You can surf in the South Pacific. You can scuba dive in the Mediterranean. And you can go whale watching in Norway. While some of Hawaii’s most popular attractions and activities can be seen and done elsewhere, getting to visit a live volcano is one of the most unique features of a Hawaiian vacation.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
There’s not another national park in the United States like Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park. Located on the Big Island of Hawaii and covering over 500 square miles, this park includes Kilauea (one of the most active volcanoes on Earth), as well as Mauna Loa (the largest volcano on Earth).
The word Kilauea translates into “spewing” or “much spreading” in Hawaiian, referring to the frequent lava emissions produced by the volcano. In fact, a lava eruption that began at Kilauea in 1983 still has not stopped. Although it’s safe to visit the volcano and its lava flows, in 1987 the current eruption gobbled up Royal Gardens Subdivision and a newly constructed, multi-million dollar museum and visitor’s center. In 1990, the volcano’s lava obliterated the towns of Kalapana and Kaimu.
Visitors to the volcano today can come close enough to observe the lava flows directly by driving to the end of Chain of Craters Road. In the past the road was longer, but now it ends where the lava begins.
Mauna Loa means “long mountain” in Hawaiian. Erupting for the past 700,000 years, Mauna Loa is still active today, although not as active as Kilauea. In the past 3,000 years, Mauna Loa has erupted an average of once every six years; however, its last eruption was in 1984. Some adventurous, physically fit visitors enjoy the long hike up the side of Mauna Loa.
Other Things to Do and See at Volcanoes National Park
After taking a look at the lava of Kilauea or hiking Mauna Loa, take advantage of some of the many other unique features of Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park. For the outdoorsy family, there are plenty of day hikes that aren’t too strenuous and are even wheelchair and stroller accessible. The park also has space for camping, bike trails for cyclists, and longer, harder wilderness hikes.
The park has a visitor center that shows a video every hour about Hawaii’s volcanoes, as well as a schedule of daily ranger-led activities. The Jaggar Museum, which previously housed the offices of the US Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, is today devoted to many interesting exhibits on volcanology. Jaggar Museum also includes an overlook, which is one of the best places to observe the most recent eruption of 2008.
When you plan your trip to Hawaii, be sure to include some time to visit Volcanoes National Park – possibly the most unique national park on the planet.
Photo credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Kirk Lee Aeder