Hipfig travel channel offers DIY travel video guides for more than 25 cities in
Asia, US, and Canada. If you like this video then subscribe, give us a thumbs up,
or a comment. Aloha, welcome to this episode of hipfig's beautiful America
series for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island in the state of
Hawaii also known as the Island of Hawaii
Hipfig's beautiful America series is dedicated to exploring nature's wonders
in American and Canadian national parks, monuments, and vista. Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park is located along Highway 11 on the Big Island at one crater rim
drive. Did you know that Kilauea and Mauna Loa
two of the world's most active volcanoes are still adding land mass to the island
of hawaii by their molten lava as recently as 2018? Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park was commissioned to preserve the ecosystem of Kilauea and
Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii. Mauna Loa is the largest mountain in the
world at almost 20,000 cubic miles even if it doesn't look like it
The base of Mauna Loa is actually underwater making the summit of Mauna
Loa fifty six thousand feet. It's twenty seven thousand feet higher than Mount
Everest. On this Hawaiian island, Kilauea and Mauna Loa spread out fissures of molten
lava creating rivers or flows of lava. These
flows over the years have added layer upon layer producing eerie yet beautiful
landscapes of lava beds. Each eruption is an example of nature's power to change
and create new environments around it. Once you're on the Big Island or
officially the Island of Hawaii the easiest way to get to Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park is by car. If you come from the city of Hilo on the Big Island it's
30 miles southwest on highway 11 which is about 45 minutes drive. If you're
coming from the city of Kailua Kona which is near the Kona Airport it is 96
miles southeast on highway 11 which takes two
for hours by car. For your information the same road may have several different
names depending on its location on the Big Island
the Hawaii Belt Road or Māmalahoa Highway is made up of three Hawaii state
routes number 11, 19, and 190 which circumvent the island of hawaii. The
south section between Hilo and Kailua Kona is called route 11. You can also get
to the entrance of the volcano national park by Hele-on public buses from Hilo
you'll have to buy the bus fare and a twelve dollar park entrance fee. Please
check on the Hele-on website for detailed information. Also note that volcano
National Park in Hawaii is very large and does not have any public buses
inside the park. You'll need a bike or vehicle once inside. We had a rental car
and drove from Kailua Kona side. We took highway route number 11 going south
towards Hilo. Highway 11 is a two-lane two-way Highway and has many winding
curves and sharp drop-offs along the road. Along Highway 11 we passed the
famous Kona coffee farm area, the macadamia farm area, and lava fields. This
lava field was created from Mauna Loa's 1907 eruption. Near here you will find
the punaluu beach park famous for its black sands. We were just amazed by the
brilliant shades of royal and baby blue of the ocean
we continued driving past the ocean view area to the Kau district. The volcanoes
national park has an adjunct visitor center called Kahuku unit located on
hawaii 11 on mile marker 70.5 about an hour away from Kilauea visitor center
which is the main visitor center for volcanoes national park. The kohoku unit
is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is closed on Monday
and Tuesday. This 116 thousand acre area has a nine
mile scenic drive through open pastures and alongside fissures, channels, and lava
flows from the eruption of 1868. There are also six trails which lead through
the meadows, pastures, and up to the cinder cones and pit craters and
Views of the Kau district. Once we finished our time here we continued on
highway 11 for another 45 minutes and took a right to the entrance station of
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Signs to the volcanoes national park are clearly
marked on highway 11. At the booth you'll have to pay the national park fee. Please
note that if you arrive and the entrance station is not manned
please proceed to the Kilauea visitor center. Under the covered lanai area
there's a self-pay station. Please pay your entrance fee there. Fee for cars
with all passengers is $25.00 motorcycles and all riders are $20 each
pedestrian and cyclist is $12. Youth 15 and under are admitted free. Admission to
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is good for seven days. Hawaii Volcanoes National
Park is open 24 hours a day seven days a week as well as on holidays. We had an
interagency Annual Pass which covers all national parks monuments and federal
grounds. Here's a money saving tip: if you plan to go to at least three national
parks in a year it may be worth it for you to purchase an inter-agency pass
which is currently $80. Once we showed our interagency pass we drove to Kilauea
visitor center which is 0.2 miles on the right hand side from the entrance
station on crater rim drive. Signs are clearly marked. There was plenty of
parking when we arrived. Please note that there are no buses inside the park
unless you come with the private tour. Kilauea visitor center is open daily
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Visitor Center. You can talk to a ranger, this
line can be long a time so look for the posted information which can answer most
of your questions. The restrooms are outside
In the visitors center there's a video you can watch of the 2018 eruption. there
are exhibits on island formation, the arrival life by wing wind and wave
ecosystems, from sea to summit, the sights and sounds of the rainforest, invasive
