“Hawaii Volcanoes National Park” by Bill Tracey
The Hawaiian Islands as we know them have been formed over millions of years (and are still being formed today!) as the tectonic plate they are on travels over a volcanic hot spot beneath the Pacific Ocean. The Big Island is the newest of the islands that make up Hawaii. Though Mauna Loa and the now-dormant Mauna Kea make up most of this island, it is still being re-shaped daily by the active Kilauea volcano on its east coast.
With a visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, visitors can see the effects of this volcano’s many eruptions. If you only have a short amount of time, the 11 mile Crater Rim Drive will take you through barren lava fields marked with the years that certain ground was covered by lava. The best way to see it, however, is up close, on one of the park’s many hiking trails. Some of these trails wind through rainforest; others descend into black craters or cross vast plains of barren lava, where plants are just beginning to make a comeback. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes and a light jacket, as this area can be windy. You might be lucky enough to see a rainbow or even a nene, a Hawaiian Goose.
Other interesting things to see in the park include the ancient Pu’u Loa Petroglyphs, the 600-foot Thurston Lava Tube, which visitors can walk through, and the Volcano House Hotel, which was built in 1941 and sits perched on the edge of Kilauea Caldera. The older, 1877 hotel is now home to the Volcano Art Center Gallery, located near the visitor center.
If you stay until evening, bring your binoculars! Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is one of the few places on earth where you can watch molten lava flowing, re-shaping Hawaii before your very eyes! The lava action can usually be seen from the Kalapana viewing area or the end of Chain of Craters road.
Here at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you can witness the amazing power of nature – a power to destroy and to re-create.
