May 2015 Halema`uma`u Lava Lake

The inner crater at Halema`uma`u filled with lava to the point the it was overflowing onto the crater floor and was clearly visible from the Jaggar Museum overlook.  I headed to Hilo with my father and stayed at my brother's house in Hawaiian Paradise Park to see Halema`uma`u in action.  The first night (about 1:00 am) it was cloudy and rainy.  The Jaggar overlook was nearly empty.  The lava lake was spectacular!  Not great for taking pictures.

Robert overlooking the Halema`uma`u lake of lava.

I returned the next night with my father at around 10:00 pm.  It was packed!  For about 20 minutes the skies cleared and the lava was spectacular.

We also checked out Pahoa and the recent lava flow at the Pahoa Transfer Station.

Apa`a Street, Pahoa:

What remains of the only home in Pahoa overrun by lava.

Rest of the pics here (Halema`uma`u) and here (Pahoa).

July 4, 2014 Mauna Kea Summit

For July Fourth my Dad and I drove up to the summit of Mauna Kea. It was a beautiful day on the Big Island, with some high clouds and tons of blue sky and sunshine. My rental Jeep handled the unpaved road to the summit perfectly.

A few minutes after we got to the top, a Mini Cooper strolled up! It was followed a few minutes later by some tourists in a Ford Mustang and a couple rental Chevy sedans!

 

My Dad and I took a couple of selfies at the top overlooking the Keck Observatory and Haleakala.

 

Being nearly 14,000 feet high, the air is quite thin! Every movement is strained and we were both getting dizzy from altitude sickness. So we decided to attempt trekking to the summit, only a 200 yard trail.

We made it about halfway before reality set in. Time to turn around.

 

After catching our breath, we checked out the inside of the Keck Observatory.

We drove up to some radar dish looking things then made our way down the mountain.

Rest of the pics here.

April 4 & 5, 2014 Halema`uma`u Crater

My brother Robert bought a house in Kea`au so my brother, Kai, my father, Scott, and I headed up to the Big Island to help out around his property the first weekend in April.  We didn't do much sight seeing, but being so close to Volcano National Park I was able to check out Halema`uma`u Crater a couple of nights.  Really love this place.

Rest of the pics here: