Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, displays the results of 70 million years of volcanism, migration, and evolution - processes that thrust a bare land from the sea and clothed it with unique ecosystems, and a distinct human culture. The park highlights two of the world's most active volcanoes, and offers insights on the birth of the Hawaiian Islands and views of dramatic volcanic landscapes.
The Basics
Hours:
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day year-round. Kilauea Visitor Center is open daily from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Jaggar Museum is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Holiday Hours
Kilauea Visitor Center and Jaggar Museum: December 25 - 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. January 1 - 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eruption Viewing Area (end of Chain of Craters Road) Staff on site: December 24 and 25 - 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. December 31 and January 1 - 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
"Born of Fire... Born of the Sea" is the featured 25 minute film that is shown in the Kilauea Visitor Center on the hour throughout the day, starting at 9:00 a.m. with the last film shown at 4:00 p.m..
The Hawai`i Natural History Association operates the park's two bookstores. Product sales benefit park programs. Hours of operation: Kilauea Visitor Center 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Jaggar Museum 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily. Phone:(808) 985-6051.
Volcano Art Center Gallery, located adjacent to the Kilauea Visitor Center, is open from 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. daily.
Volcano House, located across the street from the Kilauea Visitor Center, operates a hotel, restaurant, snack bar, and gift shops.
Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is located on the Big Island of Hawai`i. From Hilo: 30 miles southwest on Highway 11 (a 45 minute drive); from Kailua-Kona: 96 miles southeast on Highway 11 (2 to 2 1/2 hour drive), or 125 miles through Waimea and Hilo via highways 19 and 11 (2 1/2 to 3 hours).
Climate
Island weather is unpredictable. Visitors should be prepared for rain and wear layers of clothing to ensure their comfort while exploring the park.
Temperature varies by elevation. Weather at Kilauea's summit (4000' elevation) varies daily and may be rainy and chilly any time of the year. At the summit of the volcano, temperatures may be 12 to 15° cooler than at sealevel. The coastal plain at the end of Chain of Craters Road, where lava is entering the ocean, is often hot, dry, and windy with the possibility of passing showers.
Be prepared for all weather conditions. Wear layers of clothing, bring raingear, and wear hiking boots or shoes if you plan to venture out on trails.
$10.00 per vehicle - 7 days $5.00 per individual - 7 days
Things To Do
Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is easily visited by car in just a few hours or may be explored in more depth over several days. Here are some recommendations when planning your visit to the Park:
One to 3 Hour Visit?
If you have only one to three hours, explore the summit of Kilauea volcano via Crater Rim Drive; an 11-mile road that encircles the summit caldera, passes through desert, lush tropical rain forest, traverses the caldera floor, and provides access to well-marked scenic stops and short walks.
Four to 5 Hour Visit?
If you have four to five hours, you may also explore the East Rift and coastal area of the Park via Chain of Craters Road. This road descends 3,700 feet in 20 miles and ends where lava flows crossed the road in 2003.
Want to Get Out of the Car and Hike?
Hikers will find an abundance of trails to satisfy their curiosity. Day hikes and wilderness hikes offer great adventures for visitors who wish to explore beyond the roadways.
Depending on changing volcanic activity, there may be opportunities for viewing active lava flows from the end of the road. No food, water, or fuel is available along the Chain of Craters Road.
Outdoor Camping
Namakanipaio and Kulanaokuaiki are two drive-in campgrounds and many backcountry hiking/camping areas located within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. These campgrounds are FREE - however, proof of payment of park entrance fee is required.
Drive-In camping is available on a first-come basis. No reservations, No permits, and No check-in are necessary. Stays are limited to 7 days in a month and cannot exceed 30 days per year.
Namakanipaio Campground, is located 31 1/2 miles south of Hilo on Highway-11 at 4,000' elevation. It is a large, open grassy area with tall eucalyptus and ohi'a trees. This campground has restrooms, water, picnic tables, and barbecue pits. These are shared facilities with just a few individual sites.
Weather may be cool and damp year-round. Daytime temperature range: 60s to 70s F. Nightime temperature range: 30s to low 50s F. We suggest that you use a tent with a good rainfly and bring warm clothing for cool days and evenings.
