Geologist to lead Kilauea tour

VOLCANO, HAWAII » For volcano watchers it doesn’t get much better than this. University of Hawaii-Hilo geology professor Ken Hon will lead a public excursion to examine Kilauea’s summit eruptions.

The tour is set for 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 7.

"Monitoring Kilauea’s Vital Signs" is sponsored by the Hawaii Volcanoes Institute. The first part of the program is a 4-mile guided hike that begins at Devastation Trail, continues along the rim of Kilauea caldera and follows the trail down to Byron’s Ledge to examine deposits of Keanakakoi ash.

Hikers will also descend into Kilauea Iki crater to examine the solidified lava lake and vent for the 1959 eruption, cross the flow of Kilauea Iki crater and conclude at the Thurston lava tube.

The second part of the tour will be held at Volcano’s Kilauea Lodge and Restaurant, for lunch and discussion of the expedition.

Cost is $50 for Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park members and $65 for nonmembers. Snacks and lunch are included. Nonmembers may join the Friends to get the member price. To register, call 985-7373 or visit www.fhvnp.org.

Maui to celebrate Dolphin Days

Maalaea, Maui » The Pacific Whale Foundation’s Wild Dolphin Days celebration is set for Aug. 7-8 on Maui. This annual event honors the wild dolphins that live in Maui waters.

A Wild Dolphin Sand Sculpture Contest will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 7 at the north end of Keawakapu Beach in South Kihei. The contest is free and open to everyone. Sculptures can be created by individuals, families or groups. Prizes will be awarded.

A VIP Wild Dolphin Watch cruise led by Kristen Jule is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 8, leaving from Lahaina Harbor. Jule is the lead researcher on Pacific Whale Foundation’s 2010 Odontocete Project, a study of the wild dolphins and toothed whales that are found off the coasts of Lanai and Maui. For more information, visit www.pacificwhale.org or call 249-8811.