Pele's Pulse

On May 31, 2026, we drove toward a volcano in Hawaiʻi expecting to find only old ash and a mountain resting in silence. We had no idea the earth was alive beneath us.
Then the sky began to burn.
I stood before bubbling lava and flames rising into the darkness, watching the mountain release something ancient, powerful, and beyond human control. The eruption posed no danger to us that evening, yet standing before it was deeply humbling.
In that moment, I was reminded of how small the boundaries of human strength become in the presence of nature. We build roads, draw lines, and convince ourselves that we are in control, while beneath our feet, the earth holds enough power to reshape everything we know.
This piece captures the moment awe and fear became indistinguishable—the moment I witnessed the living pulse of the island and understood that nature does not need our permission to awaken.

Available in print or print on canvas in multiple sizes. Price below is a 24x30 canvas.

The original photograph that inspired this painting is also available in multiple sizes.