1959 Was Kapoho.....

The Kapoho eruption was very spectacular in 1959. I remember Dad taking us to a vantage point above the town where we could see the main cone spouting lava into the air. My visual is of us standing on a hill looking over the buildings with lava spurting out of the cone and flowing back in our direction towards the buildings that lined the street that passed through the town. I also remember us driving past the church, burning houses, and checking out the lighthouse before heading back to our home.

There was several other eruptions I have visuals of. One was driving down the Chain of Craters road and stopping to watch some guys throwing coins (quarters or half dollars?) into the lava and digging them out so that when it cooled, they would have souveniers to sell. With all the legends, I wonder if they lived to a ripe old age or if their lives were burdened with bad luck. Anyway, we parked the car and had to walk quite a ways so that we could see the lava creeping down the road. We stood "right in front" of the lava as it creeped toward us. I remember being really scared, tired, and the heat was terrible.

The second was the Kilauea Iki one that eventually had the lava fountain rising 1,200 feet above the rim of the Kilauea Caldera. That one was also a long walk through the forest and getting to see the fountain from the opposite side of the crater. It was just below the actual rim of the crater and seemed odd that it was spurting up towards the sky instead of straight out and parallel to the rim.

The third was called Maka O' Puhi (eye of the eel). I seem to remember being there and all; however, that is all I can recall about it at this time.