A journey to the end of the world—or the beginning - Kilauea volcano

[dArKeR]

By Karin Stanton
The Associated Press

VOLCANO, Hawaii - When the world's most active volcano begins belching molten rock into the ocean, you've got to go see it.

Kilauea's latest show began in early June, as lava reached the sea and slowly began adding more land to Big Island, the largest and southernmost of Hawaii's main islands. I had visited Hawaii Volcanoes National Park before, but it was time for another trip. Others apparently had the same idea—visitor numbers in June averaged 2,000 a day, and peaked at 4,000 in one day, park spokeswoman Mardie Lane said, up from the typical 300 to 500 a day.

Established in 1916, the park now includes 333,000 acres reaching from sea level to its highest point, the top of Mauna Loa, at nearly 14,000 feet in elevation. (Kilauea is a separate volcano.)

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5429724/

My girlfriend and I flew to the Big Island during a 1984 eruption. About 1 hour after it and all the police had left (and back then they really didn't care what the people did anyway.) We didn't actuall know how recent it was until our shoes started melting. We saw a blacksand beach that was formed within hours. We saw lava dripping into the sea. At night we could see fountains of lava. The whole sky was red! In other locations we stood the distance this pic was taken. Wow, what an experience!

[Leilani]

1. Come back to the islands

there are many wonderful things here.

Come during the winter & wait for the big waves: 50 feet, if you are lucky enough to see them.

We have birds, plants, & flowers here that are nowhere else on earth.

We are the only state to have a palace.

Come live aloha!

[blackcat77]

2. My wife had a chance at a job there...

But she decided against pursuing it. (sigh)

[dArKeR]

3. Back or front?

[pinniped]

4. I'm gonna buy some land on Loihi in about 250,000 years.

I've only been to Oahu but next time the Big Island is first on the list.