Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Things to Do

The first western-style building on the rim of Kīlauea, currently housing the Volcano Art Center gallery

Plan Like A Park Ranger at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

You have entered the Wao Akua— the realm of the gods. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park contains many of Hawai‘i’s most precious resources. For native Hawaiians, the park also envelops many of their wahi la‘a (sacred sites), their ‘āina hānau (birth lands) and ‘āina waiwai (subsistence lands. These areas incorporate not just the physical landscape and its inhabitants, but also the spiritual entities that are believed to comprise and surround them—the akua (gods) and the ‘aumakua (guardian ancestors). Early Hawaiians utilized two primary land boundary systems—one, which partitioned an island into zones of spiritual signifcance and the other, which divided it and its resources geographically amongst the chiefs and commoners. Crafted generations ago, these two systems acted as a means of balancing an island’s spiritual, natural, and human resources in perpetuity. Since subsistence resources were plentiful in some areas while limited in others, it was the kuleana (responsibility) of the residents to maintain them. As long as they were cared for, life was sustained. The ahuapua‘a (land division) boundary system divides an island into vertical land sections that stretch from mauka (mountains) to makai (oceans). Visible landmarks, like mountain peaks, ridges, or ahu (rock cairns), are most often used to delineate the boundaries. Kīpukapuaulu resides in the ‘āina ʻili (smaller land parcel) of Keauhou within the ahupua‘a of Kapāpala. The treasured habitat of Kīpukapuaulu is also enveloped within the Wao Akua, the sacred realm of the gods. It is just one of seven (Kuahiwi, Kualono, Wao ma‘ukele, Wao Akua, Wao kanaka, Kula, Kahakai) such spiritually signifcant zones that horizontally divides an island. The Wao Akua region is revered for its ancient trees and wealthy seed sources. Where the akua and ‘aumakua reside, life fourishes—life that will, inturn, permeate much of the surrounding lands. Kīpukapuaulu is that wellspring of life supported by the akua and ‘aumakua that embody it.

Think about a cherished family heirloom that may not seem valuable to someone else. What is it that makes it valuable? This rugged volcanic landscape is in the ahupuaʻa (divisional land system) of Pānau Nui. Ahead is a volcanic pressure dome called Puʻuloa (Long Hill). Centuries ago, this place was once part of a thriving Hawaiian community. Rock-carved images known as petroglyphs cover this area. Petroglyphs were made using pōhaku (rock). Native Hawaiians used a sharp stone to peck or incise impressions into the lava surface. The archaeological site of Puʻuloa contains over 23,000 petroglyph images making this the largest petroglyph site in the state of Hawaiʻi. Decades ago American anthropologist Kenneth Pike Emory (November 23, 1897 – January 2, 1992), seemed to dismiss the importance of petroglyph sites stating; “The most that can be said for picture writing [petroglyphs] among Hawaiians is that it is in an experimental stage. Certain places and bowlders were favored for the carving of petroglyphs partly on account of the suitableness of the rock and partly, no doubt, because the practice had there gained a start. No special significance need to be attached to the location of the petroglyph centers except perhaps that they were places often visited by the travelling native.” Continue on the tour to find out if he was right or wrong.

Park resource managers continue 10 a long tradition of restoration. Twenty years ago, despite the removal of grazing animals, many parts of Kīpukapuaulu (approximately 1/4 of the kīpuka) remained a treeless grassland, choked by invasive blackberry (Rubis argutus) and alien pasture grasses. To encourage restoration, today’s resource specialists, like those that preceded them, continue to remove the invasive blackberry and grasses that litter the forest. This has allowed the native plants to recover naturally. Where native trees didn’t recover, even after repeated weed-removal efforts, fast-growing native trees and shrubs were planted. Once these faster growing plants matured and created shade, other shadetolerant native understory species were planted below them. Although the threats of volcanic activity or wildfire are always present, hard-working resource specialists continue to care for this flourishing native forest.

