May 17, 2018 Rain, Vog and Lava
Kalpana Cultural tour guide, Ikaika Marzo led us on an adventure to Fissure 17 today… a marvelous foray to the heart of the eruption. Lava spattering fifty feet and more… amazing explosions, throwing huge rocks through the trees and bushes nearby… rain and acrid sulphur dioxide laden air all combined for an amazing morning at the lava flow! Extremely loud explosions from this fissure have been heard throughout the Puna… ten miles or more from the Pahoa area. Hawaii baseball legend, Shane Victorino joined us on today’s adventure. Shane had never seen active lava before… but he has now!!! Heavy rain prevented us from even attempting our media lava overflight this morning, so we have no details on the eruption other than fissure 17… but we do know that a new outbreak, New fissures have broken out on the lower part of Leilani Estates. We will try to fly again tomorrow morning to confirm changes. Mahalo to the good folks at Paradise Helicopters who offer the best charter service in Hawaii!
Mahalo to Paradise Helicopters and Bruce Omori at Extreme Exposure