Volcano Watchers. If you live on the big island you are a volcano watcher, you have little choice. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in Volcanos National Park does a great job of keeping us informed as to what is going on although sometime it is a bit hard to understand their terms. For several years lava has been bubbling up from a crater known as Pu’u ‘O’o. The lava flowed down slope and worked it way to the ocean creating a wonderful big “plume” the could be seen for miles. I have shown some pictures of this by Dan and Gloria in previous blog. An earthquake last Fathers Day changed all that. Referred to and known as “Event 58” by the observatory folks, the lava stopped flowing down to the ocean but went under ground and surfaced in faults and cracks Northwest of the crater. It is now a very long, several mile long lava river flowing through old growth forest creating lots of VOG (Volcano Originated Gases) and smoke. Somewhat troubling to the folks in the Pahoa region but Mayor Kim say not to worry. There are now six “fissure eruptions” that make up the river. This changes hour by hour as some fissures close up and others open. I will keep you posted.
