{"id":259,"date":"2021-05-04T20:58:07","date_gmt":"2021-05-05T03:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nickrossphoto.com\/blog\/?p=259"},"modified":"2023-08-28T20:22:36","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T03:22:36","slug":"hawaii-volcanoes-national-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nickrossphoto.com\/blog\/national-parks\/hawaii-volcanoes-national-park","title":{"rendered":"Five Small But Important Things To Observe In Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cThe greater part of the vast floor of the desert under us was as black as ink, and apparently smooth and level; but over a mile square of it was ringed and streaked and striped with a thousand branching streams of liquid and gorgeously brilliant fire!<\/em>\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p>Mark Twain during his visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in 1866<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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So you\u2019ve vacationed to the Big Island, and the first thing on your mind was, let\u2019s go check out some volcanoes? Well, probably not, but you should make some room in your itinerary for this extraordinary feat of nature. Trade-in a day of pristine white sand beaches and journey to the fires of the earth!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Top Things To Do In <\/strong>Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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5. Thurston Lava Tubes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Here you can explore the famous Thurston Lava Tubes. The trail is easy and will lead you through some beautiful Hawaiian rainforest before it drops you into the illuminated tunnel. Stroll through the tube and imagine all the lava that flowed through right where you are standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. Hike \/ Camp<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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There are many campgrounds scattered throughout this national park. I guess if sleeping near an actively erupting volcano is your thing, this will be perfect for you. We didn\u2019t elect to camp here, but we did take advantage of the many trails throughout the park. Our favorite hike was the K\u012blauea Iki Hike. It\u2019s a short 4-mile hike, and we recommend going counterclockwise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to Park?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Park at the overlook and follow the signs for the crater rim trail. This excellent hike will take you down to the crater of a volcano formed less than 60 years ago! Travel along the path that leads you through charred earth. Scattered throughout the black are pops of color. Some beautiful flowers were pushing their way up through the black crater floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Take a Drive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Lots of the sights in this park are pretty spread out, but they are worth it. I\u2019d say one of the most scenic drives on the big island is right here in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Chain of Craters Road Tour is a definite must! The road will lead you through the park and past some fantastic overlooks. The drive ultimately takes you back to the sea, where you can catch some spectacular views. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Take Flight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A helicopter tour isn\u2019t part of the park perse, but I still definitely recommend it. As long as the volcano is erupting, most companies will take you right over the action. The tour is pretty pricy, but hey, you\u2019re on vacation, so splurge a little. We went with Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time for takeoff!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We took off from the west side of the island, landed at a waterfall, AND got to see an erupting volcano from a view few get to see. You also have the option of buying your flight video. You get an edited video with footage from inside and outside the helicopter, and you can see\/hear your conversations throughout the whole flight. Overall the flight was around an hour, but the memories last forever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. See some Lava!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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If you choose not to do the helicopter, there are still plenty of options to see some lava. You can book a guided tour on foot and hike as close as you can get to see the lava up close and personal. There are also boat tours available to see where this fiery red monster meets the cold blue sea. Either way, this is something I think everyone should see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where To Stay Near Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Big Island is massive. However, it\u2019s not so big that you can\u2019t get around it in a day. If you are staying on the island, wherever your hotel or Airbnb is at is probably close enough. The park is located on the southern end of the island. Even from clear on the other side of the island, you only look at a 2-hour drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things To Remember In Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1.     Hydration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n