the activity was driven by hydrothermal or gas sources. The new explosion pit continues to glow at night, with incandescence reflecting on the fume emitted from the vent.

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rates from the summit area have been substantially elevated at 2-10 times background values since early January. During these conditions, SO₂ concentrations frequently exceed 1 ppm for much of Crater Rim Drive between Halema`uma`u parking lot and the southwest rift zone. SO₂ concentrations exceed 20 ppm for approximately 200 m (650 ft) of the road between the Halema`uma`u parking lot and the south caldera pullout.

The increase in sulfur dioxide emission rates at the summit means that SO₂ concentrations are much more likely to be at hazardous levels for visitor areas downwind of Halema`uma`u, especially during weak wind conditions or when winds blow from the south. Most people are sensitive to sulfur dioxide at these levels, especially children, individuals with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other breathing problems. Stay informed about SO₂ concentrations in continuously monitored areas (Jaggar Museum and Kilauea Visitor Center) by visiting the Kilauea Visitor Center and the web at:
http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/havoso2alert/havoalert.cfm. To minimize these potentially harmful effects, the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park has closed all access to the southern half of Kilauea caldera.

Two earthquakes beneath Hawai`i Island were reported felt within the past week. A magnitude-3.4 earthquake occurred at 2:22 a.m., H.s.t., on Friday, March 14, 2008, and was located 6 km (4 miles south of Mauna Loa summit at a depth of 3 km (2 miles). A magnitude-2.4 earthquake occurred at 2:28 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, and was located 2 km (1 mile) northwest of Pahala at a depth of 13 km (8 miles).

Mauna Loa is not erupting. One earthquake was located beneath the summit. The rate of extension between locations spanning the summit, indicating inflation, has decreased to values below current detection limits.

For complete information on visiting and touring the volcano, visit www.tourguidehawaii.com.

Mo'okini Heiau: Warrior Kings and Human Sacrifice on Hawai'i

Narrated by Frank Burgess; Produced by Donnie MacGowan;
Brought to you by Tour Guide--Our GPS Tours put Hawaii at Your Fingertips!

Have you ever seen anywhere as stark, impressive, primitive and ancient, yet still able to raise the hackles on your neck? Here, untold thousands of people were sacrificed to worship a new god, the war god Ku. Mo'okini Heiau stands today at the north end of Hawai'i, the well preserved remains of a terrible luakini heiau built by the powerful Tahitian kahuna Pa'ao in the 11th or 12th century. This heiau was the first temple of human sacrifice in Hawai'i and the first site in Hawai'i to be preserved as a National Historic Landmark under the Historic Sites Act of 1935. Mo'okini Heiau is now part of Lapakahi State Historic Park; as Mo'okini is an active Heiau and visitors are reminded to stay away if religious observances are being celebrated.

Built on the site of a much smaller heiau, Mo'okini Heiau (lit. "many lineages") is said to have been raised in one night by as many as 15,000-20,000 men passing stones hand to hand from Pololu Valley, 14 miles distant.

Born nearby, Kamehameha the Great was brought to this heiau for his birth rituals.

To reach the enormous but especially well-preserved heiau, drive to near the 20-mile marker and turn onto the road to the Upolu Airport, heading left past the airport at about 2 miles. The unpaved section of the next 1.6 miles of road may require 4WD, but at any rate, one must park at the gate and walk 5 minutes to the heiau. The heiau itself is impressively large, 270 feet long by 140 feet wide by as much as 30 feet high.

This dirt road goes all the way (about 4 miles) to the old Coast Guard Loran Lookout and makes a wonderful beginner's mountain biking trip, especially considering the amazing historical sites along the way.

During the 11th century, warlike Tahitians arrived in the Hawai'ian Islands, conquering, enslaving, sacrificing and largely displacing the descendants of the original Marquesan settlers. Into this bloody landscape came Pa'ao, the terrible and powerful Tahitian kahuna who was affronted at the lack of respect the Hawai'ian Ali'i commanded and at the apparent weakness of the Hawai'ian gods. He sent back to Tahiti for the warrior chief Pili and together they brought worship of the powerful war god Ku to Hawai'i and strengthened the kapu system of laws and power of the Ali'i.

