Volcano Watch — A Day in the Park

The U.S. Geological Survey' Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, National Biological Service, National Park Service, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Kīlauea Military Camp, McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, NASA, and The Planetary Society invite the public to a special "Day in the Park" on Monday, February 20, 1995. A multitude of activities are planned for the day, including hikes, walks, scientific demonstrations, children's activities, films, and talks. Several facilities that are usually closed to the public will be open for the day with a variety of displays, laboratory tours, and demonstrations. There will be an "ask an earth scientist" booth, where you can ask questions about Hawaiian volcanoes. Special activities for children include a visit to Micro-world and an art contest at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. There will be no entry fee to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for the day, and the Kīlauea Military Camp cafeteria will be open to the public for lunch. Sodas and hot dogs will also be available at the Jaggar Museum.

Hikes and Walks

* 8 AM-9 AM, Bird Walk led by National Biological Service -- Kipuka Puaulu parking area. A 1-mile walk along the loop trail through this lush kipuka to learn about the unique birds that live in this environment. See a demonstration of the Global Positioning System (GPS).

* 10 AM-Noon, Pu'u Huluhulu Hike led by the National Park Service -- Mauna Ulu parking lot. A 3-mile hike along the volcanically active East Rift Zone of Kīlauea to the summit of a small cinder cone 150 feet above the surrounding 1974 lava flows. See lava trees and Pu`u `O`o on a clear day. Bring a light jacket and water.

* 11 AM-11:45 AM, Kīlauea Summit Walk led by the National Park Service -- Front of Kīlauea Visitor Center. An easy 1/2-mile guided walk where you can learn the answers to such questions as What is an `o`o? Are volcanic fumes hazardous? How do you pronounce Halema`uma`u?

* 11 AM-1:30 PM, Nene Breeding Facilities Hike led by the National Park Service -- Mauna Ulu parking lot. A 3-mile hike and tour of the nene breeding facilities managed by the National Park Service. The endangered Hawaiian goose is alive today only through such breeding programs.

* Noon-12:45 PM, Path of Pele led by the National Park Service -- Front of Kīlauea Visitor Center. An easy 1/2-mile guided walk with spectacular views of Kīlauea Caldera. Learn about the fascinating native plants and animals. Hear some of the legends of Pele.

* 1 PM-3:30 PM, Kīlauea Iki Crater Hike led by the National Park Service -- Thurston Lava Tube parking lot. A 4-mile hike. Descend into the depths of this "small" crater and experience the beauty and serenity of this still-steaming satellite of Kīlauea Caldera. Bring a light jacket and water.

* 1:30 PM-2:30 PM, Devastation Trail Walk led by the National Park Service -- Devastation Trail Parking Lot. A 1-mile walk through the area devastated by the 1959 eruption in Kīlauea Iki Crater. Learn how plant life recovers after a devastating eruption.

* 3 PM-4 PM, Rare Plant Walk led by the National Biological Service -- Kipuka Puaulu parking area. A 1-mile walk along the loop trail through this kipuka heavily vegetated with native Hawaiian plants. Learn about the efforts to save and propagate these plants.

* 3 PM-5 PM, Pu`u Loa Petroglyph Walk led by NPS -- Pu`u Loa Trailhead - down the Chain of Craters Road. A 2-mile hike to Pu'u Loa ("Hill of Long Life"), an amazing archaeological site of ancient Hawaiian symbols carved into lava. Wear hiking shoes, bring water and sunblock for this hot walk.

Open Houses

* 9 AM-4 PM, U.S. Geological Survey - Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Walk through the hallways of HVO and learn how the volcanoes of Hawaii are monitored. See and hear updates on the current eruption, learn how earthquakes are located, see demonstrations of ground deformation processes using balloons, sandboxes, and other material.

* 1 PM to 4 PM, National Biological Service Laboratory. See demonstrations on Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and on greenhouse and rare plant propagation. View displays of Hawaiian bird and insect specimens and posters of mosquito and forest bird disease.

* 9 AM to closing, Kīlauea Military Camp. KMC is opening its facilities, including the general store, gas station, recreation lounge, tennis courts, and bowling alley to the public for this day.

Laboratory Tours

* 9 AM-4 PM, Gas-Lab by U.S. Geological Survey -- Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Geochemical Labs. Features gas chromatograph in action, gas testing, SO₂/H₂S reaction experiment, rainwater analysis. Have the pH of your drinking water tested. Hear the `vog' story - learn what it is and when we get it. See a demonstration of the instruments used to make ambient air quality measurements.

* 9 AM-4 PM, Micro-World & Lava-Lab for Kids by U.S. Geological Survey -- Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Rock Lab. Hands-on and microscope exhibits featuring a variety of sand and rock samples, including Pele's hair and tears, tephra, reticulite, limu-o-Pele, sulfur, and volcanic alteration products.

* 9 AM-4 PM, Seis-Lab by U.S. Geological Survey -- Hawaiian Volcano Observatory parking lot. Hands-on seismic displays include instrumentation for sensing and recording earthquakes, Paul's brick trick, and make-your-own seismogram by HVO seismic and electronics groups.

Films and Talks

* 9 AM to 4 PM, Film Festival -- Kīlauea Visitor Center Theater. Continuous showing of films on the geology and biology of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. 9 AM--"Inside Hawaiian Volcanoes," 9:45 AM--"Current Eruption Update," 10 AM--"Guided by the Nene," 10:30 AM- "Close Up of an Active Volcano," 11 AM--"Fire Under the Sea," 11:30 AM--Slide Show and talk on Pu'u 'O'o eruption by HVO Geologist, Noon--"Kīlauea Erupts," 12:30 PM--We All Need the Forest," 1 PM--"The Humpback Whale," 1:25 PM--"A Force for Creation," 2 PM-VolcanoScape Four, 2:45 PM--"Current eruption update," 3 PM--Fire Under the Sea," 3:30 PM--"Rivers of Fire," and 4 PM--"Guided by the Nene."

* 9 AM-4 PM on the hour, Geology of Kīlauea Summit -- Jaggar Museum Overlook

A 15-minute talk by U.S. Geological Survey geologists on the physical landforms and recent history of the Kīlauea Summit area.

* 11:30 AM, Pu`u `O`o Eruption - Slide Show and Talk -- Kīlauea Visitor Center Theater

Everything you wanted to know about the current eruption of Kīlauea Volcano - presented by a U.S. Geological Survey geologist from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Special events

* 8 AM to Noon & 1 PM to 2 PM, Marsokhod Mars Rover Exhibition -- Jaggar Museum Entrance. Demonstration on the capabilities of the remotely-controlled vehicle and an explanation of the missions to Mars and the Moon by NASA, McDonnell-Douglas, and The Planetary Society scientists. Satellite communications provided by EDS and the Williams Company.

* 9 AM-4 PM, 3-D Video Demonstration--Inside Jaggar Museum. See some 3-D video collected during the tests of the Marsokohd Rover during the past week, as well as some other demonstrations of 3-D technology. Stereo video equipment provided by StereoGraphics Corp.

* 9 AM to 2 PM, Refreshments -- Jaggar Museum Entrance Area. Hot dogs, soda, chips, etc. from Kīlauea Military Camp

* 10 AM and 2 PM, Volcanic Gas Sampling by U.S. Geological Survey -- Sulfur Banks. Watch a geochemist draw a sample of gas from an active fumarole and hear what they can learn from it. Go to the HVO gas lab and see the analysis.

* 11 AM to 1 PM, Lunch -- Kīlauea Military Camp (KMC) Cafeteria. KMC is opening its cafeteria to the public for this day. Hot plate lunches, sandwiches, salads, and beverages are on the menu at reasonable prices.

* Noon-4 PM, Geophysical Measurements -- End of Chain of Craters Road. Demonstration and explanation by USGS scientists of instruments used to measure active lava flows.

* 9 AM-4 PM, Earth Science for Teachers, University of Hawaii at Hilo (UHH) Geology Department -- Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Library. Poster displays by the UHH Geology department give emphasis to CSAV, the Center for the Study of Active Volcanism, and to VEST, the NSF-funded summer program for teachers; A teacher's guide to Kīlauea, a display of extraordinarily beautiful rocks and minerals, and a petrographic microscope with TV monitor are highlighted.

* 9 AM-4 PM, Surface Deformation Measurements by USGS and UHH -- Uwekahuna Bluff. Demonstration of instruments used to measure deformation of the Earth's crust. These include global positioning system (GPS) receivers capable of locations within a few millimeters, laser rays that can measure distances up to 60 kilometers, total-field systems, and level transits and rods.

* 9 AM-4 PM, Ask an Earth Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey and University of Hawaii at Hilo -- Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Geologists, geophysicists, and geochemists from the USGS's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the UHH's Geology Department try to answer your questions on Earth science.

* 9 AM-4 PM, Drawing Contest for Kids -- Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Draw your impression of the Marsokhod Rover on a Martian volcano or on Kīlauea. Judging by NASA and a professional artist . Winners every hour! Prizes include driving the Marsokhod Rover.