Rescued from the brink of extinction, the hau kuahiwi is the 11 crown jewel of Kīpukapuaulu. The rarest plant in Kīpukapuaulu is the hau kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphus giffardianus). This large-leaved, relatively small tree has long, curved flowers that suggest pollination by a curve-billed Hawaiian honeycreeper. In 1911, Joseph Rock was shown a single, cattle-ravaged hau kuahiwi plant on the edge of Kīpukapuaulu. He described it as a new species and commented that “it is unique among all Hawaiian plants, and the author is sorry to relate that nothing has been done to protect it.” Sadly, that lone tree died in the summer of 1930, but not before seeds were collected and propagated by volcano resident W.M. Giffard (for which this plant was named). Early records revealed that Giffard’s efforts successfully yielded at least one surviving tree, whose offspring were later replanted here between 1951–1964. By 2001, after continued propogation efforts, researchers were able to reintroduce more than 200 trees to both Kīpukapuaulu and Kīpuka Kī. These reintroduction projects continue today as part of an effort to stablilize many of the park’s rare plant species. Through combined efforts, many of these trees have survived and some have even set fruit—a recent recovery to be celebrated. In the last 10 years, over 1,000 individuals of 10 other rare plant species have been planted in Kīpukapuaulu. Although some of these species haven’t yet produced seedlings, many are thriving. Some species continue to struggle for survival—challenges that resource specialists hope to solve by continuing to care for this– kuʻu ʻāina waokele pūlama–treasured island of forest. From the time of the ancient native Hawaiian practitioner, who believed this to be the home of their akua and ‘aumakua, to nearly a century of botanists and foresters, Kīpukapuaulu has captivated its visitors with its biological wonders, beauty, and tranquility. As Charles Kraebel, Assistant Superintendent of Forestry for the Territory of Hawai‘i, said in 1922, “There is always some otherwhere whose charms seem not to have been sufficiently heralded. Such a spot is the Kipuka Puaulu. . . .”

This revered kīpuka was nearly destroyed by grazing animals. Much of Kīpukapuaulu has been spared from the continual eruptions of Mauna Loa and Kīlauea volcanoes, allowing native plants, birds, and insects to flourish. But in the late 1700s, well before the establishment of the park in 1916, this paradise was nearly lost, when cattle and feral goats were set loose in Hawaiʻi. Having evolved without grazers and lacking the defenses to repel them, many native Hawaiian plants were consumed like ice cream. In Kīpukapuaulu, and much of the surrounding forest, cattle and goats ate everything within their reach, and diversity severely declined. Only tall trees survived their grazing, and alien pasture grasses thrived. Joseph Rock, a self-taught botany professor, was the first plant explorer to reveal the fragile biodiversity of Kīpukapuaulu in his 1913 book, The Indigenous Trees of the Hawaiian Islands. He documented many rare native trees, like the indigenous mānele, or soapberry (Sapindus saponaria), struggling to survive in a sterile, citypark-like landscape. In addition to his work, he also undertook the first replanting of rare species, such as the hau kuahiwi, Hibiscadelphus giffardianus, and saved it from extinction. At that time, Kīpukapuaulu was a forest without a future. This “hot spot” of biodiversity was slowly dying. Its once thriving grandparent trees were struggling for survival, with no grandchildren— seedlings or saplings—to succeed them. To protect this precious kīpuka and what was left of its native plants, cattle were removed in 1928. Goats and pigs were later fenced out in 1968. Since then, Kīpukapuaulu has lost its artificially groomed garden-like appearance but has regained its future as a thriving, self-sustaining, species-rich forest. The tall, old mānele trees nearby and throughout the rest of this kīpuka now tower above the forest’s rich understory plants. Compare today’s understory to that in the 1913 photo above. What a tremendous difference! Today’s understory is densely packed with not only mānele trees, but also pāpala kēpau (Pisonia brunoniana), ʻolopua (Nestegis sandwicensis), and other native trees.

Ke ala kahiko (the path of the old ones) tells the stories and memories of the Hawaiian people. Hawaiʻi lacked a written language before western contact. The petroglyphs you will see provide not only a glimpse into the lives of those early Hawaiian people, but help us understand the value of the ʻohana (family). It is a tangible link to their life experiences, their struggles, and their successes. The full meaning behind some petroglyphs may only be known to their creators but their collective story is still told here through these images lovingly carved into rock. As you walk this path, you are continuing the legacy of Puʻuloa.

