The Big Island (officially named Hawaii) is nicknamed such for a reason. It's really big. It's beautiful, it's unique, the water is as clear as a swimming pool, there's snow, lava, rock, jungle, desert, miles and miles of grassy pastures and everything in between. Just around every corner resembles a different part of the world. Hawaii is the youngest and largest of the Hawaiian island chain. The fish are abundant, the manta rays are giant and almost a certain sight for night diving, the stories are carved into the rocks of many ancient cultural sites(petroglyphs) and walking the lava field of an active volcano is like stepping into Prehistoric times. Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and is one of the two active on the Big Island. It produces 250,000-650,000 cubic yards of lava per day; enough to surface a 20 mile long double lane road daily. Walking on this freshly laid volcanic road is like walking on glass. It creaks and cracks below the pressure of each step. The only thing more exhilarating than walking on glass is walking on glass with lava below at 1,292 to 2,192 �F. In 1990, lava from Kilauea volcano engulfed Kalapana, a historic Hawaiian fishing village and residential area, as well as the famous black sand beach at Kaimu. Lava also destroyed Hawaii�s oldest heiau (temple), two subdivisions and several miles of public highway. No lives were lost, but 182 homes were swallowed by lava. Today there�s a new coastline with a few poignant traces of the town that once thrived. A visit to Kalapana is a sobering reminder of the raw power of nature.
Below is a video of a quick snorkel before flying home to Kauai and some photos at the Kalapana viewing area of Kilauea's path; where the lava meets the ocean.
Big Island from Keith Ketchum on Vimeo.
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