"Full Moon Lights the Breath of Pele"

This once-in-a-lifetime photograph was taken in the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, from the edge of Kilauea caldera, overlooking Halema'uma'u Crater, on the evening of May 19, 2008, at 9:13PM. That night Kauwila had travelled to visit Pele (Hawaiian Goddess of Fire and Creation) at the park. He was drawn to the edge of Kilauea caldera, saw the glow of lava from the steam vent, and the plume of steam, illuminated by the full moon. It looked so impressive, that he snapped several photographs. This one was the best! The glow from the vent comes from the lava flowing underground.

"It was nighttime, and I was alone in the parking lot at the Jaggar Observatory. I saw the entrancing glow from the new vent at Halema'uma'u, and was so moved that I felt like going closer to see it better. I went to the edge of Kilauea caldera, and took several photographs, not sure if any would turn out. When I saw this one, with the glow of the vent, the full moon illuminating the steam plume, and the dark tree in the foreground, I knew that Pele had presented me with a special gift, to be shared with others." Kauwila

The full moon ("Mahina Piha", in Hawaiian) which occurred on May 19, 2008, was known as the Wesak full moon. The Wesak full moon occurs when the sun is in the constellation Taurus. The year 2008 was unique in that there were two Wesak full moons, the first on April 20, 10:25 UTC, the second on May 19, 14:11 UTC.

This photograph was shown on local television station KGMB during their May 20th evening broadcast.

8x10" (5x7 image), $19.95

11x14"* (8x10 image), $34.95

* 11x14" matted photos are autographed in gold pen by Kau'ila in the lower left corner of the photo. 8x10" matted photos come without autograph.

Notes: the images above are of the matted photo. Photos are professionally mounted with archival, acid-free tape, using acid-free mats and foam board backing. This allows the photograph to expand and contract in different humidity and temperature environments. The mat is not taped to the backing, so it may be easily changed to another color or style.

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