Nearly 60 years ago, Pele nudged Kilauea volcano on Hawaii to erupt in Kilauea Iki crater. For over a month, several eruptions shot 1900 feet in the air. Eventually, lava filled the crater to a depth of over 400 feet. A spectacular hike starts in the lush foliage on the edge of the crater and descends across the cooling lava bed.
venting steam
The lake bed still has hot lava cooling hundreds of feet down. The lake floor is still dropping as it cools. Rain water seeps down cracks and comes back as steam. There is a hiker on the left near one vent. Most of the park is closed today due to the threat of an erruption.
‘ōhi‘a and other plants gain a foothold in the lava bed.