Volcanoes National Park

Last weekend we made our first trip to Volcanoes National Park.  First we drove down Mauna Loa to the coast to see a natural rock arch coming off the rugged cliff over the waves pounding the shore.  Next we drove a little way back up the mountain to see some petroglyphs.  It was Win-dy!  That 1.5 mile hike felt like at least 3 miles.  The kids were troopers though, despite the fact that the wind would occaisionally blow sand in their faces.  Most of the petroglyphs were 'ohana (family) related, as hawaiians traditionally drilled a hole in the hardened lava, placed the piko (umbilical cord) of a newborn in the hole, and covered it with a rock.  We then drove further up the mountain to visit Thurston lava tube, but on the way we saw an unmarked lava tube, so we got out the headlamps and went spelunking!  The tube's walls were extremely smooth in contrast to the sharpness of the lava on the exterior.  However, the roof had waves and ridges as the molten lava dripped as it cooled like wax from a candle.  From there, we all needed a break, so we left the park in hopes that the kids would take a nap as we headed to the southernmost winery in the US.  Of course they didn't -but at least we got to sample some wine!  The most interesting was the green tea infusion. 

Well, back to the park and the lava tube.  Nestled in a small tropical valley is the entrance to a roughly 1/4 mile tube that varies from roughly 15'-20' in diameter.  After that we felt the warmth of the volcano through some steam vents along the rim of the cauldera and visited the Jagger museum that overlooks the crater where sulphurous steam rises constantly and the fire below creates a glow by night.  We had intended to stay until sundown to see the crater by night, but we had all had it.  Back to Volcano village for dinner and back down the mountain to home in Pahoa.  We'll see the lava glow another time when friends or family come to visit!