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+--- Thread: New Lava Viewing site (/showthread.php?tid=1944)
New Lava Viewing site - Vicki B - 03-08-2008
Has anyone been out there yet? How far do you have to walk once you get there?
vickiboe@aol.com
RE: New Lava Viewing site - macuu222 - 03-08-2008
I was there 3 hours before it opened. They were already lined up with vehicles. The first guy in line parked there 4 hours before. They had 2 police officers stationed by the metal gate. I decided another day.
RE: New Lava Viewing site - sittall - 03-08-2008
we arrived about 1:30pm. were told by the police that the opening ceremony was at the metal gate and we could drive there for the ceremony and then walk in from there. we by-passed the line of vehicles waiting to drive into the viewing spot and drove to the metal gate area, watched the wonderful blessing and cutting of the vine across the entrance. drove in with the first group of vehicles. watched a fellow named harvey tripp give an offering to pele in front of one of the lava flows. found out i forgot to put the memory card in my camera and that none of my pictures were saved[
]. however they will be imprinted on my memory. it was a special day. glad i went.RE: New Lava Viewing site - aikahimomma - 03-08-2008
we went around 7 pm...the line of cars to get in was long but we eventually made it out to the parking area about 2 miles in...the walk was around 10-15 mins ...nice areas of lava slowly moving toward the ocean. We followed the many flashlights that looked like firefly's out to an area where you could see off to the right in the distance the plume and red glow of the lava entering the ocean. The trial ended near a tree that was ready to go up in flames...and up the hill Pele's lava coming down and occasionally catching on fire as she flows down Royal Gardens...such a lovely sight...i can't get enough
my daughter and i have made 3 trips this week..Tues was by far the best as we drove right up to the turnaround..and now that crowd of 100 seems like a small gathering compared to the masses that converged tonight.. but we will be back for more soon i'm sure!
RE: New Lava Viewing site - Carey - 03-08-2008
We went out this evening.... we parked outside the old barracade area, as there was a line of cars parked there, but could very easiliy have gotten a space a mile or two closer.... but it was a gorgeous evening for a walk! It is amazing the amount of work they did on the road, they cleared back the overgrowth on the paved area & smoothed out the lava area, some even has a quick layer of blacktop. There are still areas of one lane, and many fools that did not give way (even with the police directing traffic, one jeep wanted to plow on through!)
The new lava road crossing is beginning to cool & harden.
There were masses of people tonight (someone mentioned that it was almost Disney-esque with a queue of people snake around.... and there were a lot of Civil Defense & Parks people all around) (with good reason, saw three older people & a few kids that got banged up on the walk...) It is still a lava field walk, so if you take little ones, you will propbably be carrying them. The enforcment guys did not allow anyone to go within viewing distance of the shore
It was fun, and a great night ot go see it, but it was more of a carnival type thing
I noticed that many of the neighbors are still there, and the lot adjacent to the flow still is occupied, that means that the thong of thousands is tramping right next door..... I do feel for these people that have had solitude for soo long...
I also wondered.... The throngs were all walking out on SOMEONES land.....I wonder whose?....(esp after seeing one gentleman with both legs cut open from a misstep....)
ED: In this mornings' Trib, Mayor Harry Kim reminded everyone one at the opening that "we are trespassing on [the Royal Gardens residents] private land. They allow us to do this so you can have a good view..."
Think of the Aloha of those residents that own the land & allow thousands of people to tramp all over THEIR land & do stupid people tricks on their land (I cannot even imagine the legal stuff behind all of this!) I hope even the people jabbing their 'toys' into the flow, & dumping their water bottles etc. will gain respect for the land they are on.
RE: New Lava Viewing site - hooligal - 03-09-2008
I just spent a few hours talking story with a Civil Defense Guy inside the gate....(I spent the night at a friend's lot last night & was already inside the gate - lucky me). As of 9am this morning (Sunday), the gate is closed at end of the road, with a police officer keeping cars out (until 2pm). THey are strictly enforcing the 2pm opening time, even if you are on foot!
If you choose to park and walk in, you can only go to the beginning of the last Kipuka until 2pm. You cannot go any further to see lava, even on foot! Civil defense will NOT let anyone walk in until 2pm. I saw 8 people turned back while I sat around talking story with the Civil Defense guy at the last Kipuka. A few folks asked if they could sneak in & the (very nice) Civil Defense fellow said that the Police are out at the new viewing site ticketing and removing anyone who sneaks in. They're also using helicopters to spot folks trying to sneak in by going around on the old flows.
All of the CD and PD guys I encountered were super nice and patient, but then, so was I
Be nice to those guys, it's flipping hot and tedious out there! I have to say that their efforts are really paying off. Traffic last night was mind-boggling in volume, but it DID flow...thanks to traffic control. Much better than the parking cluster*** we got caught in a few nights ago.Also, It was INSANE at 5pm last night. It took us an hour to get into my friends lot from end of the road - usually it takes 10 minutes! I couldn't believe how many people were there. Solid cars streaming in and parked all the way back at the Kalapana turnoff on the highway. It felt like we were coming to a Stadium Concert! If you're planning to get down there for sunset, factor in at least an extra hour to drive in or park. It seems like the whole dang island is down there!
RE: New Lava Viewing site - Carolann R - 03-09-2008
Tony and I just came back from trying to get to the viewing...it was insane. 1:30 and cars lined up forever...they only let 20 in at a time and get this - the flow has stopped! So as you can guess we turned around and came home...not worth waiting for so many hours just to get out there to see no flow.
So glad that the pictures are posted here, 'cause looks like it'll be awhile before we get to take our own!!!
Carrie
http://www.carrierojo.etsy.com
http://www.vintageandvelvet.blogspot.com
"Freedom has a scent like the top of a newborn baby's head..." U2
RE: New Lava Viewing site - Carey - 03-09-2008
To back up what Carrie said
Civil Defense announcement on KHBC
The Royal Gardens Flow has ceased today, there is no lava flowing into the ocean today. The viewing area will remain open from 2pm until 10pm, no entrance to the area after 9pm
RE: New Lava Viewing site - Liz - 03-09-2008
See, this is a perfect example of why you should never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
We thought we were being clever by waiting for the first rush of sightseers to dwindle down a bit.
Ya just never know...
aloha, Liz
"The best things in life aren't things."
RE: New Lava Viewing site - aikahimomma - 03-09-2008
Liz i was thinking the same thing last night...i was going to wait a day or 2 till the crowds died down but then something in me said "go tonight!" glad i did...had a feeling with all the hoopla Pele would show us who is boss...