Established in 1916, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park offers a perfect spot to experience active volcanic eruptions. It is home to the most popular attractions of the two world's most active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea. It covers about 523 square miles, climbing more than 13,000 feet above sea level. This popular landscape is one of the most dynamic, diverse, and easy to access.
It takes a few hours to drive to the crater rim, where an inspiring sight of sulphuric clouds rising off molten lava is hopefully visible. It's not only a center of volcanic eruption but also a landscape of contrasting environments you'll only comprehend if you visit by yourself. Explore the rainforest flora and fauna, lava tubes, rugged lava fields, lava rocks, and Hawaiian cultural sites.
Hike the lush rainforest and understand Hawaiian history and culture. Are you a travel enthusiast who wants to explore nature with family and friends and get the most out of your trip to this incredible national park? Here are the tips on the things to do to give you the best experience.
01 Make a stop at the Kīlauea Visitor Center
The Kīlauea Visitor Centre, located right at the park entrance, operates daily. It operates from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Volunteers and rangers will help you plan your itinerary well to make the most of the time you have at the park. Get to know the sites you're likely to visit, their history, and exciting features beforehand. Understand the trail conditions, accessibility, ranger-led activities, and available options to consider.
The volunteers are friendly and welcoming and will advise you on what to carry depending on the weather and volcanic activity you're likely to experience. Master safety precautions and understand this is a delicate ecosystem. The Kīlauea Visitor Centre offers a variety of services. You can read books available at the Visitor Centre and appreciate the rich Hawaiian history, culture, and heritage.
02 Explore Kīlauea Caldera
Kīlauea Caldera is the most active volcano located at the summit of Kīlauea. This large, sunken crater is the result of centuries of volcanic activity, including eruptions and collapses of the ground above the magma chamber. It is one of the central attractions of the park and holds both geological and cultural significance. It is associated with the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes, whose whims decide how active the volcano will be when you visit, according to Hawaiian culture.
Drive through the crater roads and get a magnificent view of the lava flows and new lands formed by the eruption. Reach the Kilauea Overlook or the Jagger Museum, and you'll be amazed at the scenic views of the crater and surrounding landscape.
Several viewpoints around the caldera, including the Kīlauea Overlook and the Jaggar Museum, offer panoramic views of the crater and the surrounding volcanic landscape.
03 Trek the Thurston Lava Tube
Experience a unique display of nature in an underneath hollow formed by the flow of molten lava. Named after Lorrin A. Thurston in 1913, Thurston Lava Tube is a popular destination portraying the unique works of nature. Walk through the tube and experience a breathtaking view of nature's behavior in the expansive hollow. Measuring 600 feet long and 20 feet high, you can see an illuminated interior with smooth walls and ceilings formed by the eruptions, indicating their intensity.
The texture of the tube's walls is a reminder of the powerful lava flow that created it. Take a tour through the lush green rainforest full of plants and birds while appreciating the impressive Hawaiian ecosystem. Be cautious of tripping hazards and stagnant water, and avoid touching the walls. Carry water, snacks, sturdy footwear, and rain gear.
04 Explore the Crater Rim Drive
Get panoramic views of Hawaii's spectacular landscape by driving through the Crater Rim Drive road. Enjoy the scenic views to the summit of Kīlauea Volcano in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park with stopovers for adventure, fun, and exploration. Get magnificent views of the Kīlauea Caldera, Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, and other amazing volcanic features. Explore the unique volcanic landscape, with numerous stops that give an amazing and extensive view of the landscape.
Initially, the road encircled the peak, but the 2018 eruptions caused significant damage, leading to the closure of a portion of it. While it might be your lucky day to witness a volcanic eruption when you visit, it is not a guarantee. Volunteers are on standby to inform you if they occur, but better yet, the scenic view of the volcanic landscape is still worthwhile.
05 Drive through The Chain of Craters Road
The road is distinctive of the lush environment of the park as it crosses hardened lava fields. It flows from the summit of Kīlauea to the ocean through popular sites and ends at the massive lava fields from recent lava flows of the Puʻu ʻŌʻō vent that began in 1983. Walk to the summit of the lava fields and have a magnificent view of the landscape where lava once flowed into the ocean. Experience a scenic view as the road approaches the ocean from Kealakomo Overlook. Get a full view of the Pacific Ocean and older lava flows along the rugged coastline to the sea. You might possibly have a glimpse of new landscapes from past lava flows.
06 Hike the Devastation Trail
This historic road measures 18.8 miles and stretches from the Kilauea summit, traversing the heart of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park since 1965. Have a glance at the recent lava flows and unique landscapes volcanic activity has created in Hawaii. Make stopovers at some of the historical sites in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, including Uekahuna, Kilauea Overlook, Wahine Kapu, Lava Tube, and Pu'upua'i Overlook.
The Devastation Trail is a short and easy way to walk through the post-eruption landscape. It is a result of a powerful Kīlauea Iki volcanic eruption in 1959. Explore the expansive lava fountain, which magnifies the destructive yet transformative power of volcanoes. The eruption produced cinders and ash, which burned trees and destroyed the lush area in the native forest called the Devastation Trail, leaving only a few plants able to survive in the hostile conditions.
It's about 0.8 kilometers long with paved walks, making it easy for visitors of all ages, even those with disabilities. The ground is barren with no vegetation, though some plants like the ʻōhiʻa lehua trees survived, and others have started to slowly return to life.
07 Adventure the Kīlauea Iki Trail
Kīlauea Iki Trail is one of the most popular and fulfilling sites in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The 4-mile round trip offers you a chance to explore volcanic landscapes from an extraordinary eruption in 1959 marked by over a half-mile of fountaining lava and a plume reaching a world-record 1900 feet high. The Kīlauea Iki Trail starts a descent through the lush rainforest of native Hawaiian tree fern and ends with a walk across an otherworldly crater floor that sharply contrasts with the surrounding native forests.
