Although Furneaux’s view of Hilo Bay looks directly to shore, the focus of attention is not the town of Hilo but the volcano activity above. Furneaux showed two fingers of lava descending the flank of Mauna Loa, one moving toward Waiakea at the left, and the other heading directly towards the town of Hilo. Two fountains of lava high on the slopes send forth red vapours and gases, and their light illuminates the sky. The sulphurous aura surrounding the Alva fountain contrasts dramatically with the inky darkness of the points of land, and the ripples of the water in the foreground, outlined in yellow-grey and splashed with dull red reflections, surround and silhouette a whaleboat and passengers. It is a brooding, atmospheric scene, and one can almost sense the eerie stillness.

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