As a resident of the Big Island of Hawaii, I had the incredible opportunity to paint plein air while the magnificent Mauna Loa was erupting for a short time in 2022.
Mauna Loa is widely regarded as the largest volcano on Earth and has erupted 33 times since 1843, averaging one eruption every 5 years. However, there have only been two eruptions since 1950, with the last one occurring in 1984. The recent eruption, which started on November 27th and ceased on December 10th 2022, broke the longest quiet period on record at 38 years. Witnessing the raw power of nature was truly awe-inspiring, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to experience it firsthand.
