Lehua is about fifteen miles west of the Na Pali coast.
This progression of images is what you would see if you approached the
caldera from the north, then turned south around its west shore.
"Within the Lehua Caldera"
The caldera has been worn down on its northwest side until it is now
just a half crescent. This image was taken while we were still in the
ancient circle of the crater. The panorama is about a 240 degree sweep, so it
looks as if you are seeing it as a long island in the distance.
In order to get the sense from the photograph that you were still in the
crater, you would have to print it out to its full size of 20 inches by 10 feet
and bend it around your field of view.
"The Crescent end of Lehua"
Here we move west around the northernmost edge of the island.
"A Crack in the Crescent of Lehua"
This is the crack you see in the first image. You are looking back
toward the caldera.
"Lehua, Island of Iterations"
The island is made up from countless layers of ash raining down from
many thundering eruptions. Each explosion adds a foot to a yard of new land to
the island.
"A Crash Proof Wave"
For those who love the visual elements of pattern and texture, this
place is a Nirvana of experience. The wheeling gulls, the way the ocean
converses with the Arabesque coves, the lively submarine world below can make
this place live in your memory with great peace.
