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With brisk trade winds today, spectacular views of Kīlauea Volcano's eastern Kamokuna lava delta were possible from outside the closed area on the east, or Kalapana, side of the ocean entry. Lava deltas can collapse without warning, as happened here this past week, causing explosions that can throw rocky debris and fragments of molten lava flying in all directions (inland and seaward). Visitors to this area are urged to remain outside the closed area—clearly identified with a rope line and warning signs—for their safety.
Using the telephoto feature on a point-and-shoot camera (from the same location as the left photo), this image captured lava streaming into the ocean at the leading edge of the lava delta.
This skylight, a "window" into the active lava tube that carries lava from the vent to the sea, is located inland of the Kamokuna ocean entry. It is a sobering reminder why visitors are encouraged to remain outside the closed area, which Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has cordoned off with a rope line and warning signs. The Park reported that in late September, a skylight opened abruptly on the coastal plain just minutes after a couple of visitors had walked through the closed area.
It is possible to see the skylight without entering the closed area, and with a camera or smart phone, you can zoom in for more detail, as shown in this image.
Another collapse feature and skylight along the lava tube that feeds the Kamokuna ocean entry, underscoring the hazards associated with active lava tubes and the need to remain outside the closed area.
A telephoto image of the skylight, captured without entering the closed area. Note the sagging lava surface in the foreground, an indication of just how unstable this area is.
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