Aerial view of southeast coast of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai`i

Photo Information

Photograph by J. Kauahikaua on May 15, 2000

This view is northwest across the coastal plain of Kilauea from Waha`ula to Pu`u `O`o (high point on skyline). Lava flows through several tubes between Pulama pali (steep fault scarp in top part of photo) and the sea. Frequent lava breakouts onto the surface in the past several months has widened the active flow field toward the east (right side of photo). The white fume is an acidic steam plume resulting from the boiling of sea water by hot lava.