Worship of Ku demanded human sacrifice, which was performed at luakini heiau throughout the parts of Polynesia where Ku was venerated. Pa'ao caused Mo'okini Heiau to be constructed on the site of a previous, smaller heiau, of stones passed hand over hand from Pololu Valley. During this process, if a stone were dropped it was left where it lay to preserve the rhythm of passing; the scattered line of dropped stones can be followed all the way back to Pololu to this day.

The alter stones were brought by war canoe from Pa'ao's home heiau of Taputapuatea (lit. sacrifices from abroad), the most powerful and most feared heiau in Polynesia and the center of Ku worship. Boulders for cornerstones brought hundreds of miles across the sea from Taputapuatea were laid with human sacrifices
Beneath and gave this heiau a formidable power and the air of menace and despair that clings to it to the site to this day.

Outside the heiau walls can be found a large phallic rock and a flat stone with a cup-like depression near the top. Here, on this holehole stone, the baked bodies of human sacrifices were stripped of flesh and the bones saved to be rendered into fishhooks and dagger blades. Not much mention of the fate of the human flesh from these sacrifices is made, but it is universally documented that Polynesians everywhere were cannibals. This is a topic that is very difficult for the modern descendants of these people to come to grips with and one which is best simply accepted and not commented or speculated upon.

There is no counting the tens of thousands of Hawai'ians who were made sacrifice here on this stone at barren, terrible Mo'okini over the centuries, but the sacrificial victims were all gathered by a class of kahuna called the Mu, or "body catcher"; the foundation of the dwelling of the Mu can still be found among the ruins of Mo'okini.

There are no services in the vicinity of Mo'okini Heiau, whatsoever.

For more information, visit here and here.

Today's Weather in Paradise

Point Forecast: Kailua Kona HI 19.63N -156W (Elev. 0 ft) Last Update: 4:45 am HST Mar 23, 2008 Forecast Valid: 7am HST Mar 23, 2008-6pm HST Mar 29, 2008

Today Chance Showers Hi 80°F Tonight Isolated Showers Lo 71°F Monday Isolated Showers Hi 80°F Monday Night Isolated Showers Lo 71°F Tuesday Isolated Showers Hi 80°F Tuesday Night Isolated Showers Lo 71°F Wednesday Isolated Showers Hi 80°F Wednesday Night Slight Chc Showers Lo 71°F Thursday Slight Chc Showers Hi 80°F Today: Scattered showers, mainly after noon. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. Northwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Tonight: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Monday: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. Northwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Monday Night: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Tuesday: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Tuesday Night: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Wednesday: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 9 mph. Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. Northwest wind around 9 mph. Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 9 mph. Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. Northwest wind around 8 mph. Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 8 mph. Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. Northwest wind around 9 mph. For more information on weather, go here; for more information on touring the Big Island, go here and here.

Maka O Hule Heiau, the Stonehenge of the Big Island, Hawaii

Maka O Hule Point: Navigational Heiau at Mahukona Point

Near mile marker 15 on the Akoni Pule Highway is a unique navigational heiau of standing stones arranged to point to Tahiti and the other Polynesian islands.

Sometimes referred to as "the Stonehenge of Hawaii", this one of a kind temple is reached via a short, easy stroll long the dirt road leading north, away from Mahukona Beach Park on the Kohala Coastline. Lovely vistas along deep, cerulean and clear coves lead to a short scramble up an obvious dirt trail to the heiau.

Among the stones, one can sense the reverence and wonder of the Hawaiians as they initiated their novice navigators in this sacred spot of stones pointing along unbroken vistas to Tahiti, the Marquesas and the other Southern Islands. This is a spot for contemplation and awe. Wonderful and startling sunset photos with the stones in the foreground can be taken here, but be respectful and do not walk within the temple precincts.

This heiau is most easily accessed from Mahukona Beach Park, although one can also hike down from the makai, or ocean side of the Akoni Pule Highway near mile marker 15.

For further information, visit www.tourguidehawaii.com, www.lovingthebigisland.wordspot.com and www.tourguidehawaii.com.

***VOLCANO UPDATE***VOLCANO UPDATE***VOLCANO UPDATE***VOLCANO UPDATE***VOLCANO UPDATE***VOLCANO UPDATE***

Kilauea eruption blasts rocks across landscape
Reprinted from the Honolulu Advertiser webpage; for more pictures, go here; for recent volcano video, go here, here and here. Information about seeing the lava is here.

