The Volcano by Land

We assembled on the pier for the Volcanoes National Park Tour. We had a driver named Rob this time

Park in Hilo

Leaving tsunami evacuation area

First he took us to a candy company where we could see candy being made and we bought some.

I don't remember what we bought and we ate it before we got back to the ship. Their website says: Our ..original products – such as our Chocolate Dipped Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies are world renown. All of our products are made with the finest of ingredients, such as locally grown macadamia nuts, 100 percent Kona Coffee along with island eggs, real butter and high-grade chocolate

Entering the park

Blurry photo of the military camp from the bus

Our next stop at the National Park was the Jagger museum.

This time I had brought the NPS passports and we each got a stamp.

We looked at the seismographs and exhibits.

Seismographs at the VNP

Observatory

Volcano watch

The Museum is next to the main crater, Halema'uma'u.

We took pictures of it.

From the visitor's center

The Hawaiians believe Kilauea and Halemaumau to be the home of Pele

Mauna Loa sign

I also took photos of the sign asking us not to feed the Nene (the Hawaiian goose-an endangered species)

Sign about Nene

because then they are attracted to the roads and parking lots and get run over and killed. I wouldn't have fed one, but I would have liked to see one. But they were all away from the tourist areas.

The driver (and signs at the museum) attempted to explain the difference between the two kinds of lava - Aa which is very jagged and rough and may be 10 feet thick, and Pahoehoe which is smooth and only one of two meters thick. The differences are caused by the temperature of the flowing lava. Hotter lava flows smoothly and spreads out more.

He said that it was best just to evacuate and wait for the lava to do its thing - because none of the things that people have done worked. Building dams to deflect it, - doesn't work. Putting water on it to cool and harden it - doesn't work. (Don't fool with Mother Nature - or Pele)

When we were there, Kilauea was Active at two Locations - the Summit and East Rift Zone

Eastern Rift zone

The most recent flow in the park had gone across the end of Chain of Crater's Road and part of the Crater Rim Drive was closed also.

Sign explaining how to access the lava flow

The place to see the hot lava flowing though was outside the park boundaries and it was most visible at night.

We loaded back in the bus. Rob stopped at the steam vent which has a railing around it. I didn't see but one of the steam vents because I didn't walk past the one that is in the parking lot. Rob explained that ground water seeps down to the hot volcanic rocks in this area and returns to the surface as steam. It is warm, but it isn't hot like a steam iron. At least this one wasn't. It did fog up my glasses.

Steam vent

The bus took us down through the tropical rain forest (where it was raining)

Tree Ferns and Ferns

and down into the temperate rainforest (it was still raining).

Forest

We went down to the where the lava had closed the road by flowing over it.
F

J.s photos of Old lava flow up close

Then we came back up to the lava tube. I stayed on the bus but my grandson got off at each stop.

Inside the tube

Inside Thurston volcano tube

We had one more stop at the Akatsuka Orchid Gardens.before we went back to the ship.

Orchid garden

Going to the gardens is free and they hope you will buy some of their products from the gift shop.

Grandson photographing orchids

Orchid

Succulent

They also sell through the internet and ship. The gift shop features orchid and floral-related products and made-in-Hawaii gifts, including Akatsuka Original Magnets-clay replica magnets designed after the orchids. You can also buy the plants which are certified for US Mainland travel and can be purchased and shipped from our counter or packed for carry-on.

We got back to the ship about 5 pm - it was to sail at 6. The dinner tonight was prime rib and they had it up in the buffet as well as the dining room. It was the Captain's night, so I changed into a long dress and decided to eat in the upper level dining room. My grandson went to the buffet. I told the people at the desk that I wanted to eat with other people so they had me sit in a chair until they found someone else to share with me. I got a couple who normally cruise with Renaissance - they were astonished at the extra price restaurants.

I had

Chicken egg drop soup

Roast beef, baked potato, onion rings. It came with carrots and peas which I didn't eat

Cappuccino chocolate mousse in a chocolate cup

My grandson went to the show, and then came back and fell asleep. While he was out the room steward made a towel animal.

Rabbit towel elephant

Since there is no way to get the announcements in the cabin (a major annoyance), I did not hear when they said that you could see the red lava on the shore, but I looked out and saw it and saw people at the rail. I was already in my nightgown and my grandson was sound asleep, so I didn't wake him up, and I couldn't take a picture from the room very well.

Lava on shore

This was disappointing, but we saw lots of lava earlier today

Full moon reflected in ship

Tomorrow our port is Kona