Friday

Two hikes on Friday; a six miler along the coast in Pahoa (see picture), and after sunset a hike in the volcano park. We went about two miles through the lava field with flashlights (slow-going). Another mile or so would have taken us right up to where the lava was flowing along the surface, but as it was dark, late, and a little rainy, we stopped short and for a little less than an hour watched bright red-hot lava flow into the Pacific. It looked strikingly like the picture fronting the chapter in High-School science text books that describe how the Earth came into being. An amazingly peaceful spot with a view that's awe inspiring. Bright streams flowed down the side of the volcano as well; that the lava was still so hot after flowing at least two miles down hill says a lot.

Steve