Volcano stirring
Activity at Big Island's Kilauea is heightening as the eruption of the island's youngest volcano entered a new phase. Read Honolulu Advertiser stories, see more photos, and see video.

Photo gallery: Kilauea volcano blasts boulders

Hawaii's Sky Tonight

(Reprinted from the Bishop Museum Website)
Skywatch Article
March 2008
By Carolyn Kaichi, Bishop Museum

SPRING SKIES

March brings in the spring season with the vernal equinox, the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator on the way up to the northern hemisphere. This is also the beginning of “cross season”, or the time you can view the Southern Cross in the evening sky. The Southern Cross, also known as Crux, is the smallest of the 88 officially recognized constellations.

Here in Hawaii, this constellation is known as Hanaiakamalama, or “cared for by the Moon” and is part of the modern Polynesian navigational “star line” called Ka Iwikuamo’o, “The Backbone”. In Polynesian navigation this is one of the four reference lines of stars that runs from the north sky to the south. The Backbone starts with the North Star, Hokupa’a, through Ursa Major, Hokule’a (the star Arcturus), Hikianalia (Spica) in Virgo, Me’e (the constellation Corvus), finally to the Southern Cross.

You can start looking for the Southern Cross just before midnight looking out over the ocean on the Leeward side. There are four bright stars that make up the kite shape with a smaller fifth star between the second and third bright star (if you count the top star as number 1, then go clockwise). You can see the Southern Cross on the flags of many countries of the southern hemisphere, like Australia, Samoa and Papua New Guinea since this constellation is more prominent in the southern skies.

The Southern Cross was visible at least 5,000 years ago at higher latitudes in North America and Europe. According to one historian the Southern Cross was seen in Jerusalem at the time Christ was crucified. But because of precession, the “wobbling” of the Earth’s axis, the Cross is no longer visible at higher latitudes in the northern hemisphere.

Even here in Hawaii at 20 degrees north of the equator, the Southern Cross does not get very high above the horizon. Standing completely upright, the top star (Gacrux) is only a mere 12 degrees. In fact, the distance between the top and bottom stars of the upright Cross is the same distance as the bottom star (Acrux) to the horizon—another navigational feature. In the southern hemisphere, draw an imaginary line between the top and bottom stars and they will point the way to the South Celestial Pole. In the northern hemisphere, the North Star conveniently marks the North Celestial Pole but there is no equivalent star in the south.

Because the Southern Cross is so low in the sky and close to the South Celestial Pole, its path in the sky is short. From the time it rises to the time it begins to set it is only in the sky for around six hours, whereas objects that rise closer to due east and set due west takes approximately 12 hours to traverse the sky. In other words, don’t expect to see the Southern Cross in the sky all evening long!

Earlier in the evening you will still see the signature stars and constellations of the winter—Orion, Taurus, Gemini and Auriga are some of the more famous. Orion’s dog, Canis Major (translated as “Big Dog”, not too original but descriptive) has the distinction of having the brightest star as seen from the Earth. Sirius’ status as the brightest star has more to do with its closer proximity rather than its properties—there are many larger and luminous stars in our skies but they are just farther away. Low in the south under Sirius is Canopus in Carina, the second-brightest star in our sky.

Looking to the east of Canopus, you can see another cross-like shape—surprise, you found the “False Cross”! The False Cross is actually made up of stars from two separate constellations that are low in the southern skies. The stars of Vela the sails, and Carina the keel, comprise the False Cross. Those two constellations along with Pyxis the compass and Puppis the stern make up pieces of the ship Argo that carried Jason and the Argonauts on great adventures in Greek mythology.

The “real” Cross will be visible in the sky until around July, when it will then begin to set by the time darkness falls. To find the real Southern Cross, remember that Orion and pals are low in the west by the time the Cross starts to rise and look for the two “pointer stars” to the east of the constellation that point to the top star of the Cross. These stars are Alpha and Beta Centauri in the constellation Centaurus.

The Planets

Earth:

The Vernal Equinox falls on March 19 here in Hawaii, 7:49 P.M. HST. This is the earliest spring date since 1896. Also, Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 9. ADD an hour to most times on the mainland.

Mercury:

Mercury and Venus spend the month huddled in the eastern morning sky just before the sunrise. On March 5 a very thin crescent Moon will join the pair. Neptune and eventually Uranus are also in the vicinity (Uranus comes close to Venus in the last half of the month), and Jupiter is also high in the sky at the time. You will need a telescope to view Neptune and Uranus.

