Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, displays the results of 70 million years of volcanism, migration, and evolution -- processes that thrust a bare land from the sea and clothed it with complex and unique ecosystems and a distinct human culture. The park encompasses 230,000 acres and ranges from sea level to the summit of the earth's most massive volcano, Mauna Loa at 13,677 feet. Kilauea, the world's most active volcano, offers scientists insights on the birth of the Hawaiian Islands and visitors views of dramatic volcanic landscapes. Over half of the park is designated wilderness and provides unusual hiking and camping opportunities. In recognition of its outstanding natural values, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has been honored as an International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site.

Location Information
Operating Hours/Seasons
Reservations/Permits/Fees
Climate, Recommended: Clothing
Facilities and Opportunities: (including trails, camping, concessions)
Recommended Activities
Visitation
Special Events Programs
Adjacent Visitor Attractions

Location Information

Location
On the Island of Hawai`i, 96 miles from Kailua-Kona and 30 miles from Hilo.

Address
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
P.O. Box 52
Hawaii National Park, HI 96718-0052

Telephone
Park Headquarters (808) 967-7311 (daily, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Hawaii Standard Time)
Visitor Information (808) 967-7184 (Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., HST)
Fax (24 hours) (808) 967-8186
Eruption Information Message (24 hours) (808) 967-7977

Directions
From Hilo: 30 miles southwest on Highway 11; from Kailua-Kona: 96 miles southeast on Highway 11, or 125 miles through Waimea and Hilo via highways 19 and 11.

Transportation
Hilo and Kona Airports are served by inter-island carriers. Some major airlines have direct flights to Kona from the continental U.S. Rental cars may be reserved at both airports.

At various locations the public bus (Hele-on, phone 935-8241), commercial tour buses, taxis, motorcycles, and bicycles are available. No rental vehicles or bicycles may be obtained in the park.

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Operating Hours/Seasons

Park is open 24 hours a day all year.
Kilauea Visitor Center daily 7:45 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Jaggar Museum daily 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

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Reservations/Permits/Fees

Entrance to the park (a seven-day permit) is $10.00 per vehicle, $5.00 for pedestrians or bicyclists. Fees for those arriving by commercial bus or tour vary by passenger capacity.

Persons holding a Golden Age Passport (available to U.S. citizens or residents 62 years of age or older for a one-time fee of $10.00) or Golden Eagle Passport are admitted free of charge.

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Climate, Recommended Clothing

The park has distinct climate zones so visitors should be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions.

Weather at Kilauea's summit (4000' elevation) fluctuates daily and can be rainy and chilly any time of the year.

The coastal plain at the end of Chain of Craters Road is often hot, dry, and windy. Bring rain gear, light sweaters and windbreakers, sturdy shoes, hats, water bottles, sun glasses and high UV factor sunscreen. For weather forecasts call (808) 935-8555.

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Facilities and Opportunities

Visitor Center/Exhibits
Kilauea Visitor Center, located just inside the park entrance, offers visitor information and exhibits. Films and videos are shown in the auditorium throughout the day.

Thomas A. Jaggar Museum, located about three miles from the park entrance, offers earth science displays and features murals depicting Hawaiian culture. An adjacent overlook offers a panoramic view of Kilauea Caldera and Mauna Loa.

Hawaii Natural History Association operates bookstores at both locations with an extensive selection of books, maps, videotapes, slides, and other educational items.

Trails, Roads
Hike the park trails to experience the park's essence and to gain an understanding of the natural and cultural history of Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. Day hikes as well as backcountry trips of several days duration are available.

Popular day hikes include: Halema`uma`u Overlook, a 10-minute walk to the crater's edge; Devastation Trail, a 30-minute walk through the cinder outfall of the 1959 Kilauea Iki eruption; Thurston Lava Tube, a 20-minute walk through a tree fern forest and prehistoric lava tube; Kilauea Iki, a two-hour hike descending 400 feet through native forest into a crater and across lava flows still steaming from the 1959 Kilauea Iki eruption (four-mile loop); Pu`u Huluhulu, a two-hour roundtrip hike over 1973-1974 lava flows to the top of a 150 foot prehistoric cinder cone (three miles roundtrip).

