The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park does not fail to deliver. Not only is it in Hawaii, but it’s also right next to a big dang volcano — an erupting one, in fact.
But that didn’t deter a handful of brave duffers from taking to the park’s 18-hole golf course amidst a backdrop of venting smoke and angry magna bubbling to the earth’s surface. And Getty Images’ Mario Tama was there to capture it. Behold, the world’s calmest foursome, seemingly unbothered by the hell vent opened up behind them, nor the increasing number of spectators focused solely on the Kilauea volcano spewing hot rock in the middle distance.
The good news is the increased ash content in the air can help golfers better determine the direction and force of the wind. The bad news is THE EARTH IS COMING TO RECLAIM HAWAII FOR THE GODS OF PUMICE.
I like to call this one “I don’t think the heavy stuff is coming down for a while.”
And then there’s this casual little haole, setting down for a good sit after polishing off a bottle of chocolate milk and watching Kilauea erupt. Everyone knows TruMoo is best paired with cascading ash.
While those golfers are resolved to play through the pending disaster, the US Geological Survey isn’t nearly as relaxed. As the volcano’s plume of ash grew to 12,000 feet, the organization issued a red alert that will lead to more evacuations on the state’s Big Island and could disrupt air traffic. Fissures throughout the island — cracks venting either toxic gasses or lava itself — have already destroyed 37 buildings.
If you’re in Hawaii, and especially if you’re golfing next to Kilauea, stay safe out there.