Watch Red Hot Lava

Volcanoes don't pump Java on demand. The hot, sticky stuff oozes out of the volcano on nobody's schedule and spills down the mountain on a path of no resistance. Last summer, Kilauea Volcano, which has been pumping lava in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for 25 years, suddenly changed course and lava no longer rushed to the sea.

Apparently, Madame Pele, the goddess of the volcano, had another destination in mind and for months lava has been flowing to a remote and inaccessible area east of the park. Then, in late November, the flow turned southeast and came out of hiding.

Lava Ocean Adventures, a fishing and lava-watching venture, has resumed its tours along the Big Island's east coastline. Captain Shane Turpin says rivers of lava have been sighted from the boat and ocean entry explosions should be visible by early 2008. Expect the best views at dawn and dusk.

Lava watching is a hot new adventure that can be done safely on a tour boat with an experienced crew like Lava Ocean Adventures. Watch nature explode as blistering 2,000-degreeF. lava hits the ocean and erupts into a fountain of steam hurling volcanic debris every which way.  Aboard a lava boat, you'll have a front row seat within viewing distance of either the flow or the splash, but safe from its explosive charge.

Check on the status of the flow with Lava Ocean Adventures or Volcanoes National Park. The park's Website carries daily updates at http://www.nps.gov/havo/.

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Photo courtesy NPS, information courtesy of 101 Things To Do Big Island.  You can find this Publication and many others at  My Store