Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

On the Big Island of Hawaii, this UNESCO park contains two of the most active volcanoes on earth, Kilauea and the massive Mauna Loa, where you can watch the raw process of creation: steaming craters, lava tubes, hardened lava fields and, during eruptions, the glow of molten rock. It is a landscape of new land being born.

Background

The park began on August 1, 1916, as Hawaii National Park, which was later divided into this park and Haleakalā National Park. It covers 354461 acres, from sea level to the 13679 feet summit of Mauna Loa, the largest shield volcano on Earth, and around half of it (130790 acres) became the Hawaii Volcanoes Wilderness area in 1978. It was named an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980 and a World Heritage Site in 1987. On May 11, 2018, explosions, toxic ash clouds and earthquakes closed the Kīlauea summit area, and the damaged Jaggar Museum and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory buildings were torn down in 2024. Since December 20, 2020, Halemaʻumaʻu crater has erupted on and off.

Source: Wikipedia, "Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park"

What you'll find

• Kilauea caldera - the great steaming crater, glowing at night during eruptions.
• Chain of Craters Road - the drive down old lava fields to the sea.
• Thurston lava tube - the walk-through tunnel left by flowing lava.
• Steam vents and craters - the geothermal features of the summit area.

When to go

Year-round, since the tropics keep it open, though eruptions come and go unpredictably. Night is best to see any lava glow. Check the volcano's current activity before visiting.

Before you go

Whether you see actual lava depends entirely on the volcano's mood, which is unpredictable, so eruptions cannot be guaranteed. Volcanic gas and closures can affect access, so check conditions. It is a sacred place to Native Hawaiians, so treat it with respect.

Nearby

Hilo and the Big Island's beaches and Mauna Kea are around; the black-sand beaches lie down the coast.

Key facts