Venus:

Venus rises around 5:30 A.M. at the beginning of March, close to neighbor Mercury. By the end of the month it is getting very close to the sunrise and more difficult to see, rising only around 45 minutes before the sun. Venus is making its way back to the evening sky and will pass in back of the sun (superior conjunction) in June.

Mars:

As we get closer to the summer months the sky darkens later, so although Mars is high in the sky by 7:00 P.M. it will be hard to spot right away. We are already leaving Mars behind after passing by in December last year, and as the Red Planet recedes it looks smaller and dimmer in our night sky. Throughout March Mars sits above the horns of Taurus next to the legs of the brother Castor in Gemini.

Jupiter:

Jupiter rises by 3:45 A.M. in early March right off the handle of the Sagittarius “teapot” asterism. Until Venus rises two hours later, Jupiter commands the sky as the brightest object aside from the Moon.

Saturn:
Saturn was in opposition last month and is already in the eastern sky at dusk. The planet is in Leo the Lion and sits to the east of the lion’s heart, the star called Regulus, which Saturn easily outshines. On March 18 the almost-full Moon (three days short) passes right next to the pair.

For more information, go here.

For information about touring the Big Island, go here.

Hiking, Snorkeling and Sea Turtles, Punalu'u Beach, Big Island, Hawaii

Punalu'u Beach is a truly remarkable place of great peace, beauty and spiritual healing, Punalu'u's black sand-lined coves and beaches are world-renowned. Dozens of endangered Hawai'ian Green Sea Turtles swim the waters of Kuhua Bay, Ninole Cove and Punalu'u Harbor and frequently bask on Kaimu Beach here. The wildness of the ocean and the serenity of the freshwater fishpond and coconut palm-shaded beaches make this an ideal place to spend some soul-recharge time. Snorkeling, picnicking and camping, or just relaxing on the beach, are major destination pass-times here.

For more information, visit www.tourguidehawaii.com and www.lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com

Today's Weather in Paradise

Point Forecast: Kailua Kona HI 19.63N -156W (Elev. 0 ft) Last Update: 4:47 am HST Mar 18, 2008 Forecast Valid: 7am HST Mar 18, 2008-6pm HST Mar 24, 2008

Today Chance Showers Hi 82°F Tonight Isolated Showers Lo 71°F Wednesday Isolated Showers Hi 80°F Wednesday Night Isolated Showers Lo 71°F Thursday Isolated Showers Hi 80°F Thursday Night Isolated Showers Lo 71°F Friday Isolated Showers Hi 80°F Friday Night Slight Chc Showers Lo 71°F Saturday Slight Chc Showers Hi 80°F Today: Scattered showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Tonight: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Wednesday: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. Northwest wind around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Wednesday Night: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Thursday: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. Northwest wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Thursday Night: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Friday: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 11 mph. Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind around 10 mph. Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 10 mph. Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind around 10 mph. Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 9 mph. Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. West wind around 10 mph. For more information on Hawaii weather, go here; for more information about seeing the Big Island of Hawaii, go here or here.

Tour Guide Will Enhance Your Big Island Business!

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So much more than just a simple "turn-by-turn" navigational GPS, Tour Guide is jammed packed with over 600 video presentations of tourists sites from all over the Big Island. All the Big Island recreational sites, historical points of interest, cultural areas are included--heck, we even put in most of the public restrooms around the Island of Hawaii.

Tour Guide enhances the visitors' enjoyment by providing the keys to adventure, solitude and independence.

Tour Guide will enhance your Big Island business by bringing in cash flow, by providing the most unique and powerful advertising platform yet developed for the Visitor Industry and by serving your customers needs.

Watch the video and learn how Tour Guide can help your Hawaii Island business grow...

For more information, visit www.tourguidehawaii.com or www.lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com.

Free Day Touring on the Big Island of Hawaii!!!!

FREE!! FREE!! FREE!! FREE!! FREE!! FREE!!

The good folks at Tour Guide Hawaii, the industry leader in GPS-directed, hand-held video tours, are offering free tours of Hawaii! Yes, it's true.

These hand-held devices are stuffed full with over 500 video presentations about all the historical, cultural, recreational and interesting spots on the island of Hawaii--they even put in all the public restrooms!

