Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Sunday we visited Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. To get there from Kona is a two-hour drive that that took us around the southern portion of the island to the southeast side where the park is located. Some of the most beautiful vistas are along Highway 11:

$10 per vehicle for admission (cheap!), and we were in. Though Dona and I had been there one year ago during our cruise on the Grand Princess, on this occasion we had more time to gaze in wonderment at the huge Kilauea caldera, and the magnificent desolation around us. It is said Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, lives in the Halema'umu'u crater in the centre of this picture:

Jody striking a pose at Kilauea: 

A lone tree among the devastation. Life finds a way:

One of many steam vents in the park. Hot magma heats underground water to produce steam that escapes to the surface. The Hawaiian people believe the steam to be the breath of Pele: 

Here is Kilauea Iki (Little Kilauea). Yes, you can hike across the crater:

Part of the national park is the Thurston Lava Tube. You descend a trail through a lush tropical rain forest, until you get to the entrance. 

 

Keep in mind this tube was formed by lava flowing at 2,000 degrees F:

We drove down Chain of Craters road toward the Petroglyphs. All around us were lava fields from flows that happened 20, 30 years ago. What was striking was not just the sense of desolation, but the absolute silence. No birds at all:

You can easily imagine the hot lava oozing and flowing across the landscape, destroying everything in its path and beginning the process of renewal:

Driving down to the petroglyphs. Hawaii has 11 of the 13 world climates (pure desert and arctic tundra are the exceptions). In ten minutes you can drive through three of them:

The Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs is a sacred site to the Hawaiian people. Ancient carvings tell stories of families, their births, weddings, and deaths:

And that wrapped up our visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. We came away with a send of awe, of amazement, of humility at the sight of what nature can do.