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Words by Blake
One year ago, after 38 years of silence, Mauna Loa erupted. Growing up, I heard first-hand stories from my aunties and uncles who witnessed the eruption in the 1980s—towering lava fountains, rivers of molten rock pouring from the summit, glowing so bright they lit the sky from every corner of the island. I told myself back then, when Mauna Loa shakes again, I’ll be there. And when it finally did, I was on the next flight to Hawai‘i.
This long-overdue eruption only lasted seven days. Most of those nights were covered in heavy fog, rain, and cloud, making it nearly impossible to see the glow. I knew I wanted to create something meaningful—something cultural—so I reached out to my cousin Mary and her daughter Namiko. With approval from their hālau, they offered to dance hula on the slopes of the mauna. They harvested ti leaves themselves, making traditional skirts and adornments, but chose to use red leaves—symbolically honoring Pele, the goddess of fire.
On what turned out to be the final night of the eruption, we headed out to photograph. Our first location was over 10,000 feet above sea level, freezing cold and shrouded in clouds. For hours we waited, huddled in jackets. Each time the sky briefly cleared, they would rush to get dressed, only to bundle back up moments later when the view vanished again. It wasn’t until we were heading back down, late into the night, that the lava suddenly appeared—fully visible and glowing.
With just one flashlight, we ran to a safe overlook. In the wind and freezing air, they dressed once more, barefoot on the jagged rock. And there, under the red sky of Mauna Loa, they danced. I took only a few frames. It was one of the rarest opportunities I’ve ever had the honor to capture.
Dimensions:
Collector (40 in)
Frameless Acrylic: 40 × 27 in
Cigar Leaf: 57.25 × 44.25 in
Dark Ash: 57.25 × 44.25 in
Matte Black: 56.25 × 43.25 in
Signature (60 in)
Frameless Acrylic: 60 × 40 in
Cigar Leaf: 77.25 × 57.25 in
Dark Ash: 77.25 × 57.25 in
Matte Black: 76.25 × 56.25 in
Masterpiece (74 in)
Frameless Acrylic: 73.5 × 48.5 in
Cigar Leaf: 90.75 × 65.75 in
Dark Ash: 90.75 × 65.75 in
Matte Black: 89.75 × 64.75 in