Fast-growing koa trees recover 3 after years of weed control. In the 1920s, nasturtium was planted to provide a splash of color to this once cattle-ravaged kīpuka. After the cattle were removed, this ordinarily tame non-native garden plant spread wildly throughout Kīpukapuaulu, creating dense, plant-choking mats. These mats prevented native plant seedlings from becoming established—a problem that persists even today if left unattended. In the 1980s, a summer youth group, working alongside park staff, laboriously hand-pulled every nasturtium plant at this site. Once these overlying mats were uprooted, the dormant seeds of the endemic (found only in Hawaiʻi) koa (Acacia koa) trees germinated and grew rapidly in the deep soil of Kīpukapuaulu. Now that the nasturtium is being controlled, the koa, along with many other native species are prospering. In 100 years, many of these young koa trees will become the new forest elders, growing up to 75–100 feet (23–30 m) tall and 3–5 feet (1–1.5 m) in diameter—ready to nurture the forest life below them.

Puʻuloa is a revered site for many native Hawaiian ʻohana (families). This ahupuaʻa (divisional land system) of Pānau Nui is important to Hawaiians. It provided a sustainable lifestyle through conservation and trade. They thrived for generations by living off the land and sea. This place is also the featured location of the story of Kaʻehuikimanōopuʻuloa, the little brown shark of Puʻuloa. Listen to the story about Kaʻehuikimanōopuʻuloa while you walk to the next stop. Think about how your family’s story has helped make you who you are today.

Unlike the now-thriving koa, the ʻōhiʻa lehua trees are dying of natural causes. Visitors to Kīpukapuaulu often notice, with great concern, the many large, dying endemic ʻōhiʻa lehua trees (Metrosideros polymorpha). They ask whether their demise is due to a disease or insect that may be spreading throughout the islands. The good news is that the dieback of ʻōhiʻa lehua trees in Hawaiʻi is a natural phenomenon. But what, then, are killing these trees in Kīpukapuaulu? The most likely culprits are simply old age and drought. ʻŌhiʻa lehua trees colonize new lava flows and ash deposits. As a new generation, they grow up together, mature together, and die together. As these trees age, they lose their ability to handle environmental and biological stresses, such as drought, insects, and disease. The most likely stress affecting Kīpukapuaulu is the high frequency of El Niño droughts that Hawaiʻi has been experiencing since the late 1990s. The dieback you see here, and through out the rest of Kīpukapuaulu, is just part of a widespread dieback occurring on the lower slopes of Mauna Loa.

By early 1970, the fountaining vent had created the base of the growing Maunaulu lava shield. Overflows from the vent soon consumed the landscape and filled both ‘Ālo‘i and ʻAlae craters. Majestic lava falls plunged 80 feet (24 m) over ‘Ālo‘i crater’s rim. As thin sheets of crust slid over the brink of the falls, thermal updrafts tore them from the flow’s surface; they floated down like autumn leaves blowing in the wind. Lava lakes within the craters overflowed with each new surge from Maunaulu—adding layers and elevation to the surrounding terrain. The dimpled lava mound that grew above ‘Ālo‘i crater is visible to the discerning eye. It sits on Maunaulu’s right flank and rises 260 feet (80 m) above the pre-eruption level. ‘Ālo‘i crater, named for the favorite pig of Kahawali, chief of Puna, was filled during the eruption. When Kahawali refused to race with Pele, she (in the form of lava) chased him to the sea.