So not only can you pre-view the video presentations to see where you want to go, and find new, secret spots you never heard of, you get all the locals' information on what to take with you, what time of day is best to visit, where to park and what to do next. And the GPS takes you there with clear, accurate, turn-by turn directions.

See amazing waterfalls, go snorkeling, hike to a green sand beach or visit sea turtles on a black sand beach. Explore amazing ancient temples, fishing villages and isoloated, forgotten beaches; Go snorkeling, take an air tour, a raft trip or tour a coffee farm.

How can you get this incredible free our of the Big Island? Go to www.tourguidehawaii.com and make a two-day reservation for your GPS tour of the Big Island. You not only get the already internet price of $21.95/day--already discounted but you'll get the third day absolutely FREE.

This offer only good through 30 April, 2008.

Frank's Big Island Travel Hints # 7: Around Hilo

Hilo Side: Akaka Falls to Panaewa Rainforest Zoo

On your way back to the highway, stop in Honomu for some local-style shopping and a snack. Handmade curios and ice creams will delight your senses. Once back on Highway 19, turn right toward Hilo, about 10 minutes away.

Hilo is one of the wettest cities in the U.S. averaging around 200 inches per year. This old-style Hawaii town is quaint and bustling. Lots of great shops line the waterfront drive and the largest farmer’s market on the island is situated there as well. Tour Guide will take you right into the heart of town and give you history and attractions, such as the Pacific Tsunami Museum, and the Imiloa Astronomy Center at the University of Hawaii, Hilo Campus. A little farther along the coast are some beautiful beach parks like Richardson and Onekahakaha. Great picnicking, swimming and some good snorkeling can be found here. The Suisan Fish Market is famous for the early morning old-style fish auction. Be sure to take your time in Hilo as the shopping food options are immense.

In Hilo, you will turn north onto Highway. 11 at the intersection near Ken’s Pancake House, a landmark eatery. You will see the airport and Prince Kuhio Plaza on your way out of town. Stop in and visit the mall and shop and eat if you missed it in town. Just a few miles north of the mall is the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo. Tour Guide will tell you how this is the only rainforest zoo in North America. It is also free.

Super Tip: Gasoline in Hilo is typically 6-10 cents per gallon cheaper because it is the main port on the island. It is wise to fill up before heading back to Kona.

This completes this drive day. I suggest returning north through Hilo and back up the Hamakua Coast, through Waimea, and Highway 190 back to Kona.

For further information, visit www.tourguidehawaii.com.

Today's Weather in Paradise

Point Forecast: Kailua Kona HI 19.63N -156W (Elev. 0 ft) Last Update: 5:01 am HST Mar 14, 2008 Forecast Valid: 7am HST Mar 14, 2008-6pm HST Mar 20, 2008

Today Chance Showers Hi 80°F Tonight Isolated Showers Lo 72°F Saturday Chance Showers Hi 80°F Saturday Night Isolated Showers Lo 72°F Sunday Isolated Showers Hi 80°F Sunday Night Isolated Showers Lo 71°F Monday Isolated Showers Hi 80°F Monday Night Slight Chc Showers Lo 71°F Tuesday Slight Chc Showers Hi 80°F For more information on Hawaii weather, go here . For more information on touring Paradise, go here. Today: Scattered showers, mainly after noon. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. West wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Tonight: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. East wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Saturday: Scattered showers, mainly after noon. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. West wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Saturday Night: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. East wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Sunday: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. Northwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Sunday Night: Isolated showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Monday: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. North wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. West wind around 8 mph. Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 80. West wind around 7 mph. Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. East wind around 6 mph. Wednesday: Scattered showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. West wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind around 8 mph.

The Beach Is Not An Ashtray

It's a shame that this message even needs to be given out...but some people have no respect, no manners and no shame.

The beach is not an ashtray, period.

In any case, Hawaii County just enacted a ban on smoking at all County Parks: "Reinforced by landslide testimony in favor, the Hawaii County Council on Wednesday passed a law making it illegal to use any tobacco products at public parks and recreational facilities." (West Hawaii Today, 13 March, 2008). For complete news article, go here.

