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The big island consists of five separate volcanoes: the Kohala, Mauna Kea, Hualālai, Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcano. Of these, Mauna Kea is with 13,796 feet the tallest mountain in the state and the tallest sea mountain in the world. If measured from the ocean floor, it is with 33,000 feet taller than Mt. Everest, and it houses many world-class telescopes. Mauna Loa is the largest volcano on Earth in terms of volume and area covered. Despite these impressive figures, Kilauea is the most famous of the Hawaiian volcanoes, and rightly so! It is located in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and has been erupting continuously since 1983. Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes of the world, and is visited by millions of tourists each year, making it the most visited attraction in Hawaii and the most visited volcano in the world.
If you are looking for more than a day trip to see the volcanoes, set up camp in Volcano Village. This little village lies in the middle of lush rain forest only 5 minutes from the park entrance and has great value vacation rentals!
Things to do in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
It is possible to spend multiple days in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park without getting bored! The park offers 100+ miles of hiking trails that take you through old lava tubes, recently formed lava flows and over the still smoking crated floors of the parks volcanoes. Besides that, the park organizes daily ranger-led hikes and weekly activities such as "After Dark in the Park". Overnight camping is possible in the park on two separate campgrounds.
If you do not feel like hiking, the park is also very accessible by car. The crater-rim drive (that is now partially closed because of the recent Halemaumau activity) takes you round the Kilauea Crater, and the chain of craters road takes you past many scenic points and active and less active craters all the way down to the ocean, where the road finally disappears below the lava.
The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park provides a great map with hiking trails and roads.
Conditions for lava viewing (lava flowing into the ocean, accessibility to the lava flow) are ever changing. For up-to-date information see our lava viewing guide for Hawaii and the resources mentioned there
Must-See Park Attractions:
Park attractions include the following, but here is far more in the park to keep you entertained. Your first stop in the park should always be the visitor center for an up-to-date report on the park events, closed-of area's and ranger led hikes.
- The Kilauea Visitor Center is open daily from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ranger talks and guided tours can be scheduled here, and there plays a 25 minute film to introduce you to the park. Pick up maps, learn about the park's hikes and get the latest eruption updates here.
- The Volcano Art Center Gallery, adjacent to the Kilauea Visitor Center, is open from 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. daily.
- The Thomas A. Jagger Museum is opened daily: 8:30 am to 5 pm. Thomas A. Jaggar pioneered the study of volcanology at Kilauea. You can find geologic displays, maps and videos about the study of volcanoes, and the best overlook over the steaming Halemaumau crater here!
- The Ranger station on the Chain of Craters Road is open daily: 10:00 am to 9 pm. This 3,700-foot drive takes you past some of the most active craters of the park such as the Pu'u O'o vent, and eventually ends down at the ocean where a lava flow has literally overtaken the road.
- Thurston Lava Tube: A 20 minute 1/3 mile walk though a tree fern forest and lighted prehistoric cave like lava tube takes you from the main road through the Thurston Lava Tube.
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Getting to Hawai Volcanoes National Park and opening hours:
You can always visit the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, is open 24 hours a day, year-round. The Kilauea Visitor Center is located on Crater Rim Drive off of Highway 11 between the 28 and 29 mile marker south of Hilo. The visitor center is opened daily between 7:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.. The Jaggar Museum is open daily between 8:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. (back to top)
Entrance fees and free days:
The National Park Service has designated the following fee free days for 2011:
- January 15-17, 2011 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend)
- April 16-24, 2011 (National Park Week)
- June 21, 2011 (First day of summer)
- September 24, 2011 (National Public Lands Day)
- November 11-13, 2011 (Veterans Day weekend)
Park entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees will be waived on these days.
On other days, general admission is $10.00 per private non-commercial vehicle or $5.00 for pedestrians or bicyclists. Keep the receipt, because it will allow you seven days entrance to the National Park.
If you are staying for a longer time on Hawaii, you may also be interested in the annual "Hawai`i Tri-Park Pass" ($25.00). It allows access for one full year from date of first use at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Haleakala National Park, and Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park.
The pass admits the pass owner and/or spouse along with accompanying persons in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle. When entry is by other means (bicycle, foot, Hele-On bus, etc.) the passport covers the purchaser and accompanying immediate family (spouse, children, and parents). Pass is not refundable or transferable. (back to top)
Map of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
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