Always on the Move

Photo from the HVO Kilauea Status website of Kilauea's inner crater.

Sometimes it is hard to explain the difference between living on the Big Island of Hawaii, and living back on the continent of America.  While there are fault zones and even earthquakes, the difference is that our land is not solid!  In fact it is always moving beneath us AND moving above ground as it has for the past 30+ years.

Even when we take visiting friends to Kilauea to see the inner Crater of Halema'uma'u the House of the Ferns, (pronounced HA-LAY MA-U MA-U) apart from the glow at night, it often seems static, but it is not. In just the last few weeks the lava level inside the inner crater has fluctuated a lot, sometimes dropping down and sometimes spilling over the top.

Lava stopped just before dividing out town in half!

While the most exciting view at the present time is the lava flowing into the ocean which we shared with blog viewers in our August 9th blog, there's a LOT happening down inside the inner crater of Kilauea all the time.

"Click" on this link from the US Geological Survey - Halema'u'ma'u Crater   This is a 12 minute video created by the USGS during July. (You have an option just to "click" and view, or to download the video.) It was lava from a Kilauea vent called Pu'u O'o that flowed directly at our small village of Pahoa just a couple years ago, stopping just at the edge of the town -- to the relief of everyone.

No'eau -- Life as Art

"People’s lives can continue to unfold after they die; you just have to pay attention." 
 (From the movie “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” – highly recommended)

For over a month now I have been wondering how to tell the story about my friend Nan who died on March 12^th this year, but having just watched the above movie yesterday, it became clear that I just had to sit down and do it.  Meeting Nan No’eau Penner in the mountains of southern Humboldt County around 15 years ago was like meeting a long lost sister; we both felt a kinship as women and as artists.  We met after I had passed through a long dark tunnel and was coming out having discovered the healing power of art.

For many years Nan was supportive of my experimental, intuitive approach to art – particularly when it appeared to move in a darker and somewhat curious direction – as my “Strange Angels” began to channel through my art in an unexpected way.  She encouraged me to “invite them in” – that they would be wise teachers, and so they were.  Nan was a quiet supportive mentor and witness to my own development as an artist, and she was happy for us when we chose to make our home on the Big Island of Hawaii where she and her husband had lived many years ago. Although separated by miles, the connection remained important to me.

Last month, on March 12^th my husband, Phil, and I made a visit up to Kilauea that included a visit to Pele’s home and the always stirring view of Halema’uma’u – the inner lava crater.  We had dinner reservations and while spending time at the gallery, I found a book of collected proverbs and poetical sayings entitled, “ ‘Olelo No’eau” that Phil bought as a late Valentines gift for me.  Of course I immediately recognized the name, No’eau – and as I stood there with the book in my hand, I got “chicken skin” all over my body thinking about Nan and her friendship over the years.  I remarked to Phil that I needed to contact her right away, but couldn’t explain the sense of urgency I felt about it.

The next morning I emailed two friends in Humboldt to see if they had current contact for Nan received the following email back a few days later.  “I am sorry to let you know that Nan passed away last sat on 12th of March.”  As I sat there reading those words through tears in my eyes it was clear to me that despite the miles, she and I had connected as I held that book in my hands on March 12^th – on Pele’s sacred ground atop Kilauea.

No’eau is a Hawaiian word that means art, poetic-ness, and artfully done which was reflect her life.

Hala i ke ala ho’i ‘ole mai

(Gone on the road from which there is no returning)

The images were done by Nan, as were several ceramic vases I use for flowers from my garden.  All of these assure me of our continued connection.

Lava Lake Nearly Full!

Friends who have visited us on the Big Island, also visited Kilauea volcano, but they did NOT get this view!  The lava in the small inner crater has been rising this week -- and now, you can actually see the lava from the Jagger Overlook.

The top photo was from 4/23, thanks to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.  Two days ago the lava lake, within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater at Kīlauea's summit, reached the highest point yet measured for the current summit eruption-- only 66 feet below the Overlook crater rim.


Just yesterday, the level rise to just 46 feet below the Overlook crater rim.  At this rate, lava will soon reach the top and overflow into the larger crater of Kilauea.  The second photograph (also USGS) was taken from the rim of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, in an area closed to the public due to volcanic hazards.

Down here in Pahoa, we are not affected by this directly.  But, remember, that Kilauea remains the source for the lava still coming out of Pu'u O'o Crater; lava that was threatening Pahoa Village, appears to have stalled only yards from the town and highway.  Interestingly however, it appears that the same volume of lava is still coming out -- just much higher up the slopes.


From our house at 800 ft. elevation, it takes about 45 minutes to get up to Kilauea's elevation of just over 4,000 ft.  It has been the site of 61 separate eruptions since 1823, easily making it one of the most active volcanoes on Earth.  This map will give you some perspective as to the size of both craters.  The inner crater is about 1/2 mile wide and last overflowed April 1982, so this is a pretty spectacular occasion.

PS - Sunday 4/26 the lava is now 20 ft from top!

PPS -- Monday 4/27 "Burnin' Lake of Fire"

For more photos and details please check this link below:  http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov

Pig God - Kama Pua'a

Not without wounds and scars, Kama Pua'a power comes through!

Kama Pua’a II

By Phil Haysmer

In the legends of the native Hawaiian people, the intertwined lives of Kama Pua’a (the pig god) and Pele (goddess of fire) feature courtship and love as well as fierce arguments and fighting.  The elements of nature are represented by both in this tumultuous relationship. Pele’s power is seen in the heat of lava and fire and reflects the powerful creative and destructive force of the volcano; Kama Pua’a representing agriculture, rain and the sea, attempts to cool her ferocious forces with a deluge of rain.  One epic battle finds Kama Pua’a gathering the waters of the sea to quench Pele’s fire, but she escapes him by returning to her spirit home in the pit of Kilauea (Halema’uma’u crater.)  These legends, like those of many indigenous cultures, are not pitting good against evil, but recognizing the balance between opposing forces and the need to respect and appreciate both.

A generous hunter, woodsman and fisherman who lives on our street gifted Phil an outside slab off of an old mango tree.  Although Phil knew right away it was something special, he waited until Kama Pua'a peeked out -- and said "Can you see me?"  Phil did, and he will soon be delivering this new piece for display and sale at One Gallery in Hilo.

Thanksgiving Night

Here's what we saw from the highway on the way home last night around 9pm after sharing Thanksgiving dinner with ohana over on Kona side.

It's kinda spooky to be so close to such an example of the raw power!



This glow is from the smaller crater -- Halema'umu'u, which is inside of the huge Kilauea crater in Volcano National Park.

Note to mainland friends:  This is not Pu'u O'o -- which is is where lava has been flowing since mid 1980's, but at night, you can also see the glow from it.

(Beautiful photo by Janka/USGS, not us!)