Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

After leaving Pearl Harbor, we made our way to Hilo, Hawaii to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Sitting on top of two of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, we knew we were going to be in for a treat. If Haleakala was any indication of what’s to come, being overly excited is a big understatement. The only real knowledge going into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was that it has some of the world’s most unique geological, biological, and cultural landscapes to be seen.

The national park extends from the sea to an elevation 13,680 feet with 19 hiking trails within the park. We tried to get in as much as possible. There are two scenic drives (Crater Rim & Chain of Craters Road) that you can make stops along the way and try to get in as many trails as possible. There are around 19 hiking trails of different difficulties, that allow you to see the different wonders that park holds, so there is definitely a lot to take in.

Some of the standout trails we did were the Crater Rim Trail, which is a journey around the summit of one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The Caldera on Halema ‘uma’ u Trail is a hike through the rain forest, that takes you to the floor of Kilauea caldera (volcanic crater). The hike to Nahuku (Thurston Lava Tube) is a 500-year old where lava once flowed. The Walk to Ha’akulamanu is a dramatic thermal area where the volcanic gasses seep out of the ground, than in turn, breaks the lava down into clay and staining the clay red and brown.

There is so much information, and many more hikes and areas that could be explained. It was truly an experience I will cherish. The Hawaiian Islands are beautiful, the culture, people, and heritage are exquisite and am proud to have the opportunity to experience it. The pictures we took are posted below, and hope you enjoy. Our next stop will be flying back to California and heading to Sequoia National Park. LET’S GO!