Exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Keanakako’i Crater

by Donald B. MacGowan

Bamboo orchids at Keanakako'i Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Graphic from Photo by Donald B MacGowan

There are many wondrous, enigmatic and fascinating attractions on the Big Island of Hawaii, some better known than others, many out of the way and generally off the beaten track. Tour Guide Hawaii has produced an encyclopedic collection of the most up-to-date information, presented as short GPS-cued videos, in an app downloadable to iPhone and iPod Touch that covers the entire Big Island, highlighting the popular and the uncrowded, the famous and the secluded, the adventurous and the relaxing.

Keanakako’i Crater

Keanakako'i Crater has a complex and interesting collapse and eruptive history, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Photo by Donald B MacGowan

Here, at another large collapse crater formed by recent eruptions near the summit of Kilauea, a quick tour around Keanakako’i Crater will reveal fissures which were the source of lava flows in the 1974 eruptions. These eruptions were marked by enormous fire curtains and fire fountains. Also in this general area you will notice gravel sized pumice pebbles, formed from the froth of the lava which was ejected into the air, and cooled on its way down. Geologists call these pebbles “tephra”. There is a trail from Chain of Craters Road to the crater along which are some of the finest examples of “lava trees”.

These fissures were the source of fire fountains near Keanakako'i Crater in 1974, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Photo by Donald B MacGowan

NOTE: Currently Keanakako’i Crater is inaccessible, as a portion of Chain of Craters Road has been closed due to the current eruption in Halema’uma’u Crater.

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All media copyright 2010 by Donald B. MacGowan. All rights reserved

Keanakako'i Crater at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Graphic from Photo by Donald B MacGowan