An estimated 1,500 visitors a day hike across the lava flow fields to view the ocean entry and search for active lava breakouts. Round-trip walking distance is far; a one-way trip to the ocean entry from Kalapana is around 4 miles. Add the chase for active lava, milling about, and your hike will quickly add up to more than 10 miles when you return.
With most visitors to Hawaii not packing much real hiking gear, it’s not uncommon to see visitors to the ocean entry that are not dressed for the adventure.
Here are some tips from for essential lava field fashion from the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists who walk miles on Kilauea lava flows — both new and old.
Fields of newly erupted lava are not flat — they’re hummocks, cracks and crags that have been uplifted and overturned by the pressure of molten lava moving within the flows. To prevent sprains, shoes with support are a must. Boots with high ankle tops are ideal. But, low or mid-top shoes will work with thicker socks. No-show socks, or no socks at all, are not recommended because they provide fragments of glass a direct path to your skin.
The glass fragments are produced from the thin surface of solidified pahoehoe. It crunches under foot and peels away to form razor sharp flakes. These flakes lie in wait, ready to scrape an ungloved hand if extended to the ground during a stumble or fall. So, if you go walking far distances on the pahoehoe, it’s a good idea to wear light gloves to help catch your fall. Cotton garden gloves work fine. While hiking with these seems silly, one fall without them and you’ll be a believer. Light gloves are standard gear among the scientists and student groups that regularly visit the flow field.
Light cotton clothing is recommended as a base layer, or next to the skin. Long-sleeved shirt and long pants made of natural fiber will not only prevent sunburn, they also offer a measure of protection against scrapes and abrasions. Synthetic clothing, while fast-drying and light, must not be exposed too closely to an active lava flow or it will quickly melt. While this is usually not dangerous, it will ruin the material, particularly today’s expensive rain gear (which should be in your pack too).
Most light shoes, no matter how fashionable, will melt if you stand on hot lava. This is obvious. However, what’s not so obvious is what a hot, or freshly formed, lava flow looks like. Contrary to popular belief, a flow formed minutes ago does not glow an orange-red. Its surface is a dull silver color, and the air above it shimmers with heat.
Melting shoes are often not immediately noticed by the wearer. The attention-getter is when the soles separate. Stitched soles, common on heavy hiking boots, are ideal as they do not delaminate under heat. But, the more affordable glued soles are fine as long as you watch the ground temperature closely. Don’t wear shoes with steel toes or metal shanks. The metal can heat up to foot-cooking temperatures.
Best practice is to keep safe distances from active lava to protect your skin and those outdoor-gear investments.
All the usual accessories are still in fashion: hat, sunglasses, backpack, etc. Multiple water bottles are recommended. Another overlooked item, the flashlight, is so in vogue that anyone sporting one will be the life of the party as soon as the sun goes down. Since the best viewing is during dawn or dusk (when you can see the glow), an LED flashlight or headlamp is priceless. So, don’t go without one, day or night.
Of course, all this fashion does come with a formality: Remember to stay in designated safe areas despite what you see or read in social media.
Additional Information on hiking to the ocean entry and lava viewing can be found at:
• www.hawaiicounty.gov/lava-related/
• www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=FF37DE1A-B856-D703-50C420EDC9FB5069
• https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2000/fs152-00/
Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey‘s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and colleagues.
Volcano Activity Updates
Kilauea continues to erupt at its summit and East Rift Zone. This past week, the summit lava lake level varied between about 71 and 95 feet below the vent rim. The 61g flow was still active, with lava entering the ocean and building a small delta near Kamokuna and small surface breakouts downslope of Pu‘u O‘o on the pali and the coastal plain. The 61g flows do not pose an immediate threat to nearby communities.
Mauna Loa is not erupting. During the past week, a flurry of more than 150 earthquakes occurred beneath the upper west flank of the volcano with a peak of just under 60 quakes on April 8. GPS measurements continue to show deformation related to inflation of a magma reservoir beneath the summit and upper Southwest Rift Zone. No significant change in the gas output was noted this past week; the fumarole temperature continued to decrease.
Two earthquakes were reported felt on Hawaii Island in the past week. At 1:31 a.m. on April 10, a magnitude-3.1 earthquake occurred 9.1 miles northwest of Naalehu at a depth of 0.6 miles. At 8:29 a.m. on April 12, a magnitude-3.5 earthquake occurred 2.3 miles southwest of Kilauea summit at a depth of 1.6 miles.
Visit http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov for past Volcano Watch articles, Kilauea daily eruption updates and other volcano status reports, current volcano photos, recent earthquakes, and more; call (808) 967-8862 for a Kilauea summary update; email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.