At this time of the year the early morning light at Volcano is just beautiful. To get full benefit though you have to get up early. On Saturday, December 8th the photo club will sponsor an early morning photo outing to Thurston Lava Tube, aka Nahuku, in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Simply drive to the park. There is no entry fee if you are early.
Take the first left and proceed to Thurston on Crater Rim Drive. While Thurston Lava Tube is somewhat of a tourist trap by mid morning, it is usually quiet and beautiful early in the morning unless the park maintenance guy is there with his leaf blower.
For bird photographers there are usually good opportunities to take photos of Apapane, Omao , Elepaio, as well as the ubiquitous Kalij Pheasant. The bird calls are wonderful and the birds are used to tourists and photographers. The walk towards the lava tube descends through dense tree ferns and photo ops are everywhere.
We suggest you bring rain gear, a tripod, telephoto and macro lenses and lots of coffee, tea or other breakfast things. After we shoot for a while we will probably reconvene at one of the camp grounds for breakfast. Anyone with respiratory problems should be aware that the pollution levels at the Park have been extremely high on some days recently due to the eruption. (Sulfur dioxide levels at the Park have been reaching 1,000 ppb in the last few days of November) If the vog is bad at the Park it may be better to give the trip a pass if you have such problems.
Sunrise on December 8th is at 6:57 A.M. Usually there is good light before then and at least one of us will be at Thurston at 6:15. The trip from Hilo to Thurston takes a little over 30 minutes. Folks going on the Thurston excursion may want to stick around the Park to attend the hula kahiko performance.
Raylene Haalelea Kawaiaea’s Na Huapala O Hawaii Halau O Haalelea will perform at the hula platform next to the Volcano Art Center beginning at 10:30 A.M. The kahiko performances in the Park are a wonderful opportunity to photograph traditional hula because the dancers are in a beautiful natural setting with no electronic aids such as microphones, lights, etc.
Weather conditions for the hula performances vary in the extreme with little notice. Bring sun screen and rain gear. If it is very sunny the light tends to blow out features and dresses of the dancers. A polarizer or other appropriate filter might be useful. At the beginning of the performance Marsha Hee of the Volcano Arts Center will ask photographers to be respectful of the ceremony and not to intrude into the space of the dancers or block the view of others. Please respect this request and stay back from the platform.
The National Park and the Volcano Arts Center have rules (and possibly fees) for commercial photography. If you need to know about those or have other questions contact the Volcano Art Center at 967-8222.
For those that want more, the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center annual open house is sponsoring a tour of its Volcano facility with tours at 10A.M., Noon, and 2 P.M. These tours are open to the public, but reservations are required together with a $10 donation. The tour features rare Hawai’i birds. Photography is allowed, including flash photography, but be aware that Keauhou is a working sanctuary and the birds are not “on display” so image opportunities may not be the best. Keauhou does not allow commercial use of images of the rare birds, but we are trying to get clarification limits for other uses. Visits to the sanctuary are by reservation only. To get a reservation and directions to the sanctuary call 985-7218.
As you can see there are a variety of interesting things happening in Volcano on 12/8. Because some may want to go to one photo venue but not others, we are not going to arrange a caravan or set time for the trip. Anyone interested in a car pool call or e-mail Joy San Buenaventura (joy_esq “AT” yahoo.com) and she will try to coordinate.
Hope to see you there.
- Ben Gaddis
