A question about Volcano National Park and Hilo

[Ann-Marie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ann-Marie]

We will be staying in Kona for a week. I have decided to spend an overnight on the East side. So, this is where I need help. We will definately do the VNP. We will probably leave Kona early, and head to the park. However, we can not do any hiking. If we stay in the park that night, will we be able to see the lava flow if we can not hike out to the crater? If the answer is no, then I might consider doing the park during the day/evening, and then spending the night in Hilo. This way we will start our sightseeing in Hilo the next morning, and then head back to Kona that evening

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

We will be staying in Kona for a week. I have decided to spend an overnight on the East side. So, this is where I need help. We will definately do the VNP. We will probably leave Kona early, and head to the park. However, we can not do any hiking. If we stay in the park that night, will we be able to see the lava flow if we can not hike out to the crater? If the answer is no, then I might consider doing the park during the day/evening, and then spending the night in Hilo. This way we will start our sightseeing in Hilo the next morning, and then head back to Kona that evening

We hiked out over the lava flow at dusk, to walk right up to some of the flows, but one of the most amazing sights to us was as it was starting to get dark the whole side of the mountain lit up with flows you didn't see during the day. These flows were visible from the road you drive down to hike out over the lava. Thus no hiking required to see this sight! We'll be doing it again this summer, don't know whether we'll stay a night on that side or not, we're in Kona for a week.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

We will be staying in Kona for a week. I have decided to spend an overnight on the East side. So, this is where I need help. We will definately do the VNP. We will probably leave Kona early, and head to the park. However, we can not do any hiking. If we stay in the park that night, will we be able to see the lava flow if we can not hike out to the crater? If the answer is no, then I might consider doing the park during the day/evening, and then spending the night in Hilo. This way we will start our sightseeing in Hilo the next morning, and then head back to Kona that evening

Your chances of seeing lava flow without hiking are slim at best unless you are in airplane or helicopter. If there is a visible active lava flow, it is usually on the lava field.

The lava field was created when Kilauea began erupting from Pu'u O'o. The flow has covered the road that followed the coast along that side of island - to reach the flow you have to park at the end of the road (at the edge of the lava field), then hike out to wherever the lava is flowing. The only way you would see the lava flowing without hiking is if the flow happened to be occurring right next to the road (and even then the road might be closed for safety reasons).

***

Your post suggests that you might be thinking that the lava is flowing from the crater that is shown on maps of the park. That is not correct. Pu'u O'o is one of a chain of smaller eruptive craters located along a deep fracture zone that radiates down the SE flank of Kilauea from the main crater. The road down to the lave field from the main crater is called Chain of Craters because the roughly follows that chain of craters.

The main crater is currently dormant, and has been dormant sufficiently long that hiking trails have been created across it. You can look into the crater from overlooks along the park and near the Visitor Center, but you won't see any active volcanism in the main crater.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

We hiked out over the lava flow at dusk, to walk right up to some of the flows, but one of the most amazing sights to us was as it was starting to get dark the whole side of the mountain lit up with flows you didn't see during the day. These flows were visible from the road you drive down to hike out over the lava. Thus no hiking required to see this sight! We'll be doing it again this summer, don't know whether we'll stay a night on that side or not, we're in Kona for a week.

Here are some pics of what Spence is talking about. Don't be fooled by the lighting - both of these pics were shot at dusk.

• This was taken during our hike in, as we were getting close to the lava area. As dusk sets in, the lave starts to glow. That orange streak on the hillside in the background shows where the lave was descending from the upland area to the coastal lava field. An hour earlier, that orange was not visible at all. That hillside is easily visible from the road.
  
  
  
• This one was taken after hiking out to the lava flow, but if you look in the distance you can see the reddish glows extending all the way back to the cliffs in the background. (And yes, I was actually as close to the lava as that figure suggests - that image is not telephotoed or zoomed.)
  
  

And here's a pic of the main crater:

[Faust Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Faust]

I have never been to the Big Island, so I can not help with your question about the volcanoes or the lava flows.

Here is a site I use when we go to Hawaii for things to do. I hope this helps on your trip.

Hawaii Vacation Travel Guide
Hawaii Calendar of Events

[dale7 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dale7]

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park

Go to this links for some new lava flow.

thehawaiichannel

Watch KITV This Morning, 5, 6, 10 p.m. LIVE - Video - KITV Honolulu

The National parks link is down below find the Information on what is going in the park. I thing there are phone numbers to the park rangers for info.

National Park Service - Experience Your America

Dale

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I don't think you need to do an over night. Start out as early as you can from Kona do the park early and get to the bottom of the parking area by 3pm. You can walk out during the day with out any problems. Just bring old hiking boots or old sneakers and a walking stick. Each person should hae there own flash light and pleanty of water. Heading back at night is not bad since there is little traffic but it will take about an hour and a half.

[TimeshareVon Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close TimeshareVon]

Very cool - thanks for sharing!