These simple impressions embody the essence of Puʻuloa. The name Puʻuloa (long hill) carries a kaona (hidden meaning) – hill of long life. Families came here to place the piko (umbilical stump) of their child in a pecked depression they made. The hope is that the mana (spiritual guiding energy) of Puʻuloa blesses the child with a long and prosperous life. It is a connection to their ancestral lands. Piko is also another word for the navel in Hawaiian- it is where life begins. There are conceptually three piko: piko po’o, piko waena, and piko na’au. Piko po'o is at the top of a person's head. It is the opening that connects the individual's spirit with their 'aumakua (departed, but ever-present deified ancestors). Piko waena, or the navel, represents the person’s connection to his/her parents. This piko covers the na'au (gut) and holds an individual’s knowledge, wisdom, and emotions. Piko ma'i is the genitalia, which links the person to his/her descendants. Each poho (cupule) houses a single child’s piko. Over 16,000 are piko-related carvings – a testament to the importance of both Puʻuloa and ʻohana (family). What traditions are important to your family when a new child is born? ʻAno ʻai ke aloha īa ʻoukou no ke kipa ʻana mai i Puʻuloa. Hele mai a ʻike i kēia ʻāina me ke aloha a me ka mahalo. With aloha, we welcome you to Puʻuloa – a place we honor and cherish. Please stay on the marked trail and boardwalk, for once this site and its petroglyphs are harmed, the stories they cradle will be lost forever. – Nā Kūpuna, Our Hawaiian Elders

As the native plants recover, so do many rare species of insects. There are currently over 500 endemic species of pomace flies, native only to Hawaiʻi and found nowhere else in the world. The elder mānele trees in front of you are the exclusive host plants to two of these small, rare picture-wing flies, Drosophila mimica and Drosophila engyochracea. Ecologist Dr. David Foote has been counting the populations of these two flies periodically since the mid-1990s by attracting them to sponges marinated in a concoction of decaying mushrooms. He is encouraged about the future of Drosophila mimica, as this species is thriving, by feeding on the rotting fruits of the recovering mānele trees. It is a much different story for the Drosophila engyochracea, whose populations have plummeted in the last three decades. Very few flies have been observed since 2007. The villains of this story are alien predators, including yellow jacket wasps and, possibly, a newly arrived spider that lives in the bark of these mānele trees. As predators of the Drosophila engyochracea, they are eating this species to extinction.

Think back to Kenneth Emory’s statement. “The most that can be said for picture writing [petroglyphs] among Hawaiians is that it is in an experimental stage. Certain places and bowlders were favored for the carving of petroglyphs partly on account of the suitableness of the rock and partly, no doubt, because the practice had there gained a start. No special significance need to be attached to the location of the petroglyph centers except perhaps that they were places often visited by the travelling native.” On your walk back consider the following and share your thoughts with a ranger at the visitor center: How do you feel about Emory’s statement after completing your walk through Puʻuloa? How has a family tradition or story helped make you who you are today? How has your view of indigenous cultures changed?

Skylights provide a glimpse into the hidden foundation of Kīpukapuaulu. Under this lush forest lies a foundation—a body of pāhoehoe lava overlain with centuries of volcanic ash. Formed within the body of pāhoehoe lava flows are lava tubes—volcanic caves that were once filled with molten lava. This lava tube is at least 8,600 years old. While active, it once transported lava over great distances, from its eruptive source to its most distal reaches. Skylights are holes in a lava tubes roof where the ceiling has collapsed, leaving an opening like the one we see here. This lava tube was formed during one of Mauna Loa’s many eruptions. Unlike the Nāhuku lava tube, which can be found along the Crater Rim Drive, entry into this lava tube is discouraged, as it is a safe haven for unique plant and animal species and very delicate geological features. It was in this lava tube, in 1971, that the first cave-adapted animal species in Hawai‘i, was discovered. One such species unique to these dark and often damp lava tubes includes the smalleyed, big-eyed hunting spider (Lycosa howarthi). This endemic spider, along with other insects like the millipedes (Nannolene) and the lava tree crickets (Thaumathgryllus cavicola), continue to call this fragile lava tube home.

