March 2, 2017 New Lava Outbreaks
Hawaiian Kewalõ Slack Key by Hilo’s own Ben Kaili
Mahalo, Ben!
A huge new outbreak just above the Pali to the south of the 61G flow is sending many lava streams downslope this morning… truly an amazing amount of activity. The Pu’u ‘O’o vent was once again very difficult to access this morning… we got only one obscure glimpse of the steamy lava lake. The vent is a clearing house for lava traveling six miles downslope and entering the ocean with a great volume of lava in a single firehose lava stream at Kamokuna, just inside the Hawaii Volcanoes Nationals Park boundary. The numerous new surface flows both on and above the Pali recently, as well as a few on the coastal flats have taken a good deal of the lava from the ocean entry, but the main flow continues dumping tons of hot rock into the pacific ocean. Skylights are opening and closing daily above and below the Pali. They reveal the lava moving below the surface and feeding the ocean entry and flows on the coastal flats. Littoral explosions continue to rock the coastline, which remains cracked and dangerously unstable. Several recent collapses have lopped off sizable portions of the bench and sea cliff at the entry area. As the firehose shoots lava into the water, the cold sea water in turn freezes the lava and the concussions shatter it into fragments. Some of these sink to the depths of the sea, while others gain the purchase of the coastal rocks and form black sand beaches. The ocean entry remains a magnificent sight for visitors who can gain access from either the Kalpana of HVNP side by walking out the temporary access road, which goes directly to the ocean entry! The walk is lengthy, however, and precautions should be observed. Kudos to Paradise Helicopter pilot Rob Mitchell, who got us up close and personal with the Volcano Goddess Pele… You da man, Rob! Bruce Omori, special guest Sean Calvert, Leilani, Tourist Ducky and I had a fabulous lava overflight charter. It just doesn’t get any better than flying with Paradise Helicopters! 
Mahalo to Paradise Helicopters and Bruce Omori at Extreme Exposure