Documenting the 2022 Mauna Loa Eruption
Behind the Lens of Emerging Earth: Volcanic Eruptions of Mauna Loa
On November 27th, 2022, the world’s largest volcano hurls fire into the sky for the first time in nearly half a century. From the northeast flank of Mauna Loa, lava pulses constantly from the earth’s mantle and arcs up 500 feet in the air in intermittent bursts. Only a few days later do I begin to understand the significance of what’s happening on the island of Hawaiʻi — what many call the Big Island. The ephemeral nature of this once-in-a-lifetime event compels me to drop everything here on Maui in favor of documenting what will evolve into an unprecedented fine art series.
Rising more than 11,000 feet above sea level, the active fissures are inaccessible by road or on foot, meaning private planes and helicopters are the only way to observe them up close. Moreover, I’ll need an aircraft that can safely navigate at high altitudes and negotiate the sudden updrafts caused by the lava’s searing heat — often exceeding 2,000 degrees — all while flying with the doors off. After five years of shooting aerial photography, this particular creative endeavor will test my dedication like never before.
“Forbidden World” – Limited Edition of 75
From nearly 13,000 feet above sea level, Mauna Loa hurls fire into the sky, cascading a river of lava towards Mauna Kea.
As the world watches the groundbreaking footage online, nearly 50,000 people flock to the island to witness this historic event. Private helicopter charters become scarce as demand soars, making reservations almost impossible to coordinate. After three full days of relentless research and phone calls to every local aviation company, I finally manage to find a pilot who’s able and willing to help me execute my artistic vision. I’ve booked the earliest possible flights for three successive mornings to capture the fiery glow of the lava during the first light. If we arrive at the volcano too late, that same glow will be lost in the bright light of day.
Everything depends on the weather now, and I have just three days to get this right.
“Heart of Pele” – Limited Edition of 75
“Pulse” – Limited Edition of 75
My first flight on December 5th teaches me how to refine the logistics of my approach, as I note the topography, shooting angles, sunlight direction and state of the lava flow. Sheets of vigorous rain then ground the next morning’s scheduled flight, pinning my hopes on the next day’s forecast for clear skies.
This is my last chance.
At dawn on December 7th (the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor bombing, no less), I pull up at the Kona heliport in my Jeep rental and catch a distant glimpse of Mauna Loa’s red glow in the sky. My excitement grows when my pilot Tyler informs me that skies are clear and the wind currents are favorable for us to fly.
We’re off the ground at first light, soaring across the vast, sweeping terrain towards the volcano. As we round Mount Hualālai, a towering plume of smoke billowing from Mauna Loa grips my attention. The sun begins its ascent, casting iridescent rays of soft light through the volcanic fog. Tyler continues to lift us higher, and I bear witness to the heart of Pele — the queen under the mountain (to paraphrase Tolkien).
Ae, aia lā ʻo Pele, echo generations of Hawaiians: There is Pele.
“Listen to the Earth” – Limited Edition of 75
Her bosom gushes molten lava, cascading a radiant river down the immense slopes of the mountain. Mauna Loa means “long mountain,” and I’m beginning to feel why. I taste the sulfur in the air now, a powerful reminder that we’ve entered a forbidden world.
How can something so raw and destructive also be so mesmerizing? Could it be that what I view as destruction is also a kind of creation, like witnessing a fiery birth? An inexorable power consumes the earth, yet this process also creates new ʻāina (land). Like the mystical energies of yin and yang, lava and rock permeate each other in an ancient dance of transformation.
“Dance of Creation” – Limited Edition of 75
Meanwhile, the photographic process itself presents several challenges. Flying at 13,000 feet demands multiple layers of thermal wear; it’s cold enough for snow here, and we’re pushing 100 knots — about 115 miles per hour — in an open-air helicopter. At these altitudes, the lack of oxygen limits our time in the air, forcing us to be strategic with our flight patterns. Using a long telephoto lens to capture intimate perspectives feels like sniping a moving target through razor-thin atmosphere. While all this is happening, I’m communicating with Tyler through a headset to adjust the helicopter’s position for the photographic angles I’m envisioning.
This is why I love what I do.
“Event Horizon” – Limited Edition of 75
A USGS aircraft hovers on the edge of creation. Mauna Loa’s eruption hurls lava hundreds of feet into the sky
Seeing the Big Island for the first time — pulsing with lava, no less! — my understanding of the Hawaiian archipelago’s dynamic nature becomes so much deeper. The expansive horizons and vast, rolling hills that surround me reveal the aeons of transformation each island continues to undergo.
Three days later, on December 10th, the lava flow ceases and the accompanying tremors abate dramatically. A winter storm moves through the islands a few days later, blanketing the volcano in a wreath of snow. Viewing these developments from my home back on Maui, I take a breath and feel deep reverence for this ephemeral and divine gift of the islands. No one can predict the next time new earth will emerge.
The 2022 Volcanic Eruption of Mauna Loa
Lasting for just 14 days, the eruption of Mauna Loa marks a historic, phenomenal event!
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