The future of the ʻōhiʻa lehua tree can be read in the forest gaps of Kīpukapuaulu. ʻŌhiʻa lehua are the most abundant and important trees in Hawaiʻi’s forests. They are found on the main Hawaiian islands, from shoreline to alpine treeline. During their lifetimes, ʻōhiʻa lehua trees provide food to animal species, like the nectarfeeding native birds. They also become nurse logs after dying and nurture new plant growth. After succumbing to natural dieback, these ancient trees fall to the ground, crushing many of the smaller trees and understory plants beneath them. This process, however, allows additional light to enter all the layers of the forest. The influx of light creates an opportunity for young ʻōhiʻa lehua seedlings, which have taken root on nurse logs, to flourish. These young seedlings can grow, fill the gap in the canopy, and become the next forest giants. Fortunately, for these slow-growing trees, their resilient seedlings can persist for many years on nurse logs, ready to take advantage of a new light gap in the forest’s canopy. What do you think are the chances that these slow-growing, light-hungry ʻōhiʻa seedlings will thrive in this small forest gap? Notice that there are other, faster-growing plants, like the endemic pilo (Coprosma rhynchocarpa) and māmaki (Pipturus albidus), and the indigenous purple-flowered koaliʻawa (Ipomoea indica) vine rapidly closing the gap? Once the shadetolerant mānele or pāpala kepau trees replace the pilo, māmaki, and koaliʻawa, the chances for ʻōhiʻa lehua to thrive are grim—at least, until there is a kīpuka-wide disturbance, such as a hurricane or eruption?

The forest floor of native ferns and herbs is also recovering. While celebrating the recovery of native trees in Kīpukapuaulu, park managers also rejoice in the successful return of the native understory shrubs, ferns, and herbs. In this 1921 photo of Kīpukapuaulu, only a grassy cattle pasture remains beneath a canopy of grandparent trees. Absent are the young trees and native forest floor plants beneath them. Had those conditions continued, Kīpukapuaulu would have looked much different today. Today’s understory is flourishing. The recovery of the forest floor plants has not only increased the diversity of native plants here, but also restored plants of cultural significance, like the endemic ʻalaʻalawainui (Peperomia cookiana), the indigenous palapalai fern (Microlepia strigosa), and the common kupukupu swordfern (Nephrolepis exaltata and cordifolia). Without question, much of Hawaiʻi’s extraordinary plant life plays an essential role in the Hawaiian culture. ʻAlaʻalawainui is widely used by native Hawaiians for its medicinal value. Palapalai and kupukupu are most commonly haku (braided) or hili (plaited) to create lei for hula—lei poʻo (lei worn on the head), lei ʻāʻī (lei worn on the shoulders), and lei kūpeʻe (lei worn as a bracelet around the wrists and ankles). These, and other plants, are meticulously collected and offered as hoʻokupu (spiritual gift) to the goddess Pelehonuamea or placed on the sacred kūʻahu (hula altar) in honor of the goddess Laka—the ʻaumakua to whom hula practitioners pay homage. These now thriving, culturally significant plants are the most common species found in the returning understory of Kīpukapuaulu.

The trail through this “veritable botanical oasis” was built by the hard-working CCC “boys.” Access to Kīpukapuaulu prior to the establishment of Hawaiʻi National Park on August 16, 1916, was limited, as it was a part of a much larger privately owned cattle ranching and commercial koa harvesting enterprise. It wasn’t until 1934 that the Kīpukapuaulu trail was constructed by the hard-working “boys” of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)—a program established by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1933. This emergency work program was implemented to provide economic relief for American families from the Great Depression by employing young men during a time when jobs were scarce. Working alongside skilled laborers, these “boys” became known as Roosevelt’s “Tree Army”—then, the most effective large-scale environmental program in the nation. Several camps were opened through Hawaiʻi. The largest camp on the island of Hawaiʻi was built in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (1934–1942). It housed some 200 young men that, while working and living in the park, accomplished many great tasks—establishing much of the Park’s early infrastructure. One such project included the construction of the Kīpukapuaulu trail. They later followed that with several additional projects aimed at invasive grasses removal, tree seedling plantings, and tree identification—all a testament to the significance of Kīpukapuaulu as a “veritable botanical oasis.”

Located on the volatile shoulders of Mauna Loa, the Kahuku ranch was once one of the biggest cattle ranches in Hawaiʻi, producing beef and hides for more than 150 years.

