Hawaii Part 4 - Volcanoes and Lava Trees

We departed from Kona later that afternoon and sailed around to the other side of the island to visit its wetter side - known as Hilo. The island is so big it took all night to reach the port of Hilo on the other side. This is the side where there is still volcanic activity! 

Just half an hour after midnight we passed the point where molten lava is still running down into the sea. We had been told we would pass it at about 11.30 pm so as it was so late and extremely windy up top, and neither of my cameras is useful in the pitch dark, I decided to watch the spectacle from the port-hole in my cabin. I waited and waited saw nothing, and eventually concluded the weather had been too rough for a good sighting. But by sheer luck I was still up doing my blog and peeked out at 12.30 am just in time to see the tail end of this incredible sight. If only I had dressed and gone up on deck!  . . . The captain had turned the ship around in a full circle so everyone could see, yet I was concentrating so hard on my blog I had not felt it. But a quick glimpse was better than nothing! The rich red lava just glowed! And produced tonnes of spray and steam as it hit the sea.

That day I was again fortunate to be in a small group with great tour guide. In fact he was an astronomer who has worked up in the famous Observatory in Hawaii and now conducts tours up there which include gazing at the stars and watching the sun rise from the top of the volcano. What an experience that would be! He was still a young man and has lived in Hawaii for most of his life. He is passionate about it and speaks the local language. He and his wife and son live in the region on the mountainside, though safely away from the most dangerous zone. Interestingly, the tour company he works for is owned by the former owner of Arnotts biscuits. They still have Tim Tams in their office for purchase. They also own an award-winning hotel in Hilo. 

Anyhow, the first place we visited was the Lava Tree State Park, which was quite an awesome sight! In the recent past this park was completely consumed by a lava flow, which created hollow mounds of lava where trees had been. (This phenomenon is explained in the signs I include amongst the photos.) Many plants are now growing there out of the solid lava. We even could see the fissure from which the lava had flowed. The tall trees now growing there were brought in from Africa because they were fast-growing, but they are now being removed because fast-growing also means their wood is very weak, and branches keep falling off, which is very dangerous. 

The photos will convey this unusual landscape. 

On the side of our small coach. Arnott's owns a fleet of coaches on the island. 

Already lush vegetation is springing up, as this side of the island has a good rainfall.

Looking down the fissure from which  a lot of the lava had flowed.

This plant is growing out of lava. 

As is this plant.

A close-up of the lava base.

More of the park. 

This sign helps visitors appreciate the park.

This sign explains the formation of a lava tree.

A lava tree.

Looking down inside a lava tree.

The top of another lava tree.

Incredible upheavals have occurred. The tall trees in the background on the right are the ones causing concern.

An unusual plant growing in the park.

Some other interesting plant species in the park.