Big
Island Volcanoes:
Kilauea and Mauna Loa
A Visit To Hawaii’s Big Island Volcanoes
Is A Unique And Awesome Experience!
There are
few opportunities on planet earth where
you can get up close to an active volcano. At
Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park, the key to
an exciting journey at the volcanoes is to plan
your visit. The Park experience is awesome and
a visit to Hawaii’s Big Island should not be
without it.
If you are
planning to enter the Park by car,
BEFORE you start driving…you need to call the
Volcanoes National
Park (808-985-6000) to hear
about the current conditions at the Park. You’ll
also get important tips on what you'll need to take
with you for a comfortable and safe
experience.
There may be sections of the Park that are closed
to the public at that time due to shifts in the
directions of the lava flow,
or because of poor
weather conditions. The journey to the Volcanoes
National Park takes time and you don’t want to
reach the visitor center only to learn that the
weather will prevent your visit.
Volcanoes National Park http://www.nps.gov/havo
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was established in
1916 as the country’s 13th National Park. It was
created to preserve the region’s unique volcanic
features, its early human history, and the plant and
animal life that is part of this special bio-region.
The National Park service is responsible for the
protection of this great resource and its visitors.
According to Hawaiian
legends, this is the home
of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire. Her first
home was one of the smaller Hawaiian islands,
Ni’ihau, but the goddess of the sea chased her
from island to island, destroying each dwelling
that Pele had created. Pele finally found a haven
in Halema’uma’u, in Kilauea Caldera, where she
resides today.
Park Entrance
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is located 30
miles southwest of Hilo and 96 miles southeast
of Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. There is
only one entrance off route 11, south of Hilo
and east of Kona.
General Information
The park is open year-round, including holidays.
For general information, please, call
808-985-6000 or stop at the Kilauea Visitor
Center, the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum or the
Volcano House Hotel (808-967-7321 or
volcanohouse@earthlink.com . Park information
is also available at the website
http://www.nps.gov/havo . For an eruption update,
call 808-985-6000. Temporary road signs will
direct you to safe points whenever eruptions occur.
When you enter the park, tune to AM radio 530
for park information.
Entrance Fees
Your entrance permit is good for seven consecutive
days. The entrance fee is $10 per
vehicle and $5
per hiker, bicyclist or motorcyclist over 16 and
under 62. Entrance fee is free if you have an annual
Hawaii Volcanoes Pass ($20), which may be
obtained at park entrance stations, or an annual
National Park Pass for all national parks and
recreation areas.
Kilauea Visitor Center
Is located a quarter mile from the park entrance.
It is open from 7:45am to 5p.m. daily. A 25-minute
park movie is shown hourly and there are displays
on volcano formation and geologic processes,
native plants and animals, and early Hawaiians.
Maps, posters, books and videotapes are for sale.
Parking and restrooms are available. Back country
permits (necessary for all overnight backcountry
camping trips, no fee applies) may also be obtained.
History Active
Volcanoes
The Hawaiian islands are mere tops of gigantic
mountains rising from the floor of the ocean. The
newest of these islands, Hawaii, is relatively young,
geologically speaking. Five volcanoes formed the Big
Island, but only three are considered
active: Mauna
Loa, Kilauea and Hualalai.
Mauna Loa and Kilauea
are two of the world’s most active volcanoes.
Because the eruptions of Hawaiian volcanoes are
gentler than those of most other volcanoes around
the world, the edges of active vents are frequently
accessible.
Mauna
Loa,
the second tallest mountain in the world,
rises 13,677ft above sea level and descends more than
8 miles below it. Only Mauna Kea at 13,796ft surpasses
it in height when measured from sea level. Mauna Loa
has erupted 37 times since 1832. Its last eruption
occurred in 1984, and for a time it seemed to threaten
the city of Hilo.
Kilauea 4,000ft, Mauna Loa’s smaller neighbor, is one
of the world’s most active volcanoes. For more than
100 years, Kilauea was almost continuously active.
