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Fires of Creation

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  • Spearfisher Kimi Werner swims with her speargun off of the Kona coast of the Big Island of Hawai'i.
  • Spearfisher Kimi Werner camouflages herself amid corals while hunting for fish off the Kona coast of the Big Island of Hawai'i.
  • Aerial view of the Waipi'o valley, along the north shore the Big Island of Hawaii.
  • The Pisces IV submersible is lifted on the back deck of the Hawai'i Undersea Research Lab ship Ka`imikai-o-Kanaloa (
  • The Pisces IV submersible bobs in shallow water after being deployed from the ship.
  • The Pisces IV sub explores a sunken World War II Japanese midget submarine. The midget submarine was sunk by the USS Ward in what is considered the first shot fired by the US at the start of the war, an hour before the air strike began.
  • Precious corals are lit by the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory's lights along the Kona coast off the Big Island of Hawaii.
  • Aerial view of the peak of Mauna Kea.
  • Lava pour over the Pu'u O'o crater rim in an eruption of the Kilauea volcano.
  • The Pisces IV sub explores a ridge dotted with Iridogorgia, a kind of octocoral.
  • Lava ripples in an eruption of the Pu'u O'o crater at Kilauea volcano.
  • A rare, eight-feet long
  • Three humpback whales swim hundreds of feet down along the underwater flanks of the Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Ocean exploration is revealing that the deep ocean is far from a flat, lifeless landscape, but a complex environment that has a profound impact on human life.
  • Aerial view of coastal cliffs along the north shore of the Big Island of Hawaii.
  • Ocean explorer Dr. Robert Ballardstanding on a cliff in Hawaii looking out into the Pacific Ocean.
  • An aerial view of the Big Island of Hawai'i. The island is home to several active volcanoes, including Mauna Loa (foreground) and Mauna Kea (obscured in clouds). Mauna Kea, the world's tallest mountain from top to bottom, reaches 13,796 feet above sea level and extends another 19,700 feet beneath the waves.
  • The Pisces IV and Pisces V submersibles explore the underwater slopes of Mauna Kea. Submersible pilots Terry Kerby and Max Cremer dive the subs to gardens of deep sea corals as part of their second test dive in preparation for the upcoming dive to Loihi seamount.
  • In Hawaii Volcanoes National Park near the Holei sea arch, hardened lava from the Kilauea volcano meets the sea.
  • Pele's Pit is home to hydrothermal vents that support dense mats of microbial life. It was formed in 1996 after a massive swarm of earthquakes caused an area of the Loihi volcano's summit to collapse.
  • Cameramen film surfing in Oahu with a 3-D camera rig on the back of a jetski.
  • Producer Gary Johnstone and Bob Ballard chat on board the research vessel Ka`imikai-o-Kanaloa (
  • Pisces V is one of two manned deep-sea submersibles operated by the Hawai'i Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL)
  • The crew poses on board the research vessel Ka`imikai-o-Kanaloa (
  • The scenic mountain horizon of Pu'u Aiea, Kahua Ranch, Kohala, Hawaii.
  • Submersibles on board the research vessel.
  • On board the research vessel Ka`imikai-o-Kanaloa (
  • Tom Pohaku Stone body-surfs down a grassy hillside. In his study of native Hawaiian history, Stone discovered that his people
  • Tom Pohaku Stone, the leading expert on he'e holua, or mountain-sliding, poses on a grassy hillside before another slide.
  • Tom Pohaku Stone and a friend shape a traditional Hawaiian surfboard carved from a single piece of wood.
  • This traditional Hawaiian surfboard was carved from one single piece of wood.
  • Tom Pohaku Stone catches a wave off the shores of Oahu, riding on the traditional wooden surfboard he helped to craft by hand.

  • Spearfisher

    Photograph by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

    Spearfisher Kimi Werner swims with her speargun off of the Kona coast of the Big Island of Hawai'i.

  • Camouflaged in Coral

    Photograph by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

    Spearfisher Kimi Werner camouflages herself amid corals while hunting for fish off the Kona coast of the Big Island of Hawai'i.

  • Waipi'o Valley

    Photograph by National Geographic Television

    Aerial view of the beautiful Waipi'o Valley, along the north shore of the Big Island of Hawai'i

  • Pisces IV

    Photograph by National Geographic Television

    The Pisces IV submersible is lifted on the back deck of the Hawai'i Undersea Research Lab ship Ka`imikai-o-Kanaloa ( "KoK") before being deployed into the water.

  • In Shallow Water

    Photograph by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

    The Pisces IV submersible bobs in shallow waters after being deployed.

  • Exploring a Submarine Wreck

    Photograph by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

    The Pisces IV submersible explores a sunken World War II Japanese midget submarine. The submarine was sunk by the USS Ward in what is considered the first shot fired by the US at the start of the war, an hour before the air strike began.

