Kilauea Iki Lava Lake

Kilauea Iki is a very large lava lake that formed when a local lava shield collapsed in the mid 15th century. This lava lake was first observed in 1823 when it was twice as deep as it is today. The lava from volcanic eruptions would flow to this lake and fill it with lava. It has been filled three times since 1930. It was partially filled in 1832 and in 1868 when it was partially filled. The most recent activity in the lava lake was in 1959 when the lava was 400 ft. deep. The 1959 eruption came from the south wall of the caldera. It was fed by lava fountains in Pu'u Puai at the base of Kilauea volcano. The 1959 eruption is reported to have had 17 different lava fountain events. The lava exposed in this lava lake is rich in olivine phenocrysts. More details about Kilauea Iki may be found at: http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/gallery/kilauea/caldera/srb980819037_caption.html

Take a day-by-day look at the Kilauea Iki eruption. Kilauea Iki eruption of 1959

Photo by Thom Wilch

We took a three and a half hour hike around, down, across, and back up the lava lake. We walked through lushly vegetated areas on the perimeter and then across the surface of the lava lake which was sometimes flat (as pictured above) and sometimes broken into sharp pieces (as pictured below). Here we are in the bottom of Kilauea Iki before the challenging hike back up.

Photo by Jason Kennedy

Above is a picture of the Kilauea Iki vent known as Puu Pua`i on the northwest rim of the lava lake. Lava fountains erupted from this vent during the 1959 eruption. Since then, the vent has filled in with debris. For more details on Puu Pua'i vent, look at: http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/gallery/kilauea/caldera/srb980819038_caption.html

Photo by Tim Lincoln

Partial overhead view of Kilauea Iki taken from the trail around it. The so-called "bathtub ring" that circles the lava lake is visible in this photo. The bathtub ring was formed when the lake filled during eruptions and later was partially drained.