Our Volcano Adventure

We had the opportunity to go to the other side of the island and see the volcano.  Gilbert and Linda Miles, who come every Tuesday to the temple, invited us to spend the night at their Bed and Breakfast which is in Leilani Estates. We had visited them previously on the night before Thanksgiving and spent the night with them then.  The Zabriskies and the Walkers went with us.  Zabriskies had 2 of their daughters and a granddaughter visiting them.  We decided to go after our shift and cleaning of the temple was finished on a Saturday afternoon; so we left about 3:30 pm.  When we arrived in Hilo, we picked up some Chinese take-out at Panda Express and took that to President and Sister Heinzen's home to have diner with them.  Zabriskie's and their family would be spending the night with Heinzen's after we all saw the volcano.  By the time we made the drive from Kona and picked up the food and ate it, it was dark and time to go to the Mile's to view the volcano.

 Hal took a picture of all of us after dinner.  Sister Heinzen had baked a delicious cake which we enjoyed with some ice cream for dessert.

 We drove to the Pahoa High School where we met the Miles.  The only way you can get into Leilani Estates is with someone who lives there and will vouch that you are with them as guests.  Most of the people living in this sub-division have evacuated ecause they have either lost their homes or their homes are threatened by the volcano.  Unfortunately, there are looters that get into the this area and steal and vandalize the abandoned properties.  Linda and Gilbert Miles live above Fissure #8 and have chosen to stay in their home.  They are prepared to evacuate at a moments notice with both of their vehicles packed with their most important possessions. So after we met the Miles in the parking lot of the high school, Walkers and we followed Gilbert in his pick-up truck and Zabriskie's and their family followed Linda in her car.  There were 2 police check points that we had to pass through to go into the estates.  Just as we turned onto the road leading to the first checkpoint, another car jumped in between Gilbert's car and Walker's car (which we were riding in).  In the darkness, Gilbert didn't notice that the car behind him was not us.  He told the police officers that the people in the car behind him were with him and to allow them to come in also.  Then with our window down as we approached the checkpoint, we heard the driver of the car ahead of us answer the police officer, when asked if he were with the driver in the car ahead of him (Brother Miles) "Yes, I'm with him".  Then he drove off following Gilbert.  When we pulled up the officer asked us if we had identification showing that we lived in Leilani Estates.  Of course we didn't, and we then told him that we were with Gilbert Miles who was in the car  that was 2 ahead of us.  He looked skeptical and asked us our names and shined a flashlight into the car into our faces and then finally let us go.  He must have figured 4 old people with missionary badges must be telling the truth.  Shortly after we left the checkpoint, a police car with lights and sirens blasting passed us and pulled over the driver that had lied about being with Gilbert.  They were serious about not letting people in if they were not with residents!

The Mile's home is about 1 mile from Fissure #8 - the most active of all the volcano fissures.  The map above shows the lava flow's path through Lailani Estates where hundred of homes have been destroyed.

Mile's home is circled in the photo below.

Fissure #8 has formed it's own crater with an opening from which the lava is flowing in a river, which is 3 miles wide and 20 - 30 feet high, into the sea.

After passing the 2nd police checkpoint without problem, we arrived at the Miles' home and from there, drove to where we could see the "river of lava".

 The road is barricaded closed so that you cannot get closer to the actual flow.  We were about 1/2 mile from the flowing lava and it was still amazing to see.

 It lights up the sky with fire, smoke, steam and a red glow!

After we had taken pictures there, we returned to the Miles' home which is about 1 mile from the lava flow.  Zabriskies then drove back to the Heinzen's home to spend the night and Walkers and we stayed there.  Linda baked some chocolate chip cookies which she served warm with ice cream and we sat out on their patio until about midnight - watching the glowing, steamy, red skies from the flow and listening to Linda and Gilbert tell stories about the volcano and many other topics.  It was a fun evening!

 The view from the Mile's back patio

 The next morning, Linda had breakfast prepared for all of us.

Breakfast included, yogurt and fruit, eggs, rice, spam, and cranberry nut scones.

 We had to have a picture to remember this special time together.  Mile's church meetings didn't begin until 1:00 pm so we had plenty of time to visit and to see the steam and smoke from the volcano that is visible by day.

 

 They also showed us what is called Pele's Hair which are pieces of lava that the exploding fissure sent out during it's most active explosion.  Pele is the name of the Hawaiian goddess of fire.

We then attended church with the Miles.  It was fun to see so many temple patrons and workers from their ward that we knew.  After the meetings, we drove back to Kona.  We felt we were very fortunate to see the lava flow and also to spend time with the Heinzens and the Miles - they are awesome people!

ALOHA!