Helicopter flight over the lava, May 19, 2018

When friends asked me if I would be interested to fly in a helicopter doors off across the active fissure eruption in Leilani Estates I didn't hesitate. This was a chance for me to finally see the new eruption. I wasn't sure what to expect because I've never been in a helicopter before.
We had an early morning flight and checked in at Hilo airport with Paradise Helicopters about an hour before our flight took place. After all the instructions were done our seats were assigned.
I sat next to the pilot which was pretty cool.
We took off and headed towards Lower Puna. Because we were all photographers the pilot offered us to only hower over the lava flow which we gratefully appreciated. Due to flight restrictions, the helicopter had to fly 3,000 ft high but even from this elevation, we could feel the heat. It was intense, wow.

The massive rivers of lava were just unbelievable and breathtaking. There was a lot of haze in the air and a sulfur steam plume as well but despite these conditions, the view of the channelized lava river was something I will never forget.

massive fissure eruption

 W hovered many times across the area, above the several fissures and the PGV. Luckily, the thermal energy plant had removed all of its flammable material a few days ago and also quenched and shut off the valves. It was heartbreaking to see all the houses in Pele's path, some of them only feet away from the lava river.

PGV to the right, fissures and lava near the property

The flow front was less than half a mile away from entering the ocean and I'm pretty sure it will happen either tonight or tomorrow. Really crazy to think about it. But the massive river of lava was flowing so fast, there was no way it would stop soon.

some structures still standing surrounded by lava

close-up lava river

The entire 45 minutes felt as they were passing by way too fast. But the bird's eye view was an absolutely amazing experience. I gained a whole new perspective of this eruptive event.

After a final round across the eruption area, we flew back to Hilo. Luckily the weather cooperated on our flight and I ended up with quite a few shots I liked. I don't know how many pictures I took, my memory card was almost full. Thanks to Paradise Helicopter for this amazing flight experience, I never thought I will ever fly in a helicopter.

Rainy Day at the flow - Valentine's Day 2018

Rainy Day at the flow

Valentines Day lava - my plan was to hike way up to the Pali and check out the flow up the there again. But mother nature always has different plans. While I was hiking out it started to pour and was getting worse and worse. For sure, this was no day to hike up to the pali. It would be way too dangerous getting caught in a whiteout up there with massive lava flows all around me plus the extremely steep cliff where one wrong step could be fatal. So I decided to go to the regular lava flow instead. I was already wet, so I didn't mind. I managed to check the radar on my phone and a huge rain cell was hanging over the area. I still had hopes that it would move out within the next hour as it often did. Okay, forget about wishes and face reality.
I was already three quarters done when I saw the big white steam cloud ahead of me. Great, this will be another whiteout day in the field. I walked around the eastern edge of the whiteout and continued to go. Every rock, tumulus mount, and each corner was more than familiar to me. If I would end up getting stuck in the whiteout at least I knew where to go. For a few minutes, I was completely surrounded by hot humid steam but I was so close to the pali that the wind shifted suddenly and my view was clear.
The lava was just a few hundred feet ahead of me, and it was amazing. So much activity coming down the Pali, wow. As I walked along the edge of the Pali I kept walking out of the steam and soon reached the surface flows in the pouring rain. What a sight!!! Rivers coming down in several places. It rained so hard that it made a crazy noise on the hot lava. Not just the nice sizzling sound when rainwater hits it. It sounded like a hurricane. It rained so hard that I could not even set up my camera and take a few shots.
Here I was, way too early out in the field at 5:20 am and hoped the rain would eventually stop. It was just me and the weather. The spot where I was standing at was completely spared by the whiteout and the hot and humid steam. Everything else was covered in white, there was no sight at all. This was for sure no place you want to be in in the dark if you have no clue how to deal with it. I felt extremely comfortable where I was. It was loud and peaceful at the same time. It thought of my friend and colleague Sean who passed away earlier this month in a whiteout out here in the field. He must have experienced something similar while he was caught in it. He might have felt a peaceful moment as well, who knows. I was only a few hundred feet away from the spot where he was found that day. I miss you brother, you're probably smiling back from where you are right now.
I stood there for more than an hour, took advantage of short breaks in the rain and captured the beauty of Pele. She even smiled while letting her fiery hair down. It was mesmerizing.

Eventually, dawn arrived and a short break in the rain offered me a view of the coastal plains lava field ahead of me. Fog and steam were creeping along ridges, crevices and across the old lava. It looked absolutely beautiful. I took a few shots, it was magical. Even weather like this has its own moments. It was all over soon after when the first crazy tourists arrived who had ventured out this morning and somehow managed to get out of the steam. Our own Epic Lava tour with a great group showed up a bit later and my boss looked a bit astonished to see me out here in the ain on my day off. But I had a special morning out here in the rain today. The whole experience was worth it to get wet and to stay here in the pouring rain for a long time.

steam rising from the hot surface during a clear moment

Do not hike out in conditions like I experienced today unless you know what you are doing, what to expect and how to deal with a serious whiteout. These conditions will let you lose all sense of place and it can get so bad that you cannot see your own shoes anymore. You will likely be caught in hot steam and you are completely blind. Unless you know how to get out of it and deal with this situation, don't ever hike out in heavy rain. You can't see the surface or anything else around you. Temperatures might rise to more than a 100F inside the hot steam cloud with a 100% humidity. The steam is thick, it's like being caught in a massive steam bath. You need to hundred percent know what to do and how to get out of it if it worsens. Leave days like today to the experienced tour guides and lava hikers who know what to expect and how to deal with it. Wait a day or two and hike out to the flow when it's safe to do so.

A night in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park during the Lunar Eclipse, January 31, 2018

While everyone was shooting the lunar eclipse tonight, I enjoyed it in my own way.  The moon was way too high in the sky anyway and I did not want to take pictures of the moon in a black sky.  But the view towards Halema'uma'u crater was so beautiful so I went to Kilauea Iki parking lot.  The moon with the layer of fog down at the bottom of Kilauea Iki was for sure a special moment. The moon added a nice touch to the scenery and I used it as an inclusion to the landscape. After dark in the park is always a wonderful experience.

Lunar Eclipse