Walls and mounds that helped support agriculture for the people of Kaʻū are still visible today

At the center of the new landscape rises majestic Maunaulu— to many a creation of Pele, a Hawaiian volcanic diety, to all a monument of change. In the pre-dawn morning of May 24, 1969, residents and visitors were jarred awake by window-rattling earthquakes. A large fissure had opened up in a quiet forest along Chain of Craters Road. Soon red-hot lava burst forth to announce the start of a new eruption, the birth of Maunaulu (growing mountain). Maunaulu grew over a new vent that sustained 12 towering fountains from May to December 1969. At times, the fountains reached 1,770 feet (540 m) high—500 feet (150 m) taller than the Empire State Building! It is said that this was Pele’s brother, Keoʻahikamakaua, the spirit of molten fountains, wielding his spears of lava. Here, you can witness how this sacred Hawaiian landscape continues to undergo rapid and extraordinary change. Today when we come to Maunaulu, we see a steaming landscape of destruction and twisted rock. We also discover a fragile and surreal beauty—a place where life regenerates on the volcano’s raw flows. In the future, as in the past, the earth will tremble, and molten lava will cover all you see. An awesome power constantly recreates this land. It is Kīlauea— a force of constant change.

A trail along the fissure from the 1868 Mauna Loa eruption and through scenic ranching pastures

Cavities in rock where trees once stood in the path of lava flows

Uēkahuna is an important site for Native Hawaiian ritual and cultural practice. At the highest point on the rim it presents visitors with spectacular vistas of Kaluapele, Mauna Loa, and surrounding areas.

The Devastation Trail meanders gently through a landscaped covered in cinders from the 1959 eruption of Kīlauea Iki

A scenic overlook above a vast lava plain with views toward the Pacific Ocean

A dramatic chasm representative of the pit crater phenomenon that occurs many places along Chain of Craters Road.

A steep hill with a historic cinder quarry and sweeping views of surrounding ranchlands.

The historic Volcano House hotel has existed in various places and forms on the rim of Kīlauea since 1846

Feel the heated breath of the volcano as water vapor rises from steam vents and catch views of Kīlauea caldera

At the base of the lava-draped Hōlei Pali, see a remnant of the old Chain of Craters Road, which was reclaimed by Pele in 1972.

Kīlauea Overlook offers unobstructed views of the bottom of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater during an eruption. Located 2.5 miles (7 minutes) from the entrance station. Family-friendly location with great views. A short walk from the parking lot or a 0.4 mile walk from Uēkahuna.

Escape the crowds and experience the eruption in near solitude. This vantage point offers stunning wide-angle views of the caldera, being the furthest overlook from the eruption. Take Crater Rim Drive West from the entrance station, and park at the closed Kīlauea Visitor Center, a 0.3-mile (2 minute) drive. Walk 0.5 miles (20 minutes) towards Volcano House hotel then southeast on Crater Rim Trail.

The overlook at Uēkahuna offers great views into Halemaʻumaʻu crater and surrounding areas from the summit of Kīlauea volcano. Located at the end of Crater Rim Drive West, a 2.8-mile (7 minute) drive from the entrance station. Family-friendly location with rangers often on site for information and programs. More available parking compared to other locations.

Experience the heat from nearby steam vents as you take in the breathtaking views of the eruption, with unobstructed, panoramic views of the entire cinder cone. Located on Crater Rim Drive West, 1 mile (4 minutes) from entrance station. A popular, but congested spot due to being the first overlook you encounter upon entering the park.

Eruption viewing from the overlooks near Keanakākoʻi offers close-up views but requires planning. Parking is extremely limited during eruptions. Plan on viewing the eruption from another overlook if parking is full. The site requires a 2-mile round-trip hike (about 1 hour) on old Crater Rim Drive from the Devastation parking area. Additional parking at Puʻupuaʻi Overlook an additional 0.5-mile walk each way.

Start at the Welcome Center near Kilauea Military Camp for amazing eruption views. Walk across the lawn past the flagpole, carefully cross Crater Rim Drive, and enter the forest. Turn left onto Crater Rim Trail toward Steam Vents at Kūkamāhuākea. A short walk through the forest and a gentle 26-ft. descent leads to the first overlook on the right, offering stunning views of the caldera and eruption activity.

