October 21, 2008 AFTER DARK IN THE PARK SERIES - "PLANT PIONEERS RETURN TO NEW VOLCANIC SURFACES"

In November and December of 1959, repeated eruptions of spectacular lava fountains created a deep lava lake in Kilauea Iki Crater and buried more than a thousand acres of rainforest.

Soon afterwards, UH-Manoa botany professor Dieter Mueller-Dombois and Garrett Smathers began to study plant life as it returned to this stark landscape of cinders and scorched trees.

Recently, they co-authored a new book entitled "Hawai'i; The Fires of Life" about this long-term ecological study. Join Dr. Mueller-Dombois for an illustrated talk on the Devastation Area, detailing decades of studying plant recovery, invasion and succession.

Program co-sponsored by Hawai'i Natural History Association.

For information, call (808) 985-6014.

Your $1.00 donation helps to support Park programs.

Park entrance fees apply.