Kilauea volcano has been erupting continuously since 3 January 1983, with the lava flow coming from the Pu'u O'o crater about twelve miles from the caldera in the Volcanoes National Park. The first three years of the eruption included large, magnificent lava fountains, occasionally throwing lava 1500 feet into the air. The lava flows were concentrated in the Puna District, with most outside of the national park boundary. The flows were widespread and continuous:
In time, the conduit of the lava underneath the new crater ruptured and the lava began to flow from the Kupaianaha Vent, about two miles further east from Pu'u O'o. The lave flowed freely and reached the ocean on the south on 28 November 1986:
This continuous flow consumed first, the village of Kapa'ahu, and thereafter, the coastal road, the ancient village of Kalapana, and the nearby famous black sand beach. Slowly the volume of lava at the Kupaianaha Vent decreased, while increasing at Pu'u O'o crater.
On 17 February 1992, lava fountains again erupted at Pu'u O'o, and the full activity of the lava flow continued. Large volumes of lava flowed continuously through tubes to the ocean on the south:
On 17 June 2007 the underground supply of magma was interrupted and the lava flow stopped. Over the next few weeks there were a series of events that resulted in the opening of new fissures on the flank of the Pu'u O'o crater. These new fissures fed the flow of lava again, with some on the north side of the east rift zone.
In March 2011, the Pu'u O'o crater floor collapsed again and the flow from Fissure D vent ceased. A new eruption began to the west in the Kamoamoa area.. The lava flowed in this area for a few weeks, and then the Pu'u O'o crater filled again and the flow of lava restarted, reaching the ocean in November 2012.
In June 2013, lava from the Pu'u O'o crater flowed on the north east side of the East Rift Zone. This lava flow was not following the path of the earlier flows toward the south, but rather into the Kahaual'e Natural Area Reserve. This flow continued until early June 2014. On 27 June 2014 a new breakout of lava from Pu'u O'o occurred:
This flow continued from some time feeding lava into the East Rift Zone through extensive lava tubes. The flow continued down the slope toward the northeast:
The next series of maps shows the gradual progression of the lava flow to the northeast from August 2014 to October 2104. Please note that the flow is approaching the town of Pahoa.
On 10 November 2014, the lava flowed on to Cemetery Road close by the Transfer Station, and two days later, the lava flow entered into the edge of the Transfer Station.
But over the next few weeks the flow ceased near the Transfer Station but continued to threaten Pahoa village by a new lobe to the north. This flow persisted until the end of March 2015, when it ceased. Current flow from Pu'u O'o is now concentrated much further away.
The coordinates will take you to the Transfer Station on Cemetery Road where you will be able to see and touch the November 2104 lava flow. This is the most recent lava flow that is readily accessible to the public. Please note that parking here is regulated so as not to interfere with the operations of the Transfer Station. So, please observe the no-parking areas. Please also do not cross the barriers.
In order to log this earthcache, please make your way to the coordinates and observe the lava flows on Cemetery Road and at the Transfer Station. Then, please answer the following questions, by sending me an email with the correct answers (please do not post the answers in you log):
1. What is the type of lava: a'a or pahoehoe?
2. What is the thickness of the lava (in feet or meters) at the coordinates, if you are facing the ocean, with your back to the Transfer Station?
3. Please observe closely the fencing lodged in the lava. Describe how the lava flowed to result in the fence being imbedded in the lava.
References: 1. USGS Fact Sheet 2012-3127, January 2013; 2. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Kilauea Update, Maps, website: http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/maps/