70. Ice and Fire - Hawai'i - Exploring Hale-a-ka-la Crater - 8 Days - From above Holua Looking South To Pu'u-'o-Maui, Ka-ma'o-li'i And Ka-Lu'u'-o-ka-'o'o
13" x 31" / 3" X 25"   Copyright © 1997 Tony Foster

Saturday September 13th 1997, with BB and PB. at 3:30 we reluctantly set off from Hale-mau'u trailhead 7990' in low cloud with heavy packs. switchback on a well-made trail down the crater wall 1600 to the crater floor. climb 400' to the Holua campsite. make camp. September 14th. up at dawn to grey overcast. hike E over Pahoehoe and 'a'a lava. sit in alternately 102° sunshine / drizzle / pouring rain to do a small painting (1) looking South. work until dusk. September 15th. up to drizzle and rain. hike the silversword loop and paint all afternoon looking SW (2). September 16th. bored with waiting for fine weather we pack and hike the Hale-mau'u trail through a black desert then spectacular colours and 'a'a flows to Pali-ku, pitch our tents in lashing rain and strong winds that continue all night, September 17th. pack up in heavy rain and retrace our steps to Holua. make camp. 18th September. the temptations of warm sunny beaches prove too much for B and P they pack out. I walk SE to new painting site (3). draw 4 lines. rain begins. I sit in pouring rain for 2 1/2 hours and then return to my tent where I paint souvenirs for L and P. late afternoon the clouds lift temporarily explore the lava flows above the campsite for a new painting site. raining all night. September 19th. walk onto the lava South of Holua and start work drawing the view (4). intermittent rain forces me to seek shelter and I find an immense lava tube where I sit and work all afternoon until dusk. September 20th. up at dawn to a perfect morning. immediately start work, painting until noon when heavy rain forces me to stop. LB. RB. PH. arrive at 12:30 carrying champagne on ice and a gourmet lunch which we eat in the lava tube as rain lashes outside. my determination evaporates and I pack my sodden camp, we hike out of the crater back up to the trailhead and to a warm bath. dry clothes and a fine supper.