On the southeastern side of the island of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park protects a landscape shaped by fire, creation, and constant change. The park is home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, where lava flows, steam vents, and vast lava fields reveal the Earth in motion. Blackened rock stretches toward the ocean, forests reclaim older flows, and crater rims open to sweeping views of a land continually being formed. Few places offer such a direct connection to the forces that build the planet itself.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park was established in 1916 to preserve this extraordinary volcanic landscape and the cultural significance it holds. For Native Hawaiians, this area is deeply sacred and closely tied to stories of creation and the volcano deity Pele. Ancient trails, petroglyphs, and cultural sites remain throughout the park, reflecting generations of life shaped by volcanic activity. The park stands as both a natural wonder and a cultural landscape where geology and tradition exist side by side.
Visitors experience the park through a variety of dramatic settings. Crater Rim Drive loops past calderas, steam vents, and lava tubes, while trails lead across hardened lava fields and through rainforests filled with native plants and birds. At night, the glow from active lava or steam illuminated by moonlight creates an unforgettable atmosphere. From the cool elevation of Mauna Loa to the coastal plains where lava meets the sea, the park offers striking contrasts within a single landscape.
Conservation at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park focuses on protecting native ecosystems, preserving cultural sites, and ensuring visitor safety in an active volcanic environment. Scientists closely monitor volcanic activity, air quality, and the spread of invasive species that threaten native plants and wildlife. The National Park Service works with cultural practitioners and researchers to balance access with respect for the land. Visitors are encouraged to stay on marked trails, heed safety warnings, and approach the park with care and reverence. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is a powerful reminder that nature is not static, but alive and continually shaping the world around us.
Our Experience
We rented a jeep on the island and drove around the park to see the giant craters and active volcanoes! We even got to hike straight through a massive crater so large, it took a couple hours to finish. A couple roads were damaged/closed, so we got to do even more hiking to get a different viewpoint of the one we hiked through. We also got to see some sulfur pits and burnt forests. This park borders the sea as well, so it was pretty cool to see the volcanic sea cliffs and the way the lava shaped the border and poured into the sea. On the island that this park lives, we also had one of the most unique and amazing experiences of swimming with giant Mantarays.