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

The first time we visited Volcano National Park we did it as a one day trip. I believe that year we were on the Big Island for one week. Every subsequent visit we have stayed at least one night in Volcano Village. It is do-able in a one day trip, but you are on the road and in the car a LONG time.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

It certainly can be done as Frank suggests. Returning to Kona is then a 2 to 2-1/2 hour drive (from the parking lot at the end of the lava flow) at night on some extremely dark roads. (There is very little stray nighttime light on Hawai'i - that's one reason why they put telescopes on the islands.) Add another half hour if you're staying at Waikoloa.

You will be doing that driving after a very long day and what could be a tiring hike on the lava fields. If it's early in your trip and you haven't adjusted to jet lag, you will be making that drive back when your body is telling you it's midnight (or later).

Yes, it can be done. But before doing it know what is involved and be sure you are prepared. It is vacation; don't get yourself caught unprepared in a situation that taxes and stresses you and robs you of much of the reason why you are there in the first place.

And for those who are travelling with children, be sure to assess how you think they can handle a day trip such of this type.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

It certainly can be done as Frank suggests. Returning to Kona is then a 2 to 2-1/2 hour drive (from the parking lot at the end of the lava flow) at night on some extremely dark roads. (There is very little stray nighttime light on Hawai'i - that's one reason why they put telescopes on the islands.) Add another half hour if you're staying at Waikoloa.

You will be doing that driving after a very long day and what could be a tiring hike on the lava fields. If it's early in your trip and you haven't adjusted to jet lag, you will be making that drive back when your body is telling you it's midnight (or later).

Yes, it can be done. But before doing it know what is involved and be sure you are prepared. It is vacation; don't get yourself caught unprepared in a situation that taxes and stresses you and robs you of much of the reason why you are there in the first place.

And for those who are traveling with children, be sure to assess how you think they can handle a day trip such of this type.

[Ann-Marie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ann-Marie]

Thank you everyone for all the suggestions. This is our plan: we arrive on Sunday from Maui. So, there should not be any jetlag. Wednesday is July 4th. We are going to Volcano National Park on Thursday. We will leave sometime around 9Am, and drive to the park, possibly making a stop or 2 along the way. That will depend on how much we have seen in the beginning of the week. Arrive at the Volcano by 1PM. We will do the drive around the Crater Rim. We will try to do some walking, but no hiking. I can't do it, so that is definately out. We then decided to spend the night at Volcano House in the Park. The price is not bad. Not special, but a convenient place to stay for a good price. So then after it gets dark, we will take the ride down Chain of Crater Road. Hopefully we can at least see the glow of the lava. Then, the next morning we will head to Hilo, and see the sights there, and do a slow ride back to Kona. We will go back the opposite way, so we are basically circling the entire Island. I hope this all makes sense. I just can't wait to get there!

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

So then after it gets dark, we will take the ride down Chain of Crater Road. Hopefully we can at least see the glow of the lava.

Just so you know the parking is one long street by the lava flow. If you are not there early you will have to walk a mile or more. It is best to get there no later than about 4pm or it will be a long walk to the car both ways coming and going.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Sounds like a good plan. Several years ago we were on the Big Island over 4th of July. If I remember correctly there were fireworks on the 3rd in Kona and on the 4th in the Waikoloa area. Of course things could have changed by now.

If you have time, and want a really good dinner in Volcano, check out the Kilauea Lodge: Kilauea Lodge - The Restaurant It is one of the best restaurants on the island. Reservations are a must.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Just so you know the parking is one long street by the lava flow. If you are not there early you will have to walk a mile or more. It is best to get there no later than about 4pm or it will be a long walk to the car both ways coming and going.

And that also adds to the time required to get back to the resort. You could easily walk almost an hour to get back to the car, and the hike back out is much slower than the way in because you are returning in the dark. You should probably double the time hiking in on the lava field for the hike back out across the lava field.

So let's say you walk two miles from where you park your car to get to the end of the road, then you walk in another 45 minutes across the lava field to get to the flow. If you start heading back from the lava flow about 8:30, you'll get back to the end of the road about 10 pm, then walk another 45 minutes to your car. By the time you get in your car and turned around (if you parked pointing in) you will finally be on your way back up Craters Road at 11 pm. So you will get back to Kona about 1 am.

And that's after having left Kona early in the morning to get in a full day at the park, hiking about 1-1/2 hours from where you parked the car at dusk across hot and dry landscape, then a 2-1/2 hour return hike.

If the lava flow is more than 45 minutes hike in (whether that is due to distance or the walking/hiking abilities of the people in your group) and the day gets even longer.

Make no mistake - I think seeing the lava at night is worth. It's one of those amazing things that you can't see or do anyplace else. In fact, I think it's so worthwhile that I think it's worth taking a bit of extra effort to ensure that you can enjoy it without feeling pressured or stressed about the return home.