Location:
Southern part of the island of Hawaii, in the districts of Kau and Puna.
Vital Stats:
Nearest airports: Hilo and Kona. From Hilo, the park is 30 miles southwest on Highway 11; from Kailua-Kona, 96 miles southeast on Highway 11.
Established: August 1, 1916.
Size: 323,431 acres.
Park website: http://www.nps.gov/havo/
Snapshot
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park offers a look at two of the world's most active volcanoes: 4,000-feet-and-growing Kilauea and the older and larger Mauna Loa (13,677 feet above sea level). This national park is one of the best places to view red-hot lava up close. In addition to the geological phenomena here, notable features include desert and rain forest landscapes, petroglyphs, sacred native Hawaiian sites, and endemic plant and animal species.
Did You Know?
With lava flowing at an average rate of 800-1,300 gallons per second from vents on the east rift zone of Kilauea, more than 500 acres of new land have been added to the island of Hawaii since Kilauea's eruption began on January 3, 1983.
Scenic Drive
The Crater Rim drive parallels the rim of the three-mile-wide, 400-foot-deep Kilauea Caldera for intermittent stretches, offering vantage points from which you can take in views of the vertical lava cliffs and rain forests. The route includes stops to hike through the Nahuku lava tube and along Devastation Trail as well as visits to the Kilauea Visitors Center and the small, volcano-focused Jaggar Museum. Note: Portions of this road have been closed since February 2008 due to sulfur fumes and explosive eruptions.
Chain of Craters Road is an 18-mile, one-way drive from Kilauea Visitor Center to a 2003 lava flow that cuts the road off abruptly. Along the way there are several scenic turnouts with views of craters, hardened lava flows, and petroglyphs carved into lava by native Hawaiians.
Best Hike
Kilauea Iki Trail winds four miles around the rim of a crater that last erupted in 1959, then descends 400 feet through rain forest to the still-steaming crater floor. Look out for white-tailed tropical birds called koae kea and listen for the trill of Hawaiian crickets along this moderate to challenging hike.
Top Experiences
The hike to the coast to view lava entering the ocean is especially dramatic at night. Currently this lava-viewing site is operated by the county of Hawaii and is located outside the park at the end of Highway 130. Check the park website for important information.
Book a 12-hour van tour with Hawaii Forest & Trail. The Kilauea Volcano Adventure tour includes a visit to a natural lava tube near Hilo. Or pay $200 for a 45-minute helicopter tour out of Hilo that flies above the Puu Oo vent and along the coast, providing unforgettable views of glowing lava meeting the sea in clouds of steam (when conditions are optimal).
Flora/Fauna
Keep your eyes peeled for Hawaiian honeycreepers, Hawaiian geese, hawks, thrushes, and hoary bats; Kamehameha and Blackburn's butterflies; happyface spiders and lava crickets; and hawksbill turtles. The native flora includes Ohia-lehua, koa and mamane trees; ohelo, aalii, and pukiawe bushes; and hapuu and amau ferns.
Photo Ops
The Jaggar Museum overlooks the entire Kilauea Caldera. In the evening it is a good spot for low-light photography. After a rain shower you may be able to photograph steambows—rainbows that form over steam vents. Another likely photo op is the currently erupting vent at Halemaumau Crater, which fumes during the day and glows after dark.
A 0.7-mile hike takes you to the petroglyphs at Puuloa, the largest concentration of petroglyphs in Polynesia. They make a beautiful and unusual photo op. Take care not to walk on them.
Smart Traveler Strategies
Bring water bottles and snacks for all excursions in the park. It can get chilly because you're in a rain forest at 4,000 feet, so wear layers, from a light rain jacket to something warmer. If you see a ohia-lehua tree in full blossom, have your binoculars ready; you'll likely see honeycreepers flying up to the blossom to siphon out nectar. Honeycreepers are endemic and bountiful in the park.
When to Visit
The park is open 24 hours a day year-round. The weather is often driest in September and October. To avoid crowds, visit the park's major sights before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m.
Where to Stay
Volcano House is the only hotel within the park. Open since 1846, this vintage lodge perched on the rim of Kilauea Crater is the oldest continuously operating hotel in the state of Hawaii. A lobby fireplace draws guests on cool nights. The 42 guest rooms feature koa wood furniture, and some boast crater views. The hotel is located across the street from the Kilauea Visitors Center.
Namakanipaio and Kulanaokuaiki Campgrounds: These two drive-in campgrounds within the park are free of charge (entry fee to the park still required). First-come, first-served, no reservations or permit needed. No showers. Tent sites only. Open year-round.
Thirty minutes outside the park, in Pahala, Colony One at Sea Mountain offers recently renovated condos near a black-sand beach, along with a pool, tennis courts, and golf.
Excursions Outside the Park
Mauna Kea Observatory is home to the world's largest observatory for optical, infrared, and submillimeter astronomy. Located off Hawaii Rte. 200 (Saddle Rd.).
Akaka Falls State Park features the 442-foot-high Akaka Falls, tucked in a lush jungle fragrant with blossoms. Get there by a self-guided trail with scenic lookouts. Located at the end of Akaka Falls Road, off Hawaii Rte. 220.
Advisories
Volcanic smog can cause headaches, breathing difficulties, and throat and eye irritations. Pregnant women, young children, and those with asthma and heart conditions are most susceptible; Halemaumau Crater, in particular, can spew thick fumes. Stay on marked trails and do not enter any closed areas. The volatile nature of the lava flows can close parts of the park at any time. Check the website for the latest updates.
More From National Geographic
National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the U.S., Sixth Edition, 2009
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Trail Map (1995)
National Geographic video of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Downloadable Wallpapers of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/photos/rocks/oozing-lava.html http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/enlarge/ripples-pahoehoe.html http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/wallpaper/kilaueahawaiivolcano.html
Copy for this series includes excerpts from National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States, Sixth Edition, 2009, and our National Parks series featured in National Geographic Traveler. See staff contributors here.