Volcanoes
National Park
This
is my favorite place on the Island - I'm
actually addicted to this place! My luck at seeing "live" lava has
not been so good however, even though I have broken a few of the Park
safety rules in my continued quest to view what others seem to just
stumble upon. You can check before hand via phone, web or any tourist
booth as to current volcanic activity before you head out there.
Heck, you may decided to do what I probably will eventually: hire a
helecopter to fly over Kilauea!
This
is the Island's most popular attraction, and
often a crash-course in volcanic geology, Hawaiian legend and the
earth's most
primal forces (This is the most active
volcanic area on
earth!).
Plan
to spend some time getting there, and being
there. You can stay overnight in the Park (Volcano House hotel) or
any of the many B&B's in nearby Volcano Village, or even in one
of the campgrounds (they have cabins too). Dress warm, you are at
4000' and exposed to the windward side.
Expect
to find fissures seeping sulfurous steam, huge
lava tubes (see below for one you can walk through), lush glens of
prehistoric-looking
tree ferns, awesome cracks in the earth, endless fields of
desolate and barren black lava and
minerals in multitues of fascinating formations. You'll have a hard
time believing its terra-"firma" after visiting here.
For
the more adventurous, check with the rangers and
at the desk at Volcano House hotel for where the current volcanic
activity
is. Prepared with flashlights, warm clothes and a good map,
you may then attempt to make a nighttime trek to where the
action is.
Words to the wise: Wear warm clothes, good
hiking shoes, hats, and make sure you have plenty of gas before
heading down the 24 mile "Chain of
Craters" road (end is bottom right picture). Have some water
and food with you. You won't find any Jack-in-the-Boxes out here
dude!
(click on pic)
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