Big Island of Hawai'i
Volcanoes National Park
May 19, 2005
Halema'uma'u Crater from Volcano House
(Halema'uma'u/Byron
Ledge/Crater Rim Trails
with detour on the Devastation Trail: 8 miles)
The walk begins at Volcano House, through fern and ohi'a forest
Boulders on the path are reminiscent of an Indiana Jones film!
First view of the massive Kilauea Caldera
Wild orchid near the caldera
The trail to Halema'uma'u Crater is at times hard to see; the route is marked by stone cairns
Ohi'a lehua growing through the older sections of lava
Ohelo sprouting through a small cairn
Steam rises through the lava bed; the lava becomes more brittle as we near the crater
Walking through the most recent flow zone, from 1982; nothing is growing here
A lava tube along the path highlights some of the strange formations left after an eruption
Heading toward the ridge and Byron Ledge Trail
Closeup of an Ohi'a blossom
Looking back at the path we've taken from the crater
Heading up the Byron Ledge Trail, back into Ohi'a forest
Small panorama from the Byron Ledge Trail, with our path through the caldera just visible on the left
Mature Ohi'a trees competing for the sunlight
Beginning our detour onto the Devastation Trail
Hot winds from the 1959 eruption of Kilauea Iki killed trees far from the crater
Since the eruption, many plants have taken root and matured
A beautiful large Ohi'a lehua, in full bloom
Final shot of the Devastation Trail
Panorama of Kilauea Iki Crater from Pu'u Pua'i Overlook (click on image for larger version)
Returning to rain forest on the Crater Rim Trail
Panorama of the Kilauea Caldera from Waldron Ledge (click on image for larger version)
View across to the "Steaming Bluff" above the caldera
A final view of Halema'uma'u Crater (see May 11 on 2004 Hawaii page for better crater photos)
View other Hawaii photos:
Polol'u Valley Trail (2005)
Kilauea Iki Loop (2004)
Mauna Iki Trail (2004)
Snorkeling (2004)
Big Island touring photos (2004)
Kaua'i touring photos (2001)
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