  • Precious Corals

    Photograph by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

    Precious corals are lit by the Hawai'i Undersea Research Laboratory's lights along the Kona coast off the Big Island of Hawai'i.

  • Mauna Kea

    Photograph by National Geographic Television

    Aerial view of Mauna Kea

  • Lava Pour

    Photograph by National Geographic Television

    Lava from the erupted Kilauea volcano pours over the Pu'u O'o crater rim.

  • Exploring a Deep Sea Ridge

    Photograph by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

    The Pisces IV sub explores a ridge dotted with Iridogorgia, a kind of octocoral.

  • Lava Ripples

    Photograph by National Geographic Television

    Lava from an eruption of the Pu'u O'o crater at Kilauea volcano

  • Caught on Camera

    Photograph by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

    A rare, eight-feet long "false catshark" is captured by the DeepCam camera while honing in on the camera's bait.

  • Humpback Whales off Mauna Kea

    CGI Image by National Geographic Television

    Three humpback whales swim hundreds of feet down along the underwater flanks of the Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Ocean exploration is revealing that the deep ocean is far from a flat, lifeless landscape, but a complex environment that has a profound impact on human life.

  • Coastal Cliffs

    Photograph by National Geographic Television

    Aerial view of coastal cliffs along the north shore of the Big Island of Hawai'i.

  • Ocean Explorer

    Photograph by National Geographic Television

    Ocean explorer Dr. Robert Ballard standing on a cliff in Hawai'i looking out into the Pacific Ocean.

  • The Big Island

    CGI Image by National Geographic Television

    An aerial view of the Big Island of Hawai'i. The island is home to several active volcanoes, including Mauna Loa (foreground) and Mauna Kea (obscured in clouds). Mauna Kea, the world's tallest mountain from top to bottom, reaches 13,796 feet above sea level and extends another 19,700 feet beneath the waves.

  • Underwater Slopes

    CGI Image by National Geographic Television

    The Pisces IV and Pisces V submersibles explore the underwater slopes of Mauna Kea. Submersible pilots Terry Kerby and Max Cremer dive the subs to gardens of deep sea corals as part of their second test dive in preparation for the upcoming dive to Loihi seamount.

  • Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

    Photograph by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

    In Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park near the Holei Sea Arch, hardened lava from the Kilauea volcano meets the sea.

  • Pele's Pit

    CGI Image by National Geographic Television

    Pele's Pit is home to hydrothermal vents that support dense mats of microbial life. It was formed in 1996 after a massive swarm of earthquakes caused an area of the Loihi volcano's summit to collapse.

  • 3-D Filming

    Photograph by NGT / Jennifer Shoemaker

    Cameramen film surfing in Oahu with a 3-D camera rig on the back of a jetski.

  • Gary Johnstone and Bob Ballard

    Photograph by NGT / Jennifer Shoemaker

    Producer Gary Johnstone and Bob Ballard chat on board the research vessel Ka`imikai-o-Kanaloa ( "KoK")

  • Pisces V

    Photograph by NGT / Jennifer Shoemaker

    Pisces V is one of two manned deep-sea submersibles operated by the Hawai'i Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL).

  • The Crew

    Photograph by NGT / Jennifer Shoemaker

    The crew poses on board the research vessel Ka`imikai-o-Kanaloa ( "KoK").

  • Mountain Horizon

    Photograph by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

    The scenic mountain horizon of Pu'u Aiea, Kahua Ranch, Kohala, Hawai'i

  • Submersibles at the Ready

    Photograph by NGT / Jennifer Shoemaker

    Submersibles on board the research vessel

  • Hawai'I Undersea Research Lab

    Photograph by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

    On board the research vessel Ka`imikai-o-Kanaloa ( "KoK").

  • Sacred Sliding

    Photograph by NGT / Jennifer Shoemaker

    Tom Pohaku Stone body-surfs down a grassy hillside. In his study of native Hawaiian history, Stone discovered that his people "rode the volcanoes." Today, the practice of mountain-sliding is "paying honor to Pele, our goddess of the volcanoes."

  • Mountain Sliding Expert

    Photograph by NGT / Jennifer Shoemaker

    Tom Pohaku Stone, the leading expert on he'e holua, or mountain-sliding, poses on a grassy hillside before another slide.

  • Surfboard Carving

    Photograph by NGT / Jennifer Shoemaker

    Tom Pohaku Stone and friends shape a traditional Hawaiian surfboard carved from a single piece of wood.

  • Traditional Hawaiian Surfboard

    Photograph by NGT / Jennifer Shoemaker

    This traditional Hawaiian surfboard was carved from a single piece of wood.

  • Surfing the Wave

    Photograph by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

    Tom Pohaku Stone catches a wave off the shores of Oahu, riding on the traditional wooden surfboard he helped to craft by hand.

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