4 Things You Must Do at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
I am not sure how my obsession with National Parks started, but over the years, I have made every attempt to visit all the Big 63 national parks. Luckily for me, The Big Island is famously known to be the home to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. This was my first time seeing volcanoes this close since my trip to Iceland many years ago. I truly fell in love with the area and its mana, which I will explain in more detail below.
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
I wanted to give you a few fun facts about this park before diving into the top three things you must do if you only plan to be here for a few days.
Did you know that the island of Hawai’i (Big Island) sits above a hotspot, meaning the Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes are the most active volcanos on the island?
Did you know that the Islands of Hawai’i are constantly moving? Eventually, the Big Island will no longer be on the hot spot, and the islands will be even farther away.
Did you know this place has mana? In Hawaiian culture, mana is a spiritual energy and healing power. This power can exist in places, objects, and persons, and this is one of the places where you can experience mana. I fell in love with this concept, and I do believe that you can feel the energy of the Earth and maybe a higher power in this park if you choose to believe.
Ranger Talk!
If you have been following me for a while now, you know I love talking to park rangers. Honestly, they are the best humans. On my second day, I decided to join a ranger talk about Crater Rim. This free talk lasted about an hour or so. She provided a history of the park, some cultural information (like mana), and a glimpse of what it is like to work in a park with the most active Hawaiian volcano. She told us stories about the last eruption and how it physically changed the park. If you can only spend a day in the park, this is the best way to start it.
1. Chain of Crater Road
This is a MUST if you are visiting the park—even if you only spend a few hours here. This 38-mile round trip starts in the lush green rainforest. Then, the typology changes as you descend 3,700 feet to the coastline, passing many lava fields on the way.
Besides the fact that you are driving in an active area, what was cool was that the park put up signs to denote various eruptions over the last 50+ years that created the lava fields.
The road is easy to drive, but when I was there, it was super windy, so be mindful as you drive down the switchback. Another thing to note is that there isn’t much cell service once you leave the lush rainforest. If there is an emergency, a phone is located at the Puʻuloa Petroglyph trailhead.
Lava buried portions of the road during the 2003 eruption. Therefore, the park created a turnaround point with a small ranger station. At this point, you can turn around and head back or park in the parking lot and walk for five or so minutes to see Holei Sea Arch. This arch was formed by wave erosion. It’s crazy to think that one day, it won’t be here anymore for the same reason. I highly suggest you check it out!
Also, if you want to see multiple epic rainbows, this drive is for you. I saw four or five stunning rainbows on this drive. This whole drive took me about 2 hours or so because I stopped a lot on the way down!
2. Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube)
On your way back from Chain of Crater Road, you can stop at the Thurston Lava Tube and check out a 500-year-old lava tube where a river of 2000°F lava once flowed! This is a short and simple hike . . . well, more like a walk.
If you park at Kīlauea Iki Overlook, it is a 1.5-mile round trip. You can park at the Lava Tube parking lot, which is right across the street. However, that tends to fill up fast since it’s limited parking for a shorter hike, so I recommend getting there around 8 a.m.
You start off by hiking through a rainforest until you get to a cave opening. I did the cave twice because I didn’t realize there were no lights (the lava tube is lit between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.), so I had to use my phone to light the way. I would recommend bringing a flashlight.
There are a few other things to note: you want to bring waterproof shoes unless you don’t mind going through standing water (not deep water, but you will get wet), and be mindful if you are a tall person because it’s a low clearance.
It was cool to walk through the tube when there wasn’t much light, though it got dark quickly. Toward the end, as you make your way up the steps, the lights are finally turned on—that’s when I decided to finish the loop through the jungle and go through the tube again.
If you are lucky like me, while you are walking through the rainforest, you might see Hawai’i’s state bird, the Hawaiian goose, or nēnē, the rarest goose in the world. If you see them, please don’t feed them, and let the wild animals be wild.
3. Kīlauea Iki Trail
The nice thing about doing the lava tubes is that you are so close to the Kīlauea Iki Trail. It is a 3.3-mile moderate to challenging hike with a steep, rocky descent and an ascent of 400 feet.
This was my favorite adventure in the park by far because you start hiking through the rainforest, then you find yourself inside a volcano crater!
You are probably wondering, “But how can you hike in an active crater?”
Well, let me provide some background. In November 1959, there was a volcanic eruption that was once a lava lake. During the eruption, the lava exploded 1,900 feet in the air! Yep, 1,900 feet, the tallest eruption in Hawai’i’s history. By December, the eruptions stopped. The lava cooled and then formed a hardened lava lake that you can hike on!
A couple of things to note:
Be careful as you hike through the crater, as there are many cracks in the ground on top of large, unstable rocks.
Also, technically, you aren't free to roam the crater. There is a set path—please follow the piles of rocks (aka Ahu) that line the crater. The path exists because the crater has steam vents, and some rocks near them could actually burn you! Though you can't get super close, keep your eyes open for those vents because it’s crazy to think about what’s going on just below your feet.
Recap
Even if you only have a few hours or a few days at this park, I hope these adventures will be on your list! Just remember to leave no trace and soak up the mana here!
