When You Say "He's Older Than the Hills" and You're Right....Pu'u Pua'i in Kilauea Iki

It's true! I am two years older than the mountain behind me. This is Pu'u Pua'i, a cinder cone that grew during the Kilauea Iki eruptions of 1959 in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. It must have been a sight to see. At times during the eruption, basalt was fountaining to a height of 1,900 feet. The prevailing winds blew the cinders and lapilli to the southeast, building up the 900 foot high edifice.

I'm in Hawaii, and we've just finished the first day of our 12 day exploration of the Big Island and Kaua'i. Most of the students explored the Thurston Lava Tube, and then took the 3-4 mile trail loop through the crater of Kilauea Iki and the below the imposing cone. It is an awesome experience to stand below these giant creations of nature.

Given our busy schedule, posts will be sporadic. We'll be headed down Chain of Craters Road tomorrow for some archaeological explorations on the coastal plain.