Volcano Overflight: Lava Bench Now Spans Several Acres

Opihi Moemoe kī hō’alu (Hawaiian slack key) by Hilo’s own Ben Kaili

Back in the air on Thursday, April 13, with Paradise Helicopters Master Pilot Pete Stachowicz,  the crew and Tropical Visions Video photographer and videographer Mick Kalber observed that Kīlauea Volcano’s 61g surface flow is still slowly moving toward the Pali.

“Pele is within a half-mile of the steep downslope,” said Kalber. “Several sizable outbreaks filled our frames today with fiery molten lava. Pele’s flows continue to pour lava into the ocean in a more traditional wide entry… dozens of lava rivulets are now creating a new lava bench, which has already increased to several acres in size.”

The crew saw no outbreaks on the coastal flats, but there may well be a few here and there, Kalber noted.

“We were able to access the vent, but only for a quick glimpse of a rather calm lava lake,” Kalber concluded.

The Kalapana coastline is the most dynamic on the island, as lava from Kilauea creates the newest land on the planet. ExtremeExposure photo, April 13, 2017.