The Big Island - Hawaii
On the big Island of Hawaii, one of my favorite places to visit is Volcanoes National Park. From Oahu, there are island hopper flights every hour to the island. It’s a quick 1hr flight to Hilo from Honolulu so you can fly over in the morning rent a car and fly back in the evening it’s definitely worth the trip.
Hilo is the tsunami capitol of the US. In 1960 there was a thriving Japanese village on Hilo Bay until a tsunami wiped out the town, now the area is a bay front park. A visit to the Pacific Tsunami Museum is a learning experience if you enjoy museums. As a side bar, Angels Falls is only a few minutes drive from the airport if you have time and can find it it’s a wonderful photo op.
Angel Falls
Now back to Volcanoes National Park…. some of the most beautiful sights to see are in the park. Plan on spending several hours driving to each caldera in the “Chain Of Craters Road” through the East Rift Zone. There are lava tubes that are open to the public just a short walk from the parking lot stop and take a look, it’s tubular!
Kilauea’s Steaming Caldera
Kilauea is the longest errupting volcano in recorded history. The current eruption began in 1983. The lava flows through a tube spilling into the Pacific Ocean leaving a large pillar of steam that can be seen from miles away. Hawaii is the only state that is growing in size.
Kilauea is the home of the volcano goddess, Pele. When erupting, it’s said that Pele is angry. This is the most active volcano in the world, what did we do to anger Pele?
Visiting Volcanoes National Park is an experience that should not be missed. The air in the park is filled with the smell of sulfur and other noxious fumes emitted from the many caldera’s. There is little vegatation in the park and high speed winds wips through the park continousely. At sundown the caldera’s have a red glow from the hot magma that lies just under the surface.
The Chain Of Craters Road takes you down to the coast but stops far short of the actual lava flow. I’m told you can hike out to the eruption but it’s a long walk across some rugged and sharp landscape so be prepared if you are adventurous enough to take this hike.
Lava Bridge
Volcanic Coast
Smaller Caldera
East Rift Zone
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