Page 102 - Hawaii: Diving, Surfing, Pearl Harbor, Volcanoes and More

HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, HOME OF PELE Since or treated.
ancient times Kilauea has been revered as the home of Pele, the sa-
cred fire goddess who is the living deity of Hawaii’s volcanoes. Pele PRE-1983 SHORELINE Hawaii’s new land is prone to catastrophic
controls the limitless powers of creation with her molten strength and collapse down the sea cliff and into the ocean depths. Observe all
unearthly beauty. Since 1983 Pele has continuously created new land, warning signs. Lives have been lost!
pouring lava from Kilauea’s Pu’u O’o vent, which has formed more
than one square mile of new land along the shore. Visitors often wit-
ness lava flowing down toward the sea from the vantage at the end of
Chain Of Craters Road. At times the view is close, at other times it
is from afar. The view just after sunset may be spectacular as the lava
glows brilliantly. Steam explodes from the sea where the molten lava
hits the crashing waves. In the Kilauea Caldera steam rises and some-
times sputters out of hundreds of vents in a still-cooling lava field.
The sights and sounds are awesome.

HAWAIIAN AIR POLLUTION Volcanic Smog, or “VOG”, is formed
by gasses spewing out of Kilauea’s Pu’u O’o vent. 2000 tons of sul-
fur dioxide and other noxious fumes rise into the atmosphere eve-
ry day. Hawaii’s trade winds diminish the effect, but the absence of
typical trades sometimes makes VOG a health hazard, even on the
lovely Kona Coast. The steam plume rising at the sea cliffs where lava
pours into the ocean is also laden with hazardous gasses, referred to as
“LAZE”. When ever the winds take the VOG or LAZE over vegetated
areas the rains become acidic and damage plants.

LAVA FLOW Kilauea’s dynamic lava flow has covered thousands of
acres of lush landscape and neighborhoods, and has added over 1000
acres of new land to the Big Island since 1983. For eruption informa-
tion call (808) 985-6000 or see http:\\hvo.wr.usgs.gov
CAMPING The Park has first-come-first-served, free drive-in camp-
grounds at Namakani Paio and Kulanaokuaiki. Primitive hike-in
campgrounds are shown on the map. Water must be carried with you