The first volcano of the day was Mauna Loa.

The visitors centre was not even open when we arrived, we grabbed a map and headed to the Kaluapele Caldera.

We had a choice of trails and thought we had chosen the devastation highway, a trail on the former rim road, which was rendered unusable during the 1980 eruptions.

Another exquisite flower dotted everywhere on our trail.

We had mistakenly chosen the Byron Ledge Trail, which gave us a pretty rainforest route along the rim.

We spied the buildings housing the seismology equiptment, used to monitor the activity below the crust.

This area has been subject to continuous volcanic activity, pretty much since the first lava solidified above the surface of the ocean.

The Kaluapele Caldera covers a wide area, we approached from the visitors centre and experienced the many steam vents.

This area gives the visitor the biggest sense of transformation, the summit itself having erupted 11 months ago! We saw photos of the aftermath, and signs that the deep wells of lava are now refilling signifigantly.. Another eruption is on the horizon.

This 6 ton boulder shot half a mile up into the air during the last eruption, and fell to earth right here..Yards from the viewpoint.

The Hawaiian people await the next eruption, their beliefs intertwined with the spirits they believe inhabit these volcanoes.

A rainforest hot tub at our Aloha Lodge Hotel.

The Kilauea Lodge Hotel & Restaurant hosted our dinner tonight, Ian has Chicken Taco Soup, Rosemary encrusted Rib Eye and Cheesecake..

I had some Hawaiian wine "Volcano Blush" and the local fish, all very yummy.

Well goodnight dearest reader, stay with us not far to go now!

Sleep well xx