Send Your Lava and Sand Back to Hawaii ASAP!

The first time I visited Hawaii, I wanted to take a piece of it home with me.  Actually I wanted to take a lot of it home, in the form of lava rocks, sand, coral etc. Little did I know, it is a common belief that if you take ANYTHING from the land or ocean in Hawaii, it can result in a lifetime of bad luck. Fortunately I found out before it was too late and returned my keepsakes to where they came from before I went home.

On my way to New York this week, I was reminded about this after reading an article in the Alaska Airlines Magazine.  Thankfully, there is now a company that can help you take care of business.  If you have any lava rocks that you need to return, you can send them via mail to Rainbow Moon in Volcano, HI.  Here's the address:

Rainbow Moon
Attn: Lava Rock Return
P.O. Box 699
Volcano HI 96785

Rainbow encourages you to get a tracking number at USPS so you can be sure your rocks make it to their final destination.  No one likes bad luck, so head to the post office asap and send back your Hawaiian lava rocks immediately!

Crazy Hawaii Volcano Images

There was a really interesting blog post on Engadget this week with a pretty intense photo and video! The United States Geological Survey's thermal camera recently captured some wild stuff over at the Kilauea volcanic caldera in Hawaii. The video has been sped up four times, and shows a 450 foot-wide vent which is usually obscured by gas fumes.The results are impressive and overwhelming. Check it out on Engadget!

Everyone Likes Lava

Iceland is not the only place that you can witness a lava eruption. The breakout of lava at Kalapana on the Big Island over the last week has caused a surge in visitors looking to get some snapshots to add to their vacation album.  While seeing lava flow in all it's glory is amazing, its not something that we can control.  One day, the lava may be flowing for all to see; the next day, not so much. 

Since last week the parking area at the end of Highway 130 has seen large crowds - all hoping to see the volcano in all its glory, but unfortunately Madame Pele has her own agenda.

Officials had to close a portion of the access road after lava crawled over the pavement. But for many, this has brought frustration as it can be hard to see the lava from a few hundred yards away.  While it may sound tempting to get close to the lava, a reminder that its HOT!  And those who trespass risk more then a $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail. 

If you are in the area why not call the Lava Viewing Hotline prior to your visit to check on conditions?  The number is (808) 961-8093. By calling in advance you can check to see whether it's worth the long drive to witness a lava eruption, or not, as the case may be.  During my visit to the Big Island, I was lucky enough to see lava flowing into the ocean, but was never close enough to witness the amazing red glow.  If you really want a birds-eye view, why not head out in a helicopter or charted boat?  Talk about an amazing experience.