VIDEO: Pohoiki Survives Pele’s Visit

Videographer Mick Kalber released this video of an overflight of the East Rift Zone he took with Paradise Helicopters on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018.

Kalber stated:

Day 102 of the current eruption.

Pohoiki has survived Pele’s [the volcano goddess] visit, and gained a gorgeous black sand beach to boot. Even though part of the new beach covers the entrance to the boat ramp, it can no doubt be dredged to make the ramp serviceable again, or may actually be washed away by waves over time.

Active lava has finally ceased at the bay, as Pele’s ocean entries continue to dwindle up and down the coastline. Lava had flowed in front of the parking lot and and black sand has reached all the way around in front of the boat ramp.

Pele’s manifestation continues to wane at Fissure 8, very deep within the cone (130 feet from the rim, according to the USGS), we could see only a pinprick of lava in the middle of a crusted over lake. The entire river channel also remains crusted over and has not moved for the better part of a week now.

Air over the eruption area was terrible today, as winds were blowing gases from the vents to the north. In fact all of East Hawai‘i experienced voggy skies.

The USGS continues to investigate whether this is actually the end of the eruption, or merely a pause, but every aspect of Pele’s activities at the Leilani eruption flow field have now either ceased, or are in the final stages of shutting down.\

We attempted to fly to the Mauna Loa side of Halema‘uma‘u Crater for a different view, but clouds got in the way. We did, however catch a glimpse of the fire burn area on Mauna Loa that burned late last week.