| The last major activity in Halema`uma`u was in 1967- | | | | in Hawaiian times. It occurred as the Chief of the Ka`u |
| 1968, with shorter activity in 1981. These eruptions | | | | district, Keaua, was moving his army across the |
| deposited ash, cinders and stones in the nearby area, | | | | summit of Kilauea to oppose the rising power of Chief |
| including the region of the southwest rift zone. Some | | | | Kamehameha. His army was trapped in the explosive |
| Hawaiians believe lava is the physical representation of | | | | rock and choking sand ash. These ash clouds were |
| the fire goddess Pele, making the volcano summit | | | | reported to be visible from the other side of the island |
| sacred. | | | | at the village of Kawaihae. From these reports the ash |
| Hawaiians believe Pele migrated to Hawaii from her | | | | column created by this eruption is estimated to have |
| home in the South Pacific. When she arrived in Hawaii | | | | been some thirty thousand feet high. Ash deposits |
| she traveled down the island chain from Kauai to | | | | thirty feet thick stretching for twelve miles out from |
| Hawaii stopping at each island testing the ground for a | | | | their source are documented. In this tremendous storm |
| new home. This story does seem to indicate that | | | | over nearly one hundred of Keaua's Hawaiian warriors |
| Hawaiians recognized the fact that the geological ages | | | | were killed. Hawaiians call this event "keonehelelei", "the |
| of the islands are older from Kauai to Hawaii, the | | | | falling sands." Evidence of this can still be seen today |
| youngest island. Pele finally settles on Kilauea where | | | | southwest of Halema`uma`u, in the "foot prints" area of |
| she is found today. | | | | the Park. Here the footprints of Hawaiian warriors can |
| Pele is perhaps the most visible goddess of the all of | | | | still be found petrified in the ash. There are two levels |
| the gods and goddesses in Hawaiian mythology. Here | | | | of foot prints in the ash, one set from those which |
| at Halema`uma`u her presence is felt everywhere. She | | | | were killed and another set from those which came to |
| is the great destroyer and at once the great creator in | | | | remove the bodies for burial. |
| the tension between rain, land, forest, and sea. Indeed | | | | Geologists have found evidence for numerous |
| the name Halema`uma`u means "house of the aumau | | | | explosive eruptions at Kilauea Volcano in the more |
| fern". This fern represents one incarnation of the god | | | | distant past but the most recent was that of May 10, |
| Lono also known as Kama`pua`a. In Hawaii, the clouds | | | | 1924. Explosions from Halema`uma`u began on this |
| and storms are associated with Lono. The signs of | | | | date and last for a period of eighteen days. Explosions |
| Lono are thunder, lightening, earthquake, the dark cloud, | | | | tossed rocks weighing as much as eight tons as far |
| the rainbow, rain, wind, whirlwinds that sweep the earth, | | | | as 0.6 miles from the crater. Many of these are still |
| waterspouts, the clustering clouds of heaven, and | | | | visible southwest of Crater Rim Drive. Unlike the |
| gushing springs on the mountains. Lono brings the rains | | | | hapless Hawaii army caught in the 1790 eruption only |
| and dispenses fertility, is the god of harvest. Here is | | | | one individual was killed in 1924, a Mr. Taylor, who |
| acknowledgment of the tension between creation and | | | | approached too close to the crater during one of its |
| destruction which the ancient Hawaiians were so | | | | eruptions. Again, as in 1790, an ash column some six |
| familiar with and which persists today. | | | | thousand feet high rose above Halema`uma`u. On this |
| Hawaiians had the idea that the Earth they lived on | | | | occasion Thomas Jagger and his crew were able to |
| was the shell of a giant turtle or honu. In fact the | | | | document the eruption. They found that at the |
| Hawaiian word for Earth is "honua". The profile great | | | | beginning of the eruption Halema'uma'u Crater was an |
| volcano Mauna Loa viewed from the view point at | | | | oval pit about 1,740 feet across, with a lava pond |
| Hale`ma`uma`u resembles a large turtle shell. The | | | | about 165 feet below the rim. At the end of the 1924 |
| slopes of Mauna Loa rise gently. It is this gentleness | | | | series of explosive eruptions, Halema'uma'u was about |
| that distinguishes Hawaiian volcanoes from those | | | | 3,150 feet across and 1,300 feet deep. The other |
| found elsewhere along the Pacific "ring of fire". | | | | difference from 1790 was that that 1924 eruption was |
| Volcanoes such as Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier in | | | | apparently quite the tourist attraction. Old photos show |
| Washington State or Mt. Mayon and Mt. Pinatubo in the | | | | crowds of people viewing the ash column across |
| Philippines are known as strato-volcanoes or | | | | Kilauea caldera from the Volcano House. These |
| composite volcanoes. They are built from successive | | | | explosive events are not frequent. Perhaps hundreds |
| powerful explosive events, are cone shaped, and | | | | of years pass between each event. In Jaggar's day, |
| steep sided. In Hawaii the volcanoes are built up from | | | | fifty years before and after, Halema`uma`u was |
| successive lava flow on lava flow giving them their | | | | primarily a lava lake sometimes glowing so brightly that |
| distinctive gentle turtle backed or shield shape. But here | | | | that you could read a newspaper out of doors without |
| at Halema`uma`u is the origin of the great steam or | | | | any additional lighting. This intense glow can also be |
| phreatic eruptions of Kilauea. | | | | seen hundreds of miles out to sea and was thought to |
| Two powerful steam, or phreatic eruptions are known | | | | act as a beacon for early Polynesian navigators. |
| to have occurred at Halema`uma`u in historic times; | | | | Indeed, Hawaii Island is thought to be the first island |
| one occurring in 1790 and the last to occur on May 10, | | | | early Polynesians arrived at. Today Halema`uma`u is |
| 1924. These explosive eruptions occur when | | | | about three thousand feet across, three hundred feet |
| groundwater enters the magma system following rapid | | | | deep, and quiescent. Here it is common to see a large |
| drainage of magma from the summit reservoir. The | | | | long-tailed white bird flying about. This is the white-tailed |
| magma drains below the water table and the water | | | | tropic bird, known locally as Koa'e or crater bird. It |
| flows over the magma resulting in massive explosion | | | | feeds at sea, but nests in the crater wall. |
| with towering ash clouds. The 1790 eruption is famous | | | | |