A Volcano Update

 As you may know, we live 90 miles by road from Kilauea, which hides from Kailua Kona behind Mauna Loa, a seriously large mountain.  It takes us two hours to drive to Hawaii Volcano National Park and any effects we experience from Madame Pele's eruptions have to circumvent the mountain.  In this same way, Mauna Loa protects us from hurricanes.  

   

A recent lava fountain at Kilauea

Since we have returned, Madame Pele (the Volcano Goddess synonymous in Hawaii with volcanic eruptions) has learned a new trick.  For the past few months, when Kilauea erupts, it shoots fountains of lava into the sky.  As we are pretty far away and my attention span is perilously short, it wasn't until the last few weeks that I realized just how high these fountains were.   Suffice it to say, I was surprised to find out that when the volcano erupts in such a spectacular fashion, it may be difficult to get into the park, for so many people in their cars are flocking to the sight.  But this isn't really a problem, because you can see the sky reaching lava from miles away while sitting in traffic.

Watch out King Kong!

   Two days ago, Madame Pele added a new twist.  This eruption sported the highest lava fountains yet, over 1,600 feet.  This is higher than two Space Needles stacked on top of one another or (if you are oriented to the east coast) higher than the Empire State Building.   (Watch out King Kong! Madame Pele gonna toast yo ass!)

    But that's not all.  This eruption forced me to learn a new word: Tephra.  Tephra is any solid material that comes out of a volcano.  The ash from Mount St. Helen's was tephra.  Kilauea has spouted some ash, but it also sends tiny glass particles, which Hawaiian's call Madame Pele's Hair, into the atmosphere.  In addition to the ash and the glass, this time Kilauea dropped rocks the size of golf balls as far away as Pahoa, 17 miles away.  The evening news showed the lacerated scalps of some unsuspecting pedestrians and a broken windshield or two.  

    Up to this rock dropping moment, we had been planning a trip to coincide with an upcoming eruption.  This little jaunt is under reconsideration pending a discussion with State Farm.  

   

The perfect libation.  Just add ICE.

All of the above leads me into last night's local news.  As the rain from the sky quickly percolates through the lava and into the sea, it is difficult to dig wells...the water just isn't down there.   The way they catch their water is by channeling what falls on the roof into a tank.  Some people use an above ground swimming pool.  And many of these people live near Kilauea.  It took the nice people who look after us only a day to decide that all the catchment water near the volcano was compromised.  

The state has provided a service for old folks who can't clean their roofs and tanks, someone will come and clean your roof, etc.  So, with any luck, the tiny, jagged glass particles won't end up in anyone's gut where they can cause a lot of damage.

  

   Or if you are an entrepreneur out in the wild west town of Pahoa, perhaps you could capture some of the runoff and put it in a bottle.  I understand that a few Mexican restaurants around Minneapolis might be interested.

jeff