See exhibits and a shelter preserving footprints left by Native Hawaiians long ago

A steep pit crater that has harbored and protected treasured native species from outside threats.

The entrance station at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is an essential starting point for any park visit and is where you are required to purchase an entrance pass or present an existing pass to gain access to the park.

See where volcanic gases deposited colorful sulfur crystals and other minerals along this paved trail and boardwalk.

This CCC-era stone shelter sits on the southern flank of Kīlauea with dramatic, sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and coast below.

An arch of lava rock extending from steep cliffs into the Pacific Ocean.

A small cinder cone surrounded by rolling, grassy meadows.

Kaʻauea is a place on the northern rim of Kīlauea, referenced in Hawaiian chants and oral histories going back hundreds of years.Today it is home to a kahua hula platform and a newly constructed hale, a traditional-style Hawaiian house.

Along a section of Old Crater Rim Drive, Keanakākoʻi is a pit crater that has been witness to dramatic geologic events over the centuries.

Relics of Kahuku’s ranching era, pasture land and the 1887 lava flow define this trek.

The Kīlauea Iki Overlook peers into the volcanic crater that hosted the jawdropping lava fountains and lava lake in 1959.

Kīlauea Overlook provides the most dramatic views of Kīlauea caldera and Halemaʻumaʻu crater

An "island within an island", this kīpuka is home to treasured and endangered native species and features a short hiking trail.

A day-use picnic area with amenities including a three-sided shelter

The vast, steamy flat situated between Haʻakulamanu and Wahinekapu is known as Kūkamāhuākea. To many Native Hawaiians the steam that rises is a manifestation of Kū, one of four primary akua (gods) of Hawaiʻi.

Trail along an old road damaged by an earthquake in 1983 with panoramic views of Kaluapele

Meaning "bird crater", lava most recently entered this pit crater in 1974

Witness the dramatic expanse of the lava flows of Maunaulu that blanketed the landscape from 1969 to 1974 at this pullout on Chain of Craters Road

A scenic overlook atop the narrow, winding Mauna Loa Road. It also marks the start of the Mauna Loa Trail and provides a short trail to a silversword plant exclosure.

This remote and difficult trail through jagged lava fields leads to the summit of Mauna Loa.

The Maunaiki Trail is a 16-mile one-way hike through lava fields to the Mauna Iki and Puʻu Koaʻe cones, showcasing the park's distinctive volcanic landscapes and ecosystems.

A short day hike to Puʻuhuluhulu cinder cone provides views of the Maunaulu lava shield and lava flows from the 1969-1974 eruption

The platform provides a vantage point with a view of the remnants of a lava channel that once carried a massive river of molten lava.

A 500-year old cave where a river of lava once flowed.

Puʻuʻōʻō In the distance, you may be able to spot Pu‘uʻō‘ō, a cone that formed in the early years of the current eruption. It has experienced several collapses and has slowly buried itself beneath a lava shield of its own making. In 1983, the Puʻuʻōʻō eruption began seven miles farther out on the East Rift Zone and soon surpassed Maunaulu in many ways. Yet Maunaulu still holds a special place in the memories of those who witnessed the spectacular events. Kāne nui o Hamo The tree-covered summit of Kāne nui o Hamo lava shield can be seen infront of Puʻuʻōʻō. Kāne nui o Hamo is pitted by a forested crater - Makaopuhi, the largest pit crater on Kīlauea. Lava erupted within—or cascaded into—Makaopuhi crater several times but filled only the deeper half of the giant pit. It was named “eye of the eel” for a lens of bluish lava that appeared on the lower crater wall. ʻAlae Prior to this eruption, ʻAlae crater was 0.25 mile (0.5 km) wide and over 425 feet (130 m) deep. During the night of August 4, 1969, lava filled it nearly to its rim. Four hours later, hundreds of earthquakes shook violently, a fissure opened across the crater floor, and most of the liquid lava in the crater drained away. In 30 extraordinary minutes, the lake level dropped as 13 million yards (10 million m3) of lava drained underground to emerge three miles (4.8 km) downrift in Nāpau crater. A day later, one of the most memorable spectacles of the eruption occurred when a huge lava falls cascaded into ʻAlae crater. These falls were wider and higher than the American Falls at Niagara. They soon refilled the crater. By 1974 the eruption had built its third great lava shield, rising 295 feet (90 m) above the rim of the entombed crater. Today it sits just left of where Maunaulu rises today.

