Dispatches from Volcano: Sunday, March 28, 2021. Māhealani o Nana

We sit, again, amidst misty rain. The summer-like days last week were a tease, but after weeks and feet of ua, the clear hot Friday weather was welcome. And thatʻs a major understatement. However. As these seasons are, rains have returned, though seemingly warmer, at 130pm itʻs 58dF.

And life goes on, and we remember and recall, with fondest aloha,

the full Māhealani moon of the month of Nana in 1981. "Poina ʻole" = Donʻt forget. Forty years ago friends HK and TōB were wed. And they remain so, productively and happily. We should all be so committed and blessed. Some of you were perhaps there for the celebrations. Yes ("s"). We took bountiful leftovers and encamped at the beach while the newlyweds were hoteling a stroll away. What a glorious carefree time! Māhealani in March 1981 was also the Vernal Equinox, and so subsequently we were reminded twice in a month: The date of the Equinox, and on Māhealani. Lucky festive us.

It appears that my webcam browsings for interesting instances, given our low clouds, might be a bust this evening. Though of course weathers have, can, and do change quickly. Last evening I captured these, all three just after 8p. The moon is fullish for a couple nights: Hoku and Māhealani.

From the Maunaloa Strip Road, a moonlit Hoku night and bright plume emanating from Halemaʻumaʻu.

Ka mahina Hoku above Kaluapele. And a classic rendition from back in the day...

The Brothers Cazimero: Mahina o Hoku

With lyrics from huapala.org

And Hoku illuminating Kaluapele

I really like that moonlight allows us to glimpse in the dark, muted colors. Red orange yellows of pele, cloud silhouettes, and the imagined blue of sky.

And though skies are brightening as I type, at 120p, socked in was the Lua.

Itʻs been interesting, at least to me, that ōlaʻi have been few. Note the absence of red dots below. The colors are, from most recent to oldest, Red, Orange, Yellow, White. Cycles and phases of activities.

From the HVO website, this taken on Friday, March 26, 2021. Wispy plumes rise from the west vent complex. The rusty reddish area at the bottom is the moku nui, the biggest island. Note complex concentric rings in various places. The loko ahi (lava lake) is impounded by a levee. Former lake surfaces are also framed by levees. Volumes of erupted pele fluctuate, and cause the loko to rise and fall. Overflows build the levees layer upon layer.

And a closeup of the west vent complex. Several lua are visible, though not pele, but of course that changes with Her mood. The bluish fumes are gases dissolved in magma escaping. Also taken on March 26, sulphur dioxide was measured at an average of 650 tonnes per day, helping explain the wispiness.