Pele vs the PGV

The Puna Geothermal Venture (originally named the Hawaii Geothermal Project) on the east side of Hawaii's Big Island was constructed without environmental studies or a period of public input. The first wells were drilled in 1975. Although there were plans for subdivisions at that time, nothing was built until the following year. The well discharged large volumes of toxins and pollutants into the air as well as loud noises. Three subdivisions were established in 1976, with 12 families living within a mile of the PGV. Being in a high lava danger zone, the generator had been built on skids and a crane was in the building so the generator could be removed if lava threatened. After several blowouts in 1989, the site was shut down. However, itt had also gotten a permit that year from the local planning commission. Permits were suspended in 1991 due to a well blowing out. In 2013, levels of hydrogen sulfide exceeded EPA standards twice. The 2018 eruption of Kilauea began on May 3. Lava covered some of the wells and the plant was again shut down. The PGV is the green set of buildings in the left side of the photo.

Out of the Cone and Down the River

10 cubic meters of 2000 degree lava/second flow out of this vent.

Pele's Cone

Pele built this 180' cone to contain the 200' high fountain of lava on fissure 8.

Batman!

The lava flow looked like Batman here.

Eye of Pele

A Rorshach test. An eye in the lava? Or is that a dolphin jumping up from the bottom?

Fish Scale

Looking like gyotaku, the Japanese fish prints, the lava curls around obstacles on its way to the ocean.

A Hole in One

More detail of the river of lava.

A River Runs Through It

The surviving houses, trees & greenery illustrate the direction of the wind. The toxic clouds from the river of lava have killed the vegetation on the other side.

The Scarf

Looking like a scarf, the river of lava winds its way 8 miles to the ocean

Sunrise at Ocean Entry

The rising sun created wonderful colors in the dangerous "laze" (lava haze that contains glass shards and hydrochloric acid). Laze is created when lava hits the ocean. This was shot from a boat.

Hot Pool

Lava forms a pool before dropping into the sea. this was shot from a boat.

To the Sea

After 8 miles, the river of lava reaches the ocean. This was just a small part of the nearly 2-mile wide ocean entry.

Lava Rainbow

On this day, it was so socked in, we couldn't get to the fountaining cone. We spent most of our time at the ocean entry, but were rewarded in the end with a rainbow. About a week later, stormy weather had increased dramatically enough to produce vortices.

Into the Gloom

Completely socked in due to a lack of trade winds, the eruption seemed much more foreboding. Haze obscured everything and in minutes, the cone had vanished from our view.