This large pit crater has hosted three eruptions in recent decades.

The forested hill to the left of Maunaulu is Pu‘uhuluhulu (shaggy hill), a volcanic cone that predates the new lava shield by over 500 years. Pu‘uhuluhulu is a pile of cinder, spatter, and ash that rained down from high, gascharged fountains. With no flows to carry away the ejecta, each fountain added to its height. Pu‘uhuluhulu stood nearly 300 feet (91 m) above the surrounding land when the eruption first began. By the time the eruption ended, this cone was dwarfed by its new neighbor, Maunaulu. If Maunaulu lava shield continued to erupt and grow, it may have completely surrounded and buried the older Pu‘uhuluhulu cone. The crater inside this old cone protects rare native plants. Feral pigs ravage the nearby forests but can’t get into this crater, due to its steep inner walls. Treasures like ʻōhā—rare outside the crater—find sanctuary within its protective walls. Since the Maunaulu eruption, Puʻuhuluhulu has become an important source of life for new plants to become established on the fresh lava. Pelehonuamea, a Hawaiian volcanic diety, is a force of both destruction and creation of the land. However it is the great Lono (god of vitality) and her sister Hiʻiakaikapoliopele (Hiʻiaka in the bosom of Pele) who bring new life to the barren flows.

A sacred site and the largest grouping of petroglyphs in Hawaiʻi.

Look into Kīlauea Iki crater from a perch next to the massive cinder cone created by lava fountains in 1959

Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association operates the official park bookstores at the Welcome Center and the Kahuku Unit.

Walk along an old road damaged by an earthquake in 1983 and get panoramic views of Kaluapele

Stroll on a paved path through a recovering landscape that was buried by falling cinder from the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption.

Walk through lush rainforest and see a cave where a river of lava flowed 500 years ago.

Looking for solitude or adventure? The vast backcountry on Kīlauea and Mauna Loa provides ample opportunities.

Hike or bike to some of the best views of Kahuku and along the fissure of the 1868 Mauna Loa eruption

Hike across a lava field to the largest group of petroglyphs in Hawaiʻi.

Explore the 1969-1974 lava flows of Maunaulu and hike to the top of Puʻuhuluhulu cinder cone.

Descend 400 feet (122 m) through rainforest into a volcanic crater and hike across a hardened lava lake from the 1959 eruption.

Drive the two primary roads in the park for a scenic adventure through a dynamic geological and cultural landscape

Catch views of Kīlauea caldera, feel the breath of the volcano at Steaming Bluff (Wahinekapu), and walk through lush rainforest.

Hike through scenic pasturelands with native trees, and transverse the 1887 lava flow.

Take a strenuous hike to a pit crater filled with an array of native Hawaiian species.

Take a strenuous hike to a pit crater filled with an array of native Hawaiian species.

Earn your official Junior Ranger badge at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Look for birds in a unique area of biological diversity with rare and endangered species.

Walk a short distance to a view of dramatic sea cliffs and a 90-foot high arch sculpted by the sea.

See where volcanic gases have deposited colorful crystals.

Hike down to the floor of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera), with possible longer connections to Byron Ledge, Kīlauea Iki, and Nāhuku.

A walk up to a small cinder cone surrounded by rolling, grassy meadows

A loop hike through a unique area of biological diversity with rare plants, birds, and old-growth trees.

Traverse the rugged Kaʻū Desert and see footprints left by Native Hawaiians long ago.

Walk along an old portion of Crater Rim Drive to Keanakāko'i Crater and views toward the massive Halemaʻumaʻu.

Hike to the top of Puʻu o Lokuana cinder cone, with choices for a shorter or longer loop.