Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Off The Beaten Path Tips by BlueCollar

View the lava at night

During our visit in Sept. 2002, we went to the end of Chain of Craters Road in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park before dawn on two consecutive mornings. The lava was right there crossing the end of the road. This made it so easy. On our previous trip a year earlier we had an arduous 2.5 mile hike across the old fields to get to the fresh stuff. My wife, because of her short stature, had a tough time with it. Now it was right there at the end of the road.....wheelchair accessible and all! :)

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This is an infrared "nightshot". The hotspots really show. The view at night from the road looking back up the slopes really was spectacular. You could see uphill for 5 or 6 miles and the orange glow of the surface flows all the way down to the sea. After daylight, all you see is a lighter grey color on the fresh flows and only the reddish-orange close up.

More photos and details in my travelogue.

For some awesome photos of the lava and current lava flow updates, go to Arnott's Lodge's website.

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Website: http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/update/

Feel the heat of Pele's gift of new land

When was the last time you walked on earth that was only minutes old? Very few visitors who go to the Big Island go out to see and touch the molten rock flowing from Pu‘u ‘Ô‘ô.

Kilauea's lava flow update available here:

http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/hvostatus.php

After entering Volcanoes National Park, drive to the end of Chain of Craters Road, then hike out onto the old flows. It was about 2.5 miles one way to the current flow the day we went. Here you can actually touch (with a stick) the glowing and flowing red lava. However, let me say this: It is dangerous for the inexperienced to go out near the flows alone. This site has some good info:

http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2000/fs152-00/

Those are VERY IMPORTANT warnings to heed if you plan on going it alone. READ IT THOROUGHLY! Between the gas clouds and the heat to the chances of having your exit path getting cut off by a new flow or, even worse, a bench collapse, you need an experienced person out there to guide and direct you. And then there is the dialogue that only a guide can offer that details what you are viewing.

The lava has been flowing continuously from Pu‘u ‘Ô‘ô since 1983. So there's a good chance it will still be flowing in the near future. Roll the dice and see what you get.

We used Arnott's Lodge for the guided tour. It was a long hike and we saw some unusual sights. Between the sun shining on the black rock we walked upon and the heat from the lava near the current flow, it was like an oven. But they still advise wearing pants (jeans) to keep your legs covered in the event of a fall and to wear comfortable hiking shoes. But be mindful, your shoes could melt or come apart as some did in our group.

Check my Travelogue for more photos of the lava.