MEDIA RELEASE

Evidence of the last march of a 1790 Hawaiian warrior party can be found in fossilized footprints preserved in the hardened ash of the Ka‘€˜u Desert. Amberle Keith

January 2012 marks the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s 3rd annual Volcano Awareness Month and its 100 year anniversary.

In honor of Volcano Awareness Month, the Hawai‘i Volcanoes Institute presents “Footprints Trail to Mauna Iki,” a guided geological hike in the Ka‘u Desert. The event takes place in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Sunday, January 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Join UH-Hilo Educational Specialist Darcy Bevens for a four-mile round trip hike to explore features from Footprints Trail to Mauna Iki.

“At the Footprints trailhead, we will examine textural details of an ‘a‘a lava flow,” said Bevens. “Once we descend to the sandy desert, we’ll view footprints fossilized in the muddy ash in 1790, plus discuss the accretionary lapilli found in ash layers nearby.”

“As we approach Mauna Iki, we will see a pahoehoe lava field with unusual secondary mineralization that results in beautiful surface patterns. From there, we’ll ascend Mauna Iki (little mountain) to explore a variety of volcanological features. If we’re lucky, we may come across beautiful Pele’s Hair, wafted downwind in the plume of Halema‘uma‘u Crater,” she added.

Darcy Bevens

Originally from O‘ahu, Darcy Bevens graduated with a B.A. from the University of Northern Colorado. She has worked as an Engineering Geologist in Alaska, a writer for Hawai‘i Natural History Association, and an Educational Specialist at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. For over two decades, Bevens has worked at UH-Hilo’s Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes doing both administration and field work.

The hike is rated moderate, with four miles of hiking along hardened lava trails and a 100’ elevation gain. Be prepared for the base 3,000’ elevation as well as for variable weather conditions, including sunny and windy. Hikers should be in good condition, able to do without shade all morning in a remote, rugged area.

This event is presented by the Hawai‘i Volcanoes Institute, a program of the Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, a non-profit organization. Program cost is $35 for Friends members and $50 for non-members. Students (K-12 and college with valid student ID) are half-price. Non-members are welcome to join the Friends group in order to get the member discount. To register, call 985-7373 or visit www.fhvnp.org

Pea-sized accretionary lapilli erode from an ash deposit found in the Ka‘€˜u Desert. Several layers of ash illustrate the complexity of events associated with the 1790 pyroclastic density currents produced by an explosive eruption of Halemaumau. Photo by Amberle Keith