Kulanaokuaiki Campground is located about 5 miles down the Hilina Pali Road at 2,700' elevation. There is NO WATER at this location. This new campground has 8 campsites. 2 of the sites are wheelchair accessible. There is a vault-type toilet (no running water), and picnic tables.
No Fires! No Dogs in the campground or anywhere on Hilina Pali Road.
Nightime temperature range: high 40s to high 60s degreees F. Daytime temperature range: high 60s to 90s degrees F. We suggest that you use a tent with a good rainfly and bring warm clothing for cool days and evenings.
Volcano House Hotel, operates rustic camper cabins at the Namakanipaio campground.
The cabins sleep 4 (1 double bed and 2 bunk-style twin beds). Each cabin has a picnic table and an outdoor barbecue grill. Showers are available. Reservations are required.
For information write: The Volcano House, Hawaii National Park HI 96718 or call (808) 967-7321. Email: volcanohouse@hawaiiantel.net
Camping Areas Outside the Park
County and State campgrounds are located around the island.
County of Hawai`i, Department of Parks and Recreation (808) 961-8311
Hawai`i State, Department of Land and Natural Resources (808) 974-6200
Services in Volcano Village, located right outside the Park: Showers Showers may be rented (on a space available basis) through the Volcano House hotel which operated camper cabins in the Namakanipaio Campground area. Call: (808) 967-7321 for more information.
Stores Two small village grocery stores and a hardware store are located in Volcano Village. The nearest large shopping area is in Hilo (31 1/2 miles away, 45 minutes drive).
Laundry A laundromat is located at the rear of the Thai Thai Restaurant/Volcano True Value Hardware store in Volcano Village.
Restaurants There are several restaurants located in Volcano Village, at the Volcano Golf and Country Club, and within the Park.
The true character of the park is best discovered on foot. With over 150 miles of trails in the park, exploration by walking and hiking can be a fascinating and enjoyable experience.
Park trails range in difficulty from easy walks (Bird Park/Kipuka Puaulu or Thurston Lava Tube/Nahuku) to longer hikes such as Kilauea Iki or Mauna Iki. Other trails provide access through wilderness areas and are suitable only for those who are in top physical condition and properly outfitted with winter gear. Most trails are well maintained and easy to follow. Wilderness trails are roughly marked by ahu (cairns - piles of rock). Devastation and Waldron Ledge trails are paved and accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
Rangers on duty in the Kilauea Visitor Center (open from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily), will assist hikers with trail information, maps, and permits.
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park offers adventurous bicyclists dramatic views of volcanic landscapes. Descend into the steaming caldera of Kilauea volcano via Crater Rim Drive. Pedal through deserts and rain forests, past craters and rift zones. Biking in the park provides exciting opportunities for everyone - old or young, experienced or novice.
Protect the fragile lava features, rare plants, and archeological sites. Ride only on designated bike routes.
Plan Ahead
Planning is important to ensure a safe bicycle trip. Stop at Kilauea Visitor Center for trip information, current road conditions and eruption updates. Also at the Visitor Center, pick up the "Bike the Volcanoes" leaflet, complete with trip suggestions. Most visitors travel in cars and buses. Traffic is heaviest between 10am and 3pm especially on Crater Rim Drive. Be alert! Narrow winding roads through the rain forest limit visibility and pose hazards to bicyclists.
Follow the Rules
Always ride single file on the right side of the road. Do not weave in and out.
Adjust your spacing to allow motor vehicles to pass safely.
Stop at stop signs and don't exceed the speed limit.
Consider Others
Watch for and yield to hikers, horses and nene (Hawaiian Geese).
Be Safe. Control your downhill speed.
Call out a warning before overtaking other trail users.
Bike out what you bike in. Leave no trace!
Safety and Health
Know your biking abilities before beginning a trip in the Park. In some sections, you will climb as much as 2,500 feet in 6 miles (600 m in 10 km).
Take and drink plenty of water.
Wear a bicycle helmet. State law requires that children under the age of 17 wear helmets.
Wear bright reflective clothing to be easily seen by motorists.
Avoid overexposure to the intense sun. Wear sunglasses and sunscreen.
Stay on designated