Halemaumau pit crater, Kilauea volcano, Hawaii

Halemaumau pit is the central depression of Kilauea volcano's crater. The crater was a boiling lava lake between 1823-1924. Hawaiian legend has it that this crater is the home of the Goddess of fire, *Pele,* and ceremonial hula is performed regularly on the crater rim. The latest eruption at Halemaumau was in 2008 and in 2011-2012 Halemaumau's lava lake was rising.