The landscape completely changes with the descent to the floor of the Kīlauea Iki Crater. The lush greenery switches to a stark, rocky lava field that is challenging to maneuver. The cracks and fissures are still visible, with heat rising from vents beneath the surface in some places. Experience beautiful scenery while learning the history of the park in this adventure. Wear comfortable footwear and carry plenty of water and sun protection gear.
08 Step back in time and explore Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs
Located about 16 miles from the Kilauea Visitor Center, the Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs are accessible off of Chain of Craters Road on a 1.4-mile round-trip hike on the Puʻu Loa Petroglyph Trail. This collection of ancient Hawaiian rock carvings in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park offers a glimpse into the spiritual and cultural life of indigenous Hawaiian people. More than 23,000 individual carvings are considered sacred and have rich cultural and historical significance.
The petroglyphs acted as centers to record important life events like births and other milestones in their lives. The trail is mostly over rough, hardened lava, so sturdy footwear is recommended. The cultural and historical significance of Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs cannot be overstated, as they offer visitors a unique opportunity to have a glimpse of ancient Hawaiian rock carvings in their original, sacred context.
The trail and boardwalk provide safe access to this fragile site, allowing people to experience the rich heritage of Hawai'i's early inhabitants while preserving the petroglyphs for future generations.
09 Visit Hōlei Sea Arch
The ocean carved this coastal wonder about 18 miles from the Klauea Visitor Center, towards the end of the Chain of Craters Road, where recent lava flows have blocked it. The 90-foot-tall rock formation cut into the cliff of an ancient lava flow about 550 years ago. Enjoy scenic views of the volcanic coastline while immersing your thoughts in the raw forces of nature that continue to shape the island. Take memorable pictures, especially during the early morning or late afternoon when the lighting is soft and there is a spectacular view of the blue Pacific Ocean.
10 Experience underneath heat from the steam vents
Find the Steam Vents a short distance from the Kīlauea Visitor Center along Crater Rim Drive with paved walkways for easy accessibility. View the steam rise from several venting spots surrounded by greenery in a tranquil and serene landscape, creating a captivating experience.
The vents release hot steam from the heat beneath the ground, which is created when groundwater comes into contact with the hot rocks from the intense heat of the magma chamber. This steam rises through cracks and fissures in the earth, escaping through vents on the surface, giving you an opportunity to experience the interaction between volcanic heat and the island's natural water cycle.
11 Take a walk through the Sulphur Banks
The Sulphur Blanks is a geothermal area where volcanic gasses escape up through the earth, leaving deposits of minerals like sulfur. As the gases rise from underneath the ground, they cause chemical reactions, leading to a distinctive sulfur smell and otherworldly colorful deposits found here. The unique colors of the landscape are a result of volcanic gasses' transformation into sulfuric acid and other compounds as they cool at the surface. The Sulphur Banks portray the power of volcanic gasses and the otherworldly, colorful mineral deposits they create. The magnificent sulfur colors, distinctive sulfur smell, and barren landscape give geologists and nature enthusiasts an experience to remember.
12 Dine at Volcano House
Founded in 1846, the Volcano House Hotel offers a lovely view of Halema'uma'u Crater. It has been an iconic destination for several nature enthusiasts who want to explore the wonders of the park. It sits on the rim of Kīlauea Caldera and has evolved over the years. It has hosted famous guests, including royalties, artists, and writers. Enjoy the Hawaiian aesthetic in the lovely rooms and dine on-site. Experience fresh Hawaiian cuisine while enjoying a captivating view of the Caldera.
13 Keanakākoʻi Crater: A peaceful crater shaped by eruptions
The Keanakako'i Crater is a lesser-known south of Kīlauea Caldera. It is easily accessible just 1 mile by foot along Crater Rim Drive. Get a spectacular view of Kīlauea Caldera and the vast lava landscape. It is beautiful and quiet, with fewer crowds, making it perfect for those seeking a tranquil stop. The walk to the crater passes by many cracks and fissures that opened up during the thousands of earthquakes that rocked the area during the summit collapse of 2018.
It is beautiful and quiet, with fewer crowds, making it perfect for those seeking a tranquil stop. It is an ideal spot for viewing the 13,677-foot summits of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea.
14 Visit Mauna Loa Lookout
Located along the Mauna Loa road, the lookout is about 6,662 feet on the slopes of Mauna Loa and takes approximately 11 miles (18 km). Pass through lush forests and hollow volcanic terrain on a paved but narrow and curvy road. Reach the summit high above the clouds on a volcano slope and experience the beautiful scenery of Kīlauea, Mauna Kea, and the vast, expansive volcanic landscape that stretches across the island. Take caution in the weather, as it might be windy and cold with a potential hazard of shortness of breath or dizziness due to the higher altitude.
15 Navigate the Kipukapuaulu Trail
Also known as the Bird Park Trail, the Kipukapuaulu Trail echoes both ecological and cultural significance. The isolated trail boasts a lush oasis and an impressive ecosystem within the lava field. Plant enthusiasts and birders experience unique species hardly found anywhere. Enjoy a nature walk or hike in Hawaii's unique flora and fauna on an easy loop that is accessible to hikers of all levels. Witness the refreshing escapade showcasing the resilience and beauty of the unique ecological diversity.
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park offers a perfect destination for adventure, whether as a nature enthusiast, geologist, or traveler with a rooted heritage. It is captivating with an extraordinary landscape, a captivating ecosystem, and deep cultural and spiritual beliefs. If you're thinking of making a trip down here soon, you're on the right path to an explosive exploration of some of the world's extraordinary destinations.
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