First Light On Mauna Loa

I always wanted a shot of the Lava Lake in Halema'uma'u Crater with the setting moon on Mauna Loa. The volcano was not erupting for a while, so I had to wait until we got a new eruption in the park. In early January, I finally got my chance. It was a clear full moon night, and I headed out around 4 am, shooting the bubbling lava lake and waiting for the moon to be low enough in the sky to be above Mauna Loa. In the predawn hours, I got my shot with the moon above the mountain, the lava lake in the foreground, and the first hint of light on the slopes of Mauna Loa. I was definitely pleased with the result.