Hawaii Volcanic Eruption Images

Since 1983 Kilauea Volcano has continuously erupted, producing spectacular lava flows in and near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It is an unforgettable experience to witness the awesome power of molten lava as it cloaks the island landscape, building layer upon layer in a process ongoing for over a million years. In the last twenty years lava flows have covered forests, obliterated ancient Hawaiian sites, and buried roads, modern villages, and visitor facilities. Visitors to active flows can sometimes get close enough to molten lava to feel the intense heat, smell the distinctive odors, hear the crackling of cooling crust, or see crust being uplifted.

A small assortment of lava images appears below in low resolution thumbnail photos. Digital files in .tif format (no compression) are available. Captions can be provided for all photos.

If you wish to purchase prints or use any images please send e-mail to: rarasp@rarimages.com.




`A`a Lava 1167

 In 1992 lava buried the ancient Hawaiian village of Kamoamoa in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Among the features lost were the ancient temple of Moa Heiau and a canoe shed. Also, there is no trace of the modern campground or palm-fringed black sand beach once enjoyed by local residents and park visitors.
Kamoamoa Lava Flow1141

In 1992 lava buried the ancient Hawaiian village of Kamoamoa in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Among the features lost were the ancient temple of Moa Heiau and a canoe shed. Also, there is no trace of the modern campground or palm-fringed black sand beach once enjoyed by local residents and park visitors.
Kamoamoa Lava Flow1170

 In 1992 lava buried the ancient Hawaiian village of Kamoamoa in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Among the features lost were the ancient temple of Moa Heiau and a canoe shed. Also, there is no trace of the modern campground or palm-fringed black sand beach once enjoyed by local residents and park visitors.
Kamoamoa Lava Flow1171
Kilauea Volcanic Eruption, Pu`u O`o 1394 Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Cascade 1142		 Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Cascade 1143

Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Cascade 1144
Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Cascade 1145		 Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Cascade 1146		 Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Cascade 1147		 Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Cascade 1161
Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Cascade 1162		 Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Cascade 1163
 Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Cascade 1164

Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Cascade 1165
Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Cascade 1166 		Road builders face a unique challenge maintaining roads in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Lava 80 feet or more in depth has covered stretches of the Chain of Craters Road, which has been closed since 1987. Visitors can drive to the end of the road to view where lava covered the highway.
Lava Crosses Park Road 1157 		Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Crosses Park Road 1158		 Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Crosses Park Road 1159
Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Crosses Park Road 1160		 Lava cascades down Pali Uli on its way to the coast in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two types of lava are visible: pahoehoe (higher gas content and hotter) flowing down the cliff; and a`a at the base of the cliff. This dramatic flow provided visitors with a rare view of pahoehoe and a`a flowing side by side.
Lava Crosses Park Road 1161
Lava Explosions At Coast 1169 		This dawn scene is typical of the on-going eruption of Kilauea Volcano, in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The coastline continually changes as new land is formed when lava enters the ocean. Molten lava, insulated in a lava tube during its journey to the sea, creates steam as it contacts seawater.
Lava Flows Into Sea 1180
When the ceiling of a lava tube collapses, a skylight is formed that provides a view of a molten lava river. The tube insulates the 2,000 degree F. lava, keeping it fluid for its journey of several miles from Pu`u `O`o to the sea. Commonly, about 500,000 cubic meters of lava flows through the tube during a 24-hour period.
Lava Tube Skylight 1140 		When the ceiling of a lava tube collapses, a skylight is formed that provides a view of a molten lava river. The tube insulates the 2,000 degree F. lava, keeping it fluid for its journey of several miles from Pu`u `O`o to the sea. Commonly, about 500,000 cubic meters of lava flows through the tube during a 24-hour period.
Lava Tube Skylight 1150 		When the ceiling of a lava tube collapses, a skylight is formed that provides a view of a molten lava river. The tube insulates the 2,000 degree F. lava, keeping it fluid for its journey of several miles from Pu`u `O`o to the sea. Commonly, about 500,000 cubic meters of lava flows through the tube during a 24-hour period.
Lava Tube Skylight 1151		 When the ceiling of a lava tube collapses, a skylight is formed that provides a view of a molten lava river. The tube insulates the 2,000 degree F. lava, keeping it fluid for its journey of several miles from Pu`u `O`o to the sea. Commonly, about 500,000 cubic meters of lava flows through the tube during a 24-hour period.
Lava Tube Skylight 1152
When the ceiling of a lava tube collapses, a skylight is formed that provides a view of a molten lava river. The tube insulates the 2,000 degree F. lava, keeping it fluid for its journey of several miles from Pu`u `O`o to the sea. Commonly, about 500,000 cubic meters of lava flows through the tube during a 24-hour period.
Lava Tube Skylight 1153		 When the ceiling of a lava tube collapses, a skylight is formed that provides a view of a molten lava river. The tube insulates the 2,000 degree F. lava, keeping it fluid for its journey of several miles from Pu`u `O`o to the sea. Commonly, about 500,000 cubic meters of lava flows through the tube during a 24-hour period.
Lava Tube Skylight 1154		 When the ceiling of a lava tube collapses, a skylight is formed that provides a view of a molten lava river. The tube insulates the 2,000 degree F. lava, keeping it fluid for its journey of several miles from Pu`u `O`o to the sea. Commonly, about 500,000 cubic meters of lava flows through the tube during a 24-hour period.
Lava Tube Skylight 1155		 Blue methane gas, ignited by molten lava, portends doom for Moa Heiau. For hundreds of years Hawaiians brought gifts of food to this ancient temple as offerings to their god Lono, who they hoped would provide bountiful crops. During the night, lava covered the heiau in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
Lava Covers Moa Heiau 1555

Pahoehoe Lava Crust 1175

Pahoehoe Lava Crust 1149
Pahoehoe Lava Drip 1179
Pahoehoe Lava Flow 1174

Pahoehoe Lava Toe 1148
Pahoehoe Lava Toe 1172
Pahoehoe Lava Toes 1176
Pahoehoe Lava Uplift 1177

Pahoehoe Lava Toe 1178

Pahoehoe Lava Uplift 1173


Visitors At Coastal Lava Flow 1168

  

Recommended visitor accommodations near
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:

http://volcanoinnhawaii.com/volcano_inn_links.html



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