January 23 - Pele penetrates Pahoa, and other Puna viewings

      The Hawaiian people consider the goddess Pele to be living on Mauna Loa, and any lava flow that flows from the mountain is considered part of her body.  For the past six months she has been sending an arm, or leg, or some molten part of herself towards the town of Pahoa.

This flow stalled out a few weeks ago.  The lava has solidified, but you can still see heat waves shimmering above the rock.

Pele spared the waste transfer station.  Now it's a fine place to learn about vulcanology.

 There seems to be something a little tacky about this photo ... oh yeah, it's called disaster tourism.  Smile for the camera!  Actually, the town of Pahoa has boomed since Pele began her approach.

This volunteer had some strong political views about the local government.  Here, he seems to be telling them where to go.

The lava is still warm, and yet life takes hold.

Sign by Captain Obvious

The tongue of lava we viewed stalled out a few weeks ago, but the black band at the end of the firebreak pictured here is where a current side channel has formed.  It's about a third of a mile from the main road going through town, and is aimed directly at the fire and police station.  Smoke fills the sky where it is burning out the underbrush.  The entire area is closed off, and we weren't brave enough to cross the police line to see it up close.

Hawaii Power and Light crowd sourced the solution to keeping the power lines from failing when the 2200 degree lava passes by.  These mounded poles are the result, and they have worked just fine.

The National Guard was called in to control traffic and crowds.  But the town of Pahoe is one of the most laid back, counter culture places I've ever been to.  In the midst of biblical levels of disaster, people seem to be hanging very loose.

 Downtown Pahoa

Rastafarians have a presence ...

... as do skateboarders.

     Pahoa is the main town of the district of Puna, an area of recent lava flows, hippies, dropouts, organic gardeners, and amazing coastline.  We didn't see many people that one would call tourists.

 A lava tree.  When the lava flows through a forest, it cools and solidifies when it reaches a large tree.  The tree burns up, and the rest of the lava flows on its way, but these tree casts remain behind.  They're hollow, and can harbor new little groves of flora.

 We drove along this gravel road to find a seaside lava pool (not to be confused with a pool of lava).

Walking down a trail to the sea.

 Random bits of loveliness ... 

 ... and ugliness, along the way.

 The pool at the end of the trail.  We planned to swim here, but the sun was setting behind the island, and some of the surf crashed ominously into the pool.

 Next we drove to some tidal pools where the snorkeling was sublime.  Warm freshwater springs flow into the saltwater.

My new prescription goggles.  It's so reassuring to know that if I lose my glasses I'll still have something to help me get by.  Flattering, aren't they!

     By the time we got back to the tree house, it was late, so dinner was wine, beer, and chips.