Hawaii Part VII: Volcano Stuff

We loved all the "Volcano Stuff" on the Big Island. We were amazed at Mauna Loa and how HUGE it is (wish we had gotten a photo). We were suprised to see SNOW on Mauna Kea, and who wouldn't be fascinated by the recent and continuous lava flows of Kilauea?


Mauna Kea

We could see lots of steaming vents at the Halemaumau Crater







Native Hawaiians still leave offerings to Pele--the Goddess of the islands who inhabits all things Volcano.


This gentelman gave his own sort of offering: Saki.

We stopped at a spectacular overlook along Chain of Craters road and took LOTS of family photos (Enough to bore you, I'm sure, so these are mainly for me).






(This is another one of my favorites)



We saw lots of aa, the rough, jagged lava (about which I say, "They don't call it 'ah! ah!' for nothing!).

And we saw plenty of Pahoehoe too.




I like the contrast in this photo.



Just a pretty view


A road that got covered by lava flow.

Andy and I woke up early our last day on the Big Island and took a hike on the Crater Rim trail.









A unique flower on the trail.