Category Archives: Travel

What’s going on with the eruption of Kilauea volcano

Volcanologist Michelle Coombs explains what is going on Kilauea volcano. The video also shows live footage of new fissures. Volcano National Park remains closed, and the Civil Defense has issued a red alert for aviation. Both will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.

Video courtesy of USGS as public domain.

USGS webcam footage of Kilauea Volcano eruption on Hawaii Island

The US Geological Survey (USGS) operates the Hawaii Volcano Observatory (HVO) on Hawaii island. They have several webcams streaming footage of Kilauea volcano as it erupts. These are the most active webcams.

Live Panorama of Halemaʻumaʻu Overlook Vent Wide Angle from HVO Observation Tower [KWcam]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live Panorama of Halemaʻumaʻu Overlook Vent Thermal HD from Halemaʻumaʻu Overlook [JTcam]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live Panorama of Lower East Rift Zone Camera from Lower East Rift Zone [PGcam]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live Panorama of Puʻu ʻŌʻō Crater Thermal from the North Rim [PTcam]

Best Burgers in Hawaii

Wondering where to get a really great burger or cheeseburger in Hawaii? Here are the results of the various  readers’ polls and reviews for tops, island by island.

Oahu

Kua ‘Aina wins best burger almost every year for at least 10 years running. There are two locations: in Honolulu at Ward Center and on the North Shore in Haleiwa town. They also serve a crazy good fish sandwich.

Teddy’s Bigger Burger won the 2009 StarBulletin reader’s poll. The burgers are so big and juicy that you’re going to need to wash your arms afterward.

Maui

Cool Cat Cafe located on Front Street in Lahaina wins top burger in Maui for at least five years running, according to the readers of Maui Time Weekly. The buns are baked locally and the veggies are super fresh.

Kauai

There are no one burger that wins tops (partly because there is no weekly magazine polling readers), but there are three good options. Duane’s Ono Char Burger rates tops, according to the LA Times.

Bubba’s Burgers is an island institution and serves up a consistenly juicy and tasty burger.

Don’t forget about Barefoot Burgers, which does not disappoint, again according to the LA Times.

With no clear local reader’s poll winner, I’ll volunteer my direct experience that Duane’s is definitely worth the trip.

Big Island

Again a lack of local reader’s polls and outside reviews makes this tough. The Hawaii Tribune votes Burger King in Hilo as the best burger on the East Side. West Hawaii today votes Burger King in Kona as the best burger on the West Side. Hard times when a national chain wins. Makes you wonder what else is available.

So I’ll report my own direct experience. In Hilo, the Hilo Bay Cafe serves a flavorful almost guilt-free gourmet burger, and if you go during happy hour it’s cheaper.

Closer to Waimea, Tex Drive-In in Honokaa near Waimea serves a juicy and flavorful burger. They also serve a killer fish sandwich and some of the best malasadas (local donuts) on the islands.

The Waimea area of the Big Island receives accolades for Hawaii Regional Cuisine. Merriman’s serves a grass-fed local beef burger that will leave you teary-eyed because you’re sad you ate it all and there’s none left. Worth the splurge.

In Kona, it’s slim pickings, chains and tourist traps. They’ll scrath the itch, but nothing really local or noteworthy.