Access is from Chain of Craters Road. Kipuka Puaulu, a one-hour, one mile loop trail through an "island" of forest rich with rare plants. Access is from Mauna Loa Road.

Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities
Kilauea Military Camp, located one mile from the park entrance, extends rooms, meals and other amenities to active duty and retired military personnel and civilian employees of the Department of Defense (phone (808) 967-7315).

Volcano Art Center features works of local artists and hand-crafted articles at a gallery adjacent to the Kilauea Visitor Center and provides programs that interpret the park through the arts (phone (808) 967-8222).

Volcano House Hotel, across from the Kilauea Visitor Center on the caldera rim, provides lodging (including rustic cabin rental), gift shops, restaurant, and snack bar (phone (808) 967- 7321.

Nearby Volcano Village has general stores, gas stations, restaurants and bed and breakfast lodging.

Interpretive Activities
Rangers provide an array of scheduled walks and talks to interpret the park's natural and cultural resources. Educational programs for school groups are provided throughout the year on a reservation basis.

Accessibility
The Kilauea Visitor Center, Jaggar Museum, Volcano House Hotel, and Volcano Art Center Gallery are wheelchair accessible. Pullouts along Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road afford panoramic views of the park. For information on accessible pathways, other facilities and programs, inquire at the visitor center.

Backpacking
Overnight backcountry camping permits are required. Apply at the Kilauea Visitor Center no earlier than the day preceding your hike for these free permits. Hikers on the summit trail to 13,677 foot Mauna Loa can encounter high winds and snow at any time of the year. Backpackers to Mauna Loa should be adequately equipped, experienced in backcountry/high altitude trekking, and physically fit.

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Recommended Activities/Park Use

Scenic Drives
Explore the summit of Kilauea Volcano via Crater Rim Drive, an 11-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. Allow one to three hours, depending on how often you stop.

If you have three to four hours, you may also explore the East Rift and coastal area via Chain of Craters Road. This road descends 3,700 feet in 20 miles and ends where a 1995 lava flow crosses the road. 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.

Island of Hawai`i Visitor Attractions
Seaside county parks along the south coast and in Hilo and Kona offer swimming, snorkeling, and surf boarding. The Saddle Road (Route 200) and Mauna Kea summit (13,796 ft) are accessible to four-wheel drive vehicles that are available through rental agencies.

Self-guided access into Kaumana Lava Tube (county park) is possible at mile four of the Saddle Road above Hilo.

Golf courses are located in Hilo (municipal), Kona and adjacent to the Park.

Lyman Museum in Hilo features cultural and historical exhibits.

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Visitation

About 2.5 million visitors a year; summer, Christmas and Easter are peak visitation periods.

Basic Visit Recommendations
The park is situated on two active volcanoes. There are many hidden hazards for the unwary and those unfamiliar with volcanic environments. Wear adequate clothing and sturdy shoes; stay on designated trails and do not enter closed areas or lava tubes (except Thurston Lava Tube).

Carry and consume water and use precautions against excessive sun exposure. Volcanic fumes are hazardous to your health and can be life-threatening.

Visitors with heart or breathing problems, infants, young children and pregnant women are especially at risk and should avoid stopping at Sulphur Banks, Halema`uma`u Crater and other areas where fumes are present.

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Special Events Programs

After Dark in the Park is a series of evening presentations generally offered two or three times per month. The free educational programs on biological and geological subjects and Hawaiian cultural and historical topics are held in the Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium.

The annual cultural festival celebrates Hawai`i's native cultural heritage by encouraging visitor hands-on participation in traditional arts and crafts, music and games.

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Adjacent Visitor Attractions

Other national park areas on Hawai`i Island include: Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, at Honaunau; Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park near Kailua-Kona, and Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site at Kawaihae. These parks were established for their Hawaiian cultural values.

Other national park areas in Hawai`i include: Haleakala National Park on Maui; Kalaupapa National Historical Park on Moloka`i; and USS Arizona Memorial on O`ahu.

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