Hike to Captain Cook's Monument: Kealakekua, Big Island of Hawaii

This hike, on the Big Island of Hawaii, is a fine walk through tall grass, open lava fields and dense, dryland forest, opening onto one of the most pristine ocean beaches in the world. Hiking down to the Captain Cook's Monument from Highway 11 is a great deal of fun—great scenery, wonderful trail that involves complete immersion in Hawai'ian pre- and post-contact history and offers the opportunity for some of the finest snorkeling anywhere on the planet. However, the return hike is hot, thirsty and strenuous; but it is also highly rewarding, granting panoramic views all up and down the Kona Coast. The trail leaves the Napo'opo'o Road just 500 feet below where it drops off Highway 11 near a large avocado tree, right across from a group of three coconut trees, right at telephone pole number 4; parking is tight, but safe. The parking spots and trailhead will show signs of obvious use, usually in the form of recently deposited horse apples from the many trail riders frequenting the area.

The first avocado tree is the harbinger of wonderful things to come, as the trail passes through an area rich in guava, mango, papaya and avocado that are free for the gathering. The 2.5-mile hike takes about 1-1 1/2 hours to descend, somewhat more time to come back up. After following a jeep road for about 50 feet, the trail turns left when the jeep road turns right onto private property. Although overgrown by tall grass for the next half mile, the trail runs more or less straight down the left side of a rock wall to the sea. As the pitch straightens out, keep to the left when the trail first forks and proceed to the beach. You will strike shore several hundred feet northwest of the monument—stroll through the remains of Ka'awaloa Village along the beach on your way to pay homage to Europe's most prolific explorer, James Cook. Remember to bear right at the trail junction when returning uphill, or you will face a long, hot and unpleasant time wandering the a'a fields of Napo'opo'o.

It is also possible, but much less pleasant, to hike most of the way to the monument along the shoreline from Napo'opo'o. This hike is an uninteresting exercise in scrambling over boulders along the beach and contains at least two places that have to be swum in rough water; as such, the safety of this trek is totally at the whim of ocean tides and swells. Highly not recommended.

For more information, visit www.tourguidehawaii.com

Sea Quest Rafting Adventures Presents Kahalu'u Bay

Loll in sand and sun under swaying palms, watch humpback whales dance in an exotic Kona sunset, snorkel among rainbow-colored fish on a protected reef or ride surf where the Kings of Hawai'i defined the sport a thousand years ago! Kahalu'u is the crown jewel of Kona Coast County Beach Parks. Abundant parking, shaded pavilions, public restrooms, showers and lifeguards round-out the facilities of this beautiful beach park.

Sea Quest, your knowledgeable and popular rafting and snorkeling guides on the Kona Coast suggests you bring your towel and smile to Kahalu'u Beach, and be ready to get wet.

For more information, visit http://web.mac.com/sqhawaii/seaquesth... or www.tourguidehawaii.com.

Hike to Green the Sand Beach at South Point on the Big Island of Hawaii

Haunting, windswept, wild, empty, beautiful. Imagine the gratitude and wonder of the first Polynesians who, after voyaging at sea without sight of land for more than a month, finally made land here at Ka Lae. This sweeping landscape arches openly and inviting from the tumultuous shore break at Ka Le to the icy heights of Mauna Loa's summit almost 14,000 feet above.

For more information on the romance of Hawaii and finding solitude, adventure and independence in Paradise, visit www.tourguidehawaii.com.

Today's Weather in Paradise

Point Forecast: Kailua Kona HI 19.63N -156W (Elev. 0 ft) Last Update: 4:43 am HST Mar 9, 2008 Forecast Valid: 6am HST Mar 9, 2008-6pm HST Mar 15, 2008

Today Sunny Hi 78°F Tonight Mostly Clear Lo 72°F Monday Sunny Hi 78°F Monday Night Mostly Clear Lo 73°F Tuesday Sunny Hi 78°F Tuesday Night Partly Cloudy Lo 73°F Wednesday Sunny Hi 78°F Wednesday Night Partly Cloudy Lo 73°F Thursday Slight Chc Showers Hi 78°F Today: Sunny, with a high near 78. East wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. West wind at 7 mph becoming east. Monday: Sunny, with a high near 78. East wind at 8 mph becoming west. Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Calm wind. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 78. Light west wind. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind. Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 78. West wind around 7 mph. Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind. Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. West wind around 5 mph. Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind. Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 78. West wind around 5 mph. Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph. Saturday: Scattered showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. For more detail on weather, go here. For more information of seeing Paradise and enjoying finding solitude, adventure and independence in Hawaii, visit www.tourguidehawaii.com.