Kilauea Volcano

Our Local Expert Says:

This is the only hotel located inside Volcano National Park. The rooms are small but the dining is excellent.

Description:

The establishment was originally built in 1846, making it the state's oldest hotel. It has since been renovated nine times. The key attraction is its location-it is situated within the grounds of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, offering views of Kilauea Caldera and Mauna Loa. Common space includes a lava-stone fireplace, a necessity in this chilly region of the Big Island. A restaurant and a lounge are available onsite.

Description:

Crater Rim Drive is an eleven-mile loop road that encircles the summit Caldera, passes through the Ka`u Desert and tropical rain forest and provides access to well-marked scenic stops and short walks. This road provides access to Kilauea Visitor Center, Jaggar Museum, Halemaumau Overlook and Thurston Lava Tube. Several trails are accessible from this route, including Crater Rim Trail, Devastation Trail and Ka'u Desert Trail. You should allow one to three hours to tour this scenic drive, depending on how often you stop. Turn to the left as you enter Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and follow signs toward the Kilauea Visitor Center. This is the beginning of Crater Rim Scenic Drive.

Description:

Located inside of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, this museum offers a number of displays and exhibits related to science, geology and, in particular, the active volcano. Several different kinds of lava are displayed, along with full-color photographs of past volcanic activity. Other exhibits show the equipment and gear that was used to study volcanoes in the past, along with more modern equipment. A seismograph and a tiltometer, two crucial pieces of equipment in any volcano study, are both on display.

Description:

This gallery is inside Volcano House Hotel and features the work of the island's most skilled artists and crafters. Emphasis is placed upon selling functional art, which means that you'll find plenty of home accessories and furnishings (many of which are fashioned of Koa wood.) A variety of media are showcased, including glass, metals, clay, fiber and woodwork. Both wall art and sculpture are available. If you're spending the day at Volcanoes National Park, be sure to stop in and see what the gallery has to offer you.

Description:

When a burger and a milkshake is preferable to fusion cuisine and cocktails, stop by this down-home deli. Billed as the place where the locals eat, it's a friendly, no-frills diner in Volcano Village. Menu items include stir-fries, burgers, sweet-bread french toast and super-gooey chocolate cake. The macadamia nut cookies are the toast of the town. This place offers live entertainment on weekend nights and Internet access all the time.

Description:

Imagine wine made with tropical fruits like yellow guava and the exotic jaboticaba berry, yet blended with traditional wine grapes to capture the essence of the aloha spirit. You can find it at the Big Island's only winery, and enjoy a wine tasting before you ship it home.

If you are taking a day trip up to the cool Volcano climate, or staying in the area, Volcano Winery is a tasty must stop location. The winery has created two award winning wines made with the Symphony grape, and offers the oh so tasty Macadamia Nut Honey Wine, made with blossoms from the island's macadamia nut trees.

The tasting room is open every day of the year from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The winery ships to certain U.S. states, and can package up the wine so it can be brought on the plane in checked baggage.

Volcano itself is a beautiful area at 4,000 feet elevation, with nearby views of both volcanoes.

Symphony wines- The Symphony grape is a white grape that is a cross between Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris. It was created at UC Davis in California, and was chosen for planting because of its ability to grow well in Volcano's climate. The Symphony grape has a bouquet of peach, apricot, and... read more

Description:

This road begins at Crater Rim Drive and leads 20 miles along the southeastern slopes of Kilauea to the Puna coast. Along the way it descends 3,700 feet and provides sweeping views of lava flows and coastline. The road ends abruptly where a 1995 lava flow crosses it. Depending on changing volcanic activity, there may be opportunities for viewing active lava flows. No food or fuel is available along the Chain of Craters Road. Follow the signs for Crater Rim Drive in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Chain of Craters Road leaves Crater Rim Drive between Thurston Lava Tube and Halemaumau Overlook.

Description:

Tasty curries, stir-fries and salads in a wholly unexpected locale adjacent to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is the only hotel located inside Volcano National Park. The rooms are small but the dining is excellent.

Description:

The establishment was originally built in 1846, making it the state's oldest hotel. It has since been renovated nine times. The key attraction is its location-it is situated within the grounds of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, offering views of Kilauea Caldera and Mauna Loa. Common space includes a lava-stone fireplace, a necessity in this chilly region of the Big Island. A restaurant and a lounge are available onsite.

Description:

Halemaumau Trail begins at the Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, descends 400 feet through rain forest, crosses the desert-like Kilauea Caldera and ends at Halemaumau Overlook. The trail is three and a half miles long, one way and rated as moderately difficult by the Park Service. The return trip may be made via Crater Rim Trail or another combination of short paths. Interesting volcanic formations along the path include: pahoehoe lava flows, steam vents, spatter ramparts and craters.
The trail continues into the Calera from the Halemaumau Overlook.

Description:

This garden has over a 1000 species of orchids grown and tended to by Moriyasu Akatsuka, an expert in the plantation of this exotic flower. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is in close proximity, so you may plan your garden visit accordingly. Award-winning robust orchids are on display, and the gift shop is worth dropping by too - stocking stuffers, bath-products, T-shirts, fragrances, and the like are available.

Description:

Known to locals as Pohoiki (Po-hee-kee), Isaac Hale Beach Park lies on the Puna coast along Highway 137 and encompasses two acres. Activities at this park include swimming, snorkeling, body surfing, board surfing, camping and picnic tables, a warm pond, and a playground.

The beach consists of small lava rocks and black sand. High surf often deters swimmers from entering the water on the north side known as Shacks, but the south side where the boat ramp is, known as First Bay, offers a mellow swimming area right on the boat ramp. This is the only boat ramp in this region of the island.

Weekends are usually a busy time at this park with locals spending the day at the beach. Snorkelers should enter the water at the boat ramp, and the area is generally fit only for very experienced surfers. The whole area usually has a strong current, so use your best judgment and don't swim out far.

The portable toilets have recently been replaced with "real" restrooms and showers. There is a new lawn and picnic tables that can be a good place to take a break from a long drive. People generally like to sunbathe on the pier due to the lack of sand. There is a small warm pond on the First Bay side... read more