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Boasting the most-visited attraction in the Islands, the districts of Puna and Ka‘u (pronounced kah-oo) are home to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, one of the best places on Earth to view a live volcano by air, land or sea. It’s a vast region, sparsely populated and strongly influenced by the activities of Kilauea Volcano, which began its current eruptive stage more than 20 years ago, in January 1983.
Lava from the eruption completely inundated the world-famous Kalapana Black Sand Beach in the 1990s, but there are several other black sand beaches on this side of the island, including the shoreline at Punaluu, a popular nesting spot for Hawaii’s green sea turtles.
Another regional claim to fame is Ka Lae, or South Point, the southernmost point in the United States, which sits at roughly the same latitude as Mexico City.
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POINTS OF INTEREST |
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Lava Tree State Park |
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Panaewa Rainforest Zoo |
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Isaac Hale Beach Park |
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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Visitor Center |
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Kipuka Puaulu Bird Park |
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Kipuka Puaulu Bird Park
photo by Amy Evans
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click photos to enlarge
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Thurston Lava Tube
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Rainforest Ferns
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Devastation Trail, Volcanoes National Park.
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 Crater Rim and Chain of Craters roads:
An entire day could be devoted to exploring all the sights along the 11-mile road that circles Kilauea Caldera (save time at least for Thurston Lava Tube, Devastation Trail and the Halemaumau Crater Lookout) and the Chain of Craters Road, which follows past lava flows from the heights of Kilauea down to the sea. At the point where the Chain of Craters Road begins to descend, there is a magnificent view of the coastline, and you can see where current lava flows create plumes of steam as molten lava spills into the ocean.
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Red Road:
Local folks will recommend that any trip to the southeastern corner of the Big Island include a leisurely drive along Highway 137, an old coastal road that was originally constructed from red lava cinder. The undisputed attraction of the area from Kalapana to Paradise Park (see Island map) is its unspoiled beauty, which includes natural pools fed by volcanic springs, black sand beaches, basalt rock cliffs and thick coconut groves.
On weekends, residents flock to the Isaac Hale Beach Park at Pohoiki and other parks that line the shore, where they fish, surf, swim and picnic. Also worth a visit in this area is Lava Tree State Park, off of Highway 130,with its eerie formations created by lava wrapping around trees in this koa forest. |
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Lava flow
Photo: Donna and Steve O‘Meara, Volcano Watch International
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As you enter the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, tune your car radio to AM 530 for eruption updates and directions for the best place to view the active volcano.
At 4,000 feet, Kilauea’s summit can be rainy and chilly at any time of year. Visitors to the park should expect rapidly changeable weather and be prepared with a windbreaker or rain jacket, long pants and closed shoes. The coastal areas, where lava enters the ocean, are usually warm and sunny, but often have strong winds, high waves and unpredictable surf conditions.
Collecting lava rocks, sand and minerals—as well as the removal of any plants or animals from the park—is prohibited. Important cultural resources within the park include heiau (ancient temples) and petroglyphs. Please do not climb on or alter any rock structures within the park.
The nene (Hawaiian goose) is an endangered species. Watch for nene on the roads, particularly in the marked habitat areas, and please do not feed them.
Admission to the park is $10 per rental car for a seven-day pass. The park is open 24 hours daily, including holidays. The Kilauea Visitor Center is open daily from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. and shows eruption films hourly from 9 a.m. For more information, call the park headquarters at 985-6000. |
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