This tour is one of the most sought-after fissure tours, giving visitors the unique opportunity to legally stroll through several private properties in Leilani Estate that were damaged during the 2018 eruption. Additionally, visitors will get to witness Canyon, Cracked Yard/Gardens, and any remnants from Heath’s Home.
1. Walk Through A Fissure
As part of your tour, you can traverse a fissure that’s no longer spewing lava. It’s an earthen gap where, once upon a time, molten rock was pouring out at up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit; now it has settled, and there is only steam venting from within its crack. It is not recommended for children; it is best left for adults. You can also peek 80 feet underground to witness what the fissure looks like from below!
Your guides will show you different cracks that appeared during the eruption in Leilani Estates subdivision and share stories from people who experienced firsthand what it was like to live through it all – such as visiting one property where lava flows destroyed an entire home. It will be an unforgettable experience.
When traveling with children, it’s important to remember that this tour requires extensive walking and hiking over uneven terrain. Children under the age of eight are not permitted; those with certain medical conditions may find it challenging to complete it on their own. While the tour can be costly, it still beats visiting without guidance at all!
An anal fissure can be painful and uncomfortable to deal with, so it is best to avoid activities which exacerbate it. Switching to medicated pads or baby wipes after having a bowel movement may help, while engaging in daily physical activity should help as well. If your fissure fails to heal within four weeks, a surgery called sphincterotomy may be required in order to cut open its wall and recover it for good. Once complete, anal fissures will no longer return. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics after surgery in order to help avoid infection and suggest physical therapy as part of a recovery plan to speed up healing time and speed recovery, including strengthening exercises designed to support an anal fissure, such as maintaining core and pelvic floor muscle strength.
2. See Steam Vents
Wahinekapu, just over one mile from Kilauea Visitor Center, offers steam vents. Ranger jokes that one could get an exfoliating volcanic steam facial here; in reality, it gives visitors an idea of just how dynamic and active Kilauea really is – rainwater seeps into heated rocks by magma (molten lava) before reaching its surface to flash to steam!
Cracked and fractured caldera walls offer access to Hawaii’s volcanic hotspot, known as “Fire Mountain.” Wahinekapu vents provide close-up views of how this heat interacts with Hawaii’s volcano.
Alongside more than 80 steam vents, you’ll also discover cracks leaking sulfur dioxide gas that creates an unpleasant stench when mixed with air – similar to that produced from rotten eggs or struck matches. Since this substance can be harmful to human health, the National Park Service strongly discourages anyone from trespassing on this property.
But once you step outside the fenced-off areas, you will discover another set of vents with a different smell: deeper fissures that emit hydrogen sulfide as well as sulfur dioxide gas; these toxic emissions combine with other chemicals to form yellow deposits around the site that are known as “Kukaepele,” the “waste of Pele.”
No matter if it’s to avoid fumes or gain a better perspective of Fissure 8, stopping here should be part of any tour of Fissure 8 and its surroundings.
Walking from Steam Vents/Steaming Bluff parking area to Sulphur Banks will give you a chance to witness these unpredictable vents and their pungent emissions while providing an ideal vantage point from which to view ongoing eruptions at fissures 1-6, 7, 8, 21-22 as well as to witness any ocean entry flows! You might even spot Kilauea’s ocean entry lava flow!
3. Listen To Stories
Experience an active volcano eruption from those who lived through it with this remarkable tour! Led by landowners who experienced the 2018 Lower East Rift Zone eruption firsthand, this tour provides first-hand accounts from those who know what it’s like living through an active volcanic eruption.
If you’re curious to explore other fascinating podcasts, check out Stuff You Should Know, where each episode focuses on something unique, from elevators to Hot Wheels and Switched On Pop, which examines how pop songs become hits.
4. Take Pictures
Throughout your visit, taking pictures of the magnificent colors and features of the Fissure 8 Lava River is an essential component of the experience. Although you won’t get this view from a car or bus ride alone, many tour companies provide an e-bike so that you can travel through Leilani Estates and hike Fissure 8.
Many people neglect to take advantage of a fantastic opportunity presented by volcanic eruptions: visiting houses that have been partially damaged. Some tours allow you to enter these lava-covered homes and explore them; these experiences become particularly enjoyable when guided by an expert who can share stories behind each one.
If you plan to drive into Leilani Estates, be mindful to show respect for its residents. Many have seen their lives and homes destroyed due to Kilauea’s 2018 eruption in the lower East Rift Zone; they don’t appreciate being bombarded by disaster tourists and appreciate when visitors respect their privacy and don’t intrude on their lives.
On your journey to Fissure 8, you may come across many signs stating “No Trespassing” and warning of arrest for violating this law, yet many visitors seem oblivious to these warnings as they walk past barriers and hike lava flows without stopping at these warning signs.
Fissure 8 Tours offers a truly unforgettable and unmatched experience led by local landowners who witnessed and lived through the eruption. Tours last between 2 – 4 hours and include four properties where visitors can explore and gain more knowledge about this incredible volcano.
