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More about Hawaiian volcanoes
Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Photo Glossary of Volcanic Terms Nature: Kilauea, Mountain of Fire Introduction to Kilauea Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Live Panorama of Pu`u `O`o Vent Big Island Hawai`i Petroglyphs Wikipedia Kilauea VolcanoDiscovery Hawai`i Kazumura Lava Tube
Ever changing Kilauea (Map: USGS)Kilauea is the youngest and southeastern most volcano on the Big Island of Hawai`i and it appears topographically as part of the southeastern part of Mauna Loa. For many years Kilauea was thought to be a mere satellite of its giant neighbor, not a separate volcano. Over the past few decades geologists determined that Kilauea has its own magma-plumbing system, extending to the surface from more than 60 kilometers into the Earth.
Halema`uma`u Crater The summit of Kilauea lies on a line of volcanoes that includes Mauna Kea and Kohala and excludes Mauna Loa.
Hawaiians used the word Kilauea only for the summit caldera, but earth scientists and, over time, popular usage have extended the name to include the entire volcano.
Pahoe`hoe lava Kilauea is the home of Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess. Hawaiian chants and oral traditions tell in veiled form of many eruptions fomented by an angry Pele before the first European, the missionary Rev. William Ellis, saw the summit in 1823.
Several special lava formations are named after her, including Pele's Tears, which are small droplets of lava that cool in the air and retain their teardrop shapes, and Pele's Hair, thin, brittle strands of volcanic glass that often form during the explosions that accompany a lava flow as it enters the ocean.
Hôlei sea arch In Hawaiian mythology, Kilauea is where most of the conflict between Pele and the rain god Kamapua`a took place. Halema`uma`u, "House of the `ama`uma`u fern", derives its name from the final struggle between the two gods. Since it was the favorite residence of Pele, Kamapua`a, pressed by Pele's ability to make lava spout from the ground at will, covered it with the fronds of the fern.
Choking from the smoke which could not escape anymore, Pele emerged. Realizing that each could threaten the other with destruction, the gods had to call their fight a draw and divided the island between them. Kamapua`a got the windward northeastern side, and Pele got the drier Kona leeward side. The rusty singed appearance of the young fronds of the `ama`uma`u was said to be a product of the legendary struggle.
Lava tumulus The caldera was the site of nearly continuous activity during the 19th century and the early part of this century. Since 1952 there have been 34 eruptions, and since January 1983 eruptive activity has been continuous along the east rift zone. Kilauea ranks among the world's most active volcanoes.
Ancient Hawaiians called their stone art k'i’i pohaku, or images in stone. The k'i’i pohaku are petroglyphs, which comes from the Greek "petros" for rock, and "glyphein" to carve. This rock art provides a unique look into the past, however, there is almost no historic evidence of the petroglyph’s origin in Hawai`i.
Petroglyphs The earliest were simple stick figures, while the figures with triangular torsos, which are only found in Hawai`i, came later. Others that show carvings of horses and cattle were obviously carved after Westerners appeared in Hawai`i. The island of Hawaii has the greatest number of petroglyphs in the state, and areas of concentration are almost always found on the smooth pahoe`hoe lava, cliff faces, or smooth interior walls, on the dry and lava inundated areas of the island, and along trails known to the ancient Hawaiians.
Olivine crystal at Kilauea Iki Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is home to Kilauea and displays the results of 70 million years of volcanism, migration, and evolution, along with the petroglyphs.
These processes that thrust a bare land from the sea and clothed it with unique ecosystems, and a distinct human culture. The park highlights two of the world's most active volcanic vents, and offers insights on the birth of the Hawaiian Islands and views of dramatic volcanic landscapes. One of the vents, is theHalema'uma'u Crater at the summit, and the other is Pu'u O'o, at the eastern rift zone.
Kilauea Pu'u O'o vent at night Hawaiian lava is made primarily of basalt, a rock with low silica content, which allows it to flow smoothly and non-explosively, creating low-sloping shield volcanoes. Common minerals in basalt include the beautiful green mineral olivine, and pyroxene and plagioclase. Look for small green crystals within the hardened lava.
Kazumura Lava Tube
lava eddiesOne of the best ways to discover Kilauea is with Phil Ong of VolcanoDiscovery Hawai'i. We spent an entire day with Phil learning more about Halema'uma'u crater, Mauna Ulu, and the spectacular Kazumura Lava Tube, along with one of the lava tube's tour guides, Harry Schick.
