Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park guides
12 in-depth guides to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, in reading order: what to see, how to get around, and what to know before you go. Back to the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park overview.
Packing for Summit Chill and Coastal Heat
Conditions at the summit of Kīlauea, about 4,000 feet up, shift from day to day, and rain and chill can arrive in any month.
Watching the Halemaʻumaʻu Eruption Safely
Halemaʻumaʻu is the crater inside the Kīlauea caldera where the current eruption takes place.
Chain of Craters Road: Pit Craters to Sea
Chain of Craters Road is about 18.8 miles long and runs from the summit area of Kīlauea Volcano down to the coast.
Climbing Mauna Loa's Summit Trail
Mauna Loa is a shield volcano on Hawaiʻi island, and its summit rises to about 13,680 feet above sea level.
Hiking the Kīlauea Iki Trail
The Kīlauea Iki Trail is a loop of 3.3 miles, or 5.3 kilometers, that begins at the Kīlauea Iki Overlook.
Hawaiian Hotspot and the Emperor Seamount Chain
The Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain is a line of undersea peaks tied to the wider story of Hawaiian volcanoes.
Pele and the Volcanoes' Sacred Hawaiian Meaning
Pele is the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes, and many Native Hawaiians regard the volcano here as a sacred place and her home.
Puʻuloa Petroglyphs
Puʻuloa means hill of long life in Hawaiian, and the site holds approximately 23,000 petroglyphs, known as kiʻi pōhaku, or images carved in stone.
Nēnē Recovery and the Park's Native Ecosystems
The nēnē, or Hawaiian goose, is a threatened species, and vehicles kill more adult nēnē in the park than anything else.
1790 Footprints and the Park's Historic Sites
In 1790, a violent explosion at the summit of Kīlauea sent a cloud of hot gas, ash, and sand over the Kaʻū Desert.
Nāmakanipaio and Kulanaokuaiki Campgrounds
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has two drive-in tent campgrounds, Nāmakanipaio and Kulanaokuaiki.
Kahuku Unit: Ranching History and Puʻu o Lokuana
Kahuku Ranch sits on the slopes of Mauna Loa, west of Kīlauea Caldera, and today forms the Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
