At the summit, the Halema`uma`u vent (the one you can see from Volcano House's restaurant and from the Jaggar Museum) has been spewing ash and sulfur dioxide since 2008 and for the first time since 1982, lava has bubbled up here. We can often see the glowing red at night. We lived up near the Volcano Golf Course when this eruption started, and unfortunately the sulfur in the air was too much so we moved down to sea level (also very nice to be close to the beach).
Kilauea, the active volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii is often referred to as the "drive-thru volcano." Hawaii's volcanic eruptions are not the blow the top off variety. Lava's been steadily flowing from Kilauea ( the world's most active volcano) since 1983.
At the Hawaii Volcanoes Visitor Center, you can watch a movie on their big screen about the Big Island's active volcano and its volcanic origins. If you follow the Park's rules and the rangers suggestions, you're in for a real treat.
This doesn't mean the area's without dangers. Land masses the size of football fields drop into the sea, and walking in areas where lava flows just below the surface or is newly crusted is very dangerous. Don't wander off the paths, and believe the signs that caution you away from certain areas (no matter what you see others doing). We watched several people venture out onto a cooled lava shelf overlooking the sea, ignoring the warning signs. Early the next morning, about 2 a.m. the whole shelf collapsed into the oean. Fortunately nobody was out there at 2 a.m.
There is much to see and do at Volcanoes National Park. While most visitors know about the short and easy hike through the songbird forest and Thurston Lava Tube, many aren't aware that if you bring a flashlight you can explore the cave (lava tube) next to Thurston. Many families make the short trek to the
tunnels end. Just watch for low ceilings and the large rocks that litter the path.
Also, we found to our delight, there is a wild cave and there is a tour (not advertised - rangers seem to want to keep this hush-hush to a degree). They only go once a week, and you must sign up at the Visitor Center ahead of time.
Several, new, black sand beaches are formed from the lava, and coconuts washed ashore and carried by locals sprout within in days.
Kilauea's Volcano House is a must see - when it reopens. The National Park closed it in June of 2010 for renovations. The lodge is perched among cedar trees and lush, green forests, overlooking a steaming crater and offers natural, volcanic steam baths in its rooms, and a big, stone fireplace (it can get chilly at night). In the park, towering koa trees form lacy canopies over trails. There are though other nice accommodations in and around the Park, including cottages and campgrounds and B&Bs.
The volcano area, like the island, is a study in diversity – stark, lava rock and empty, steaming craters contrast with Hawaii's finest greenery and a birdwatcher's paradise. Locals visit here at Christmas time to pluck greenery and olelo berries for their wreaths. it is a beautiful place, and moreso with the contrast to the starkness you'll see along Chain of Craters road. The Hawaii National Park site has lots of information, images and videos, including information on Hawaii Heritage Days held here.
Remember to respect the aina (land) here, as everywhere in Hawaii, but also keep in mind this is very sacred Hawaiian ground. Respects are paid to Pele, the volcano goddess, daily as you will see near the craters where lei and other gifts are left. The mana (spiritual energy) here is powerful. Pele's sister, Hiaka, the goddess of Hula also dwells here also, and if you time it right, you will be able to watch hula danced here at the volcano.
To find out about the possibility of viewing lava from land on a given day, call the Kalapana Lava Viewing Hotline at (808) 961-8093 or the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at (808) 985-6000. Other ways to see the lava are by airplane, helicopter or boat tour. The volcano does emit sulfur dioxide. Often this blows over to Kona but sometimes it hangs over the Park. You can check Big Island air quality here
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Plan a visit to Hawaii Volcano National Park and the Big Island:
Big Island - Volcano National Park
The Big Island's Hawaii Volcano National Park, the most popular attraction on the island, offers a science museum, walk-through lava tubes, and trails that lead through lush green forest, homes to native songbirds, and across old lava flows and past steam vents. The Park also hosts cultural events and offers lodging...
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