The current eruption began January 3, 1983, and is the
largest and longest flank eruption in
history. There is
no indication when it may end. Go to
www.hvo.wr.usgs.gov/ for current volcano information
and photographs.
Essential Must-Have Items For
Your Journey
Under all
circumstances, even in the best of weather
conditions, there are items you MUST have with you.
You will NEED to take:
- Water – enough for each person
with you
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Sun hats / caps
- Umbrellas
- Windbreakers
- Packed lunches
- Flashlights – one for each
person
While touring the park, it
is a good idea to wear a hat,
sunglasses and sunscreen because the sun can be intense.
However, the weather can change within minutes. Be
prepared for cold, rainy and windy weather (4,000ft
elevation) when you visit the park. Temperatures and
rain vary a lot by elevation and location. While very
warm at sea level, you might find freezing temperatures
when climbing Mauna Loa summit. Evenings at the
park can be chilly. Have warm clothes available.
Wear comfortable walking shoes rather than sandals.
Bring drinking water and food as they are not readily
available in some areas of the park. You can get these
items at the Volcano House or Volcano Village.
From
wherever you are starting out on the Big Island for
the Volcanoes National
Park, you should start driving
early in the morning because you will need several hours
of good daylight to explore the Park. If
you are planning
to hike to the lava flow in the evening to experience the
glow of the red-hot lava, remember to pack flashlights
(see above)…and STAY on the designated trails.
…NEVER wander off of the trails to avoid hazardous
volcanic areas.
The National Park closes every day at 9:00 pm
Driving Times To Volcanoes National Park:
·
Kailua-Kona to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:
2 hours
·
Hilo to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:
45 minutes to 1 hour
·
Hilo to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:
45 minutes to 1 hour
·
Waikoloa
to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:
2.5 hours
·
Waimea to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
(via the Kona Coast):
3 hours
Gas stations
There are no service stations located in the park. Gas
and limited automotive service is available at two stores
in Volcano Village on the way to Hilo one mile northeast
of the park.
Affordable Volcano
Accommodations near
Volcanoes National Park
Affordable Big Island vacation rentals
Hawaii Travel Guide with Volcano vacation rentals
& accommodations.
Bamboo Orchid
Cottage Bed and Breakfast
Art-inspired Craftsman Volcano Cottage B&B in the
rainforest adjacent to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Explore Ancient Lava Tubes
Unique experience on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Lodgings in Volcano
Volcano vacation homes, Volcano Bed & Breakfast,
The Inn at Volcano, Lokahi Lodge.
One of the Big
Island of Hawaii's premiere lodging
and dining spots
Kilauea Lodge when visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National
Park.
Volcano Guesthouse B&B cottages
Frommer's Guides best deal in Volcano, for 15 years.
Volcano Village.net
Cheery accommodations near entrance to Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park.
Volcano Inn
Located in the heart of Volcano Village one mile from the
entrance of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Volcano B&B Cottages
Welcome to Kalani Garden Cottages, an incredible
jewel in Volcano, Hawaii.
Volcano Places
f you're planning a visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park,
Volcano Places has four lovely vacation cottages right in
the Village, minutes from Volcano Park.
Volcano Winery
Experience awesome exotic Hawaiian wines made nowhere
else onearth, next to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Big Island
Helicopter And Flight Companies
To Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park
From various points on the Big Island, there are flight
companies
for hire to take you to exciting adventures
that offer
views of the valcanoes not otherwise possible
from any other ground vehicle.
Blue Hawaiian
Helicopters
Circle of Fire (45 minutes)
Island Hoppers
(Airplane) Volcano Waterfall Tour (50 minutes)
Mokulele Flight Service
(Airplane) on-line Pele's Delight (40 minutes)
Safari Helicopters
Deluxe Waterfall Volcano Safari (55 minutes)
Sunshine
Helicopters
Formations of Pele-Kilauea Volcano (45 - 50 minutes)
Tropical
Helicopters
Volcano-Rainbow Falls Adventure (45 minutes)
