[Rockhounds] lava pours into ocean

[Kitty & Bill Heacox]

If you go to http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/ or google < Hawaii 
Tribune Herald >  you'll find the Hilo newspaper with a front page 
article on the plan to open a viewing spot for the lava going into the 
ocean;  the headline is < Hot Spot Ready >.  You have to register to 
read the whole story, but it is quick and free.  There are no pictures 
yet, but I think there will be, probably tomorrow.

Unfortunately the plan is to open the gate at 2pm and close it at 10pm.  
That means you go out there in the heat of the afternoon (and that is 
considerable, with the sun beating on black lava all day), and have to 
fumble around with a flashlight to return in the dark.  We would prefer 
to go out before dawn by flashlight, and then return after sunrise in 
the cool morning.  Oh well, we shouldn't be picky.

Incidentally, if you click on < Local News > at the left, you'll find an 
off-topic story called, < A scope for the students >, which is about how 
Professor William Heacox is leading a project to provide a telescope on 
Mauna Kea for astronomy students to use.

Aloha, Kitty