Jaggar Museum is along side the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. This museum was named in honor of Thomas Jaggar, who founded the observatory. Pahoehoe lava has a smooth, ropy, or billowy surface. Fresh pahoehoe lava has a paper-thin shinny black crust that reflects light in iridescent colors. Hot basalt lava, very fluid, solidifies as pahoehoe.
Pahoehoe lava flows no more than a few feet thick.
Pahoehoe lava are composed of several flow units, one above each other. Each unit or layer represents a different period of spreading. A vent is usually bordered by low spatter or an opening concealed by a flat mound of pahoehoe. Pahoehoe lava flows buried the community of Kapalana and the famous Black Sand Beach at Kaimu in 1990 and 1991. This is a picture of pahoehoe.