This 323,431-acre park is exactly what scientists crave with its two active volcanoes. Its beautiful vista is also what visitors fall for. Over 1.1 million people visited the park in 2018. The park is home to Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and Mauna Loa, a massive shield volcano. It is a favorite among scientists as the park gives them a chance to study how Hawaii was created.
History
Hawaiian legend states that volcano goddess Pele calls Kilauea home, so native Hawaiians visited the crater to offer gifts to Pele. In one unfortunate incident in 1790, a group of warriors was in the volcano when an eruption occurred. They died along with some women and children in the area. Footprints are still visible in the area.
The area started to get into people’s radar when English missionary William Ellis and American Asa Thurston visited Kilauea, in 1823. Thurston wrote about her experience with an erupting volcano. Tourists started flocking in the 1840s, particularly when hotels were set up at the bottom of the volcano.
Kilauea and Mauna Loa were finally established as part of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Aug. 1, 1916. It was also declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Places to go
1790 Footprints
There was a Battle of Moku’ohai in 1782, on the island of Hawaii. Several battles followed throughout the years. In 1790, some of its fighters went to Kilauea volcano to thank the goddess Pele. Unfortunately, they were caught in the area as the volcano erupted. Some of the fighters as well as some of the women and children in the vicinity ran for their lives. Their footsteps are still visible in the area. The 1790 Footprints has been entered into the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Ainahou Ranch
This is 6,324 acres of land near Kilauea volcano, purchased by Herbert C. Shipman, in 1937. It was utilized as a ranch but in 1941, Shipman built a house in this remote place as a refuge during World War II. This was also entered into the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
Puna-Kau Historic District
This is known as the archaeological district on the coastline of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. There are over 300 sites known to have been occupied by the Polynesians, between the 13th and 19th centuries. Close to a dozen sites were significant in understanding Hawaiian culture. The district is part of the National Register of Historic Places since 1974.
Volcano House
Built-in 1877, this building was the original structure from several historic hotels built at the bottom of Kilauea, during its tourism revolution. The Volcano House was listed into the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Things to do
Scenic drive
There are two routes: Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Roads that visitors can choose to cover the majority of the park. Various viewpoints will give visitors a stunning vista of the park, perfect for photos.
Among the areas, visitors can stop at the Crater Rim Drive, where one can witness the steam vents caused by the hot volcanic rocks, the Wahinekapu Steaming Buff on the caldera’s edge, and the Ha’akulamanu – Sulphur Banks, which may smell like rotten eggs but is still a great natural phenomenon. Kilauea Iki Overlook is one of the areas that provide a great view of the park. Then there is Pu’u Pua’i Overlook, which gives a great view of the spatter cone of the Kilauea Iki.
When driving through the Chain of Craters Roads, some stops offer the view of several craters: the Lua Manu Crater, which was formed around 200 years ago, and Pauahi Crater. Viewpoints that offer picturesque scenery of the park include the Hilina Pali Overlook, Kealakomo Overlook, and the impressive Holei Sea Arch. Some stops included areas that were covered with “lava flows”, like the Mauna Ulu and Mau Loa o Mauna Ulu. One should also make a pit stop at the Pu’u Loa Loa Petroglyphs, a religious place among native Hawaiians.
Hiking
There are miles and miles of hiking trails at the park. Most of these trails lead to some of the popular tourist spots in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. There is a narrow paved walk for hikers on the Devastation Trail, which is surrounded by the cinder outfall of the Kilauea Iki eruption, in 1959. Another alternative is the hike to the Keanakako ’i Crater, which provides visitors some evidence of a September 1982 eruption.
Camping & backcountry hiking
A permit is of course needed for backcountry camping. Camping areas provide a diverse vista of the park: ‘Apua Point, Halape, Ka’aha, Keauhou, Mauna Loa, Napau and Pepeiao.