species, and those who make a difference in resource protection as well as
Hawaiian wisdom sayings and stories of Hawaii's indigenous people. Near the
visitor center is the volcano Art Center. The artworks displayed here depict the
parks landscape in history both natural and cultural including mythological
stories. after we completed our time at the Kilauea visitor center we drove
point-eight miles on crater rim drive to the steam vents and Kilauea caldera
which is on the left side. We parked our car in the lot. There is a limited
parking but people come and go so just be patient for a parking spot. If you
prefer you can walk down point eight miles down from the visitor center to the steam vents as well
From the parking lot there's a flat path which leads to Kilauea caldera and the
steam vents. The Kilauea caldera is a large volcanic crater formed by a major
eruption leading to the collapse of the mouth of this volcano. There is a
steaming bluff on the calderas edge. The area's grassy meadow with ground cracks
and steam concentrated fractures along the cuddlers edge the area between the
calderas edge and the outer cliffs of Kailua caldera is a treeless plain. The
ground just a few feet down is so hot that the tree roots cannot survive but
shallow rooted grasses and plants grow here across the street from the steaming
Bluff and the steam vent parking area is the trailhead for the sulfur banks which
is wheelchair accessible along a paved path and boardwalk
at the sulfur banks an area you'll definitely smell the sulfur gas that
smells like rotten eggs. Some sulfur gases deposit pure crystals other sulfur
gases from form sulfuric acid which breaks down into the clay this clay is
stained red and brown with iron oxide. Visitors with heart or respiratory
problems such as asthma ,pregnant women, infants, or young children should avoid
this walk. For information due to the last volcanic eruption jagger museum is
indefinitely closed. The steam was pretty impressive the steam vents are created
when groundwater seeps down to the hot volcanic rocks in this area and then
returns to the surface as steam. From the steam vent area we drove back towards
the visitor center past the volcano house. Volcano house is the only lodging
inside the volcanoes national park there are also camper cabins and campsites
nearby Nāmakanipaio campground. If you would like to stay near volcanoes
national park, the nearest town with services, restaurantsm and lodging is
volcano village located right outside the park boundary. Once we pass volcano
house we took a right just before the entrance station towards the chain of
craters. Road signs are clearly marked. This section of Crater Rim Drive takes
you to Kilauea iki overlook there's a parking lot and an overlook where you
could see the Kilauea iki or crater There are four or five stops along this
section of crater rim road. Be sure to stop and hike the devastation trail you
can take a 30-minute walk through the cinder outfall of 1959 eruption of
Kilauea iki. This paved trail is half mile one way and is wheelchair and
stroller accessible. As we continued back on crater rim drive it becomes the chain
of craters road. The chain of craters road will lead you to the
end of the road at Hōlei Sea Arch. Along the beginning of the chain of craters
road you'll drive through a gorgeous forest of giant ferns, trees, and other
foliage. The chain of craters road is eighteen point eight miles with an
elevation change of about 3,700 feet. There's no food, water, or fuel along the
chain of craters roads so plan accordingly. Porta Potty type toilets are
available at Mauna Ulu parking area and at the end of chain of craters road
there are 10 stops a long chain of craters road. Of note, the first is Hilina Pali Road
Hilina Pali Road which is five miles from the campground. Another stop of note is the
Pu‘u Loa petroglyphs. This is a very sacred and religious place for Hawaiians
it's the largest Petraglyph field in the state of Hawaii. Ranger guided hikes
are also available here. Check at the Kilauea visitor center. nother stop of
note is the Mauna Ulu flow across the chain of craters road. As we drove down
the chain of craters road we were mesmerized by the endless lava beds
reflecting light against the backdrop of the blue of the Pacific Ocean. Another
place of note is the Kealakomo Overlook. From those overlook you'll have a
panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and an expansive view of the vast lava field
Holei sea arch is my favorite stop at the end of the chain of craters road
there's a short trail to the ocean and the Holei sea arch or holei arch. The sea
arch is about 90 feet high and eroding. The creation of the sea arch was made
within the last hundred years from the pounding of the water against the rocks
The sea arch will eventually disappear but another one will replace it as the cliff
slowly migrates inland. If you choose you can walk to the end of
a chain of craters road. Although you have to drive back the same way you came
it is worth the drive all the way down to this part of the park. The Sun on your
face, the powerful ocean breeze, and the views
of the ocean pounding against the cliffs creates an everlasting memory. If you
don't have a car there are many tour companies which
offer day trips so check at your hotel.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is one of the most unique and beautiful parks in
the world that should not be missed if you have opportunity to visit when
you're on the Big Island of Hawaii. It will take at least a whole day or more
depending on your excursions. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park provides a truly
once-in-a-lifetime experience which should not be missed. Happy Travels. Go to
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