The Lava Boat.

On Thursday November 18, I took a lava boat ride to see where the fiery volcanic power meets the sea. We left work early to meet the boat at Poihoiki. It was a clear sunny day, as usual, and perfect temperatures, as usual. We eased into the water a little over an hour before sunset and had a 45 minute cruise to Kalapana through remarkably calm waters. We saw Kehena, a pristine black sand beach nestled between trees, various rock cliffs encroaching on the vast ocean along this eastern coast of the island, and vast changes in the flora. These changes give anthropologist an ideas of how long ago people lived in certain areas and informs geologists of the earth’s content and age. It is amazing the information that nature will give you when you pay attention. As we got closer to Kalapana, I could see the tufts of steam billowing along the side of the Volcano tracking the path that the lava flows from 10,000 feet to sea level forshadowing the raw power we were about to witness.

If you have ever been to a volcano, you understand how difficult it is to imagine that this red liquid flows up from the core of the earth, continuously finding its way through the gaps in the underbelly of the earth. Even more difficult to conceive is that the lava is 2100°F, almost one hundred times higher than the temperature of boiling water. This is hot enough to immediately incinerate anything manmade and most things in the natural world.

As we rounded a corner approaching our destination, a wild fury of steam was visible emerging from the edge of the earth. The steam rose up and gave off the smell of chlorine creating the feeling of being in an open-air sauna. I really cannot describe the anticipation as we began to encounter and witness something so immensely powerful. Eventually I will post some video or a photo album to give an impression of how magnificent the experience was, but I really cannot find words to describe the experience. At one time, I had all these poetic things to say about it...about the way that the four elements came together, the way that the water embraced the molten earth, the fireworks as a gift from Pele...but in reflection on the experience, I feel speechless.


There was something within me that felt like it awakened as we watched the flow of lava find its way into the ocean. Something very primal was triggered as I listened to the constant pop and crackle of the molten earth as it cooled into solid rock when it met the heated ocean water. Coupled with the constant activity in front of me was a deep sense of stillness and awe that I was able to witness such a natural wonder.

We rode back to the dock under a full moon, listening to pink floyd and the captain telling us his story and how this was one of the most spectacular nights he had seen. Only about fifteen nights a year as perfect as this, he said. Even though there was the sound of wind and the with a stirring of the motor over the waves, I felt a deep sense of peace and awareness that I am truly a part of something much much larger.