Unified Interior Regions

Haleakalā, the volcano that forms East Maui, had higher summit elevations in its glorious past. Today the volcano's highest point is 10,023 feet, but one million years ago it may have been as high or higher than the 13,679-foot summit of Mauna Loa. 

What is the longest eruption in memory at Kīlauea? The ongoing Pu`u `O`o-Kupaianaha eruption, which entered its 18th year on January 3? The nearly continuous activity of Halema`uma`u in the 19th century, remembered so vividly in many writings? Well, arguably it was an eruption in the 15th century, which just may be memorialized in the Pele-Hi`iaka chant.
 

Gravy and Hostess cupcakes—both delicious in their own way, but not necessarily in combination. Although they are extremely different from each other—each with a unique flavor, texture and aroma, each providing a unique culinary and sensory experience—they share a fundamental ingredient. 

Strolling the desolate Mo`omomi Beach of Moloka`i's north shore some 30 years ago, a woman came upon what appeared to be the remains of a turkey dinner projecting from an eroded sea cliff.
 

Geologists everywhere like to study rocks in the field, but few of them get to map rocks that are still molten and on the move. Here in Hawai`i, we map the new lava flows erupted from Kīlauea Volcano to determine their extent and volume. Mapping also helps us to keep track of how fast flows are advancing toward inhabited areas.
 

This Thursday, January 13, marks the 40th anniversary of the Kapoho eruption, the sequel to the Kīlauea Iki eruption in November-December 1959. It was far from being just a Kīlauea Iki 2, though, as residents of Kapoho and Koa`e villages were unfortunately to discover.
 

Tomorrow, January 3, marks the 17th anniversary of the ongoing Pu`u `O`o - Kupaianaha eruption. Some readers are too young to remember the eruption in its glory days, when lava fountains as high as 460 m (1500 ft) burst from Pu`u `O`o every three to four weeks.

The staff and associates of the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Kīlauea Field Station extend a warm and cheerful holiday greeting to all of the faithful readers of our column.

An employee of the Hilo Hawaiian hotel recently called the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and asked about the origin of Coconut Island. This is a 1.3-hectare (3.1-acre) island, also known as Mokuola, located in Hilo Bay, just offshore of the hotel on Waiakea peninsula.
 

Last week's heavy rains on the Big Island brought an end to one of the worst seasons for yellowjacket wasps around Mauna Loa in more than a decade.
 

The heavy rain that East Hawai`i experienced this week, particularly on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, suggested the topic for this week's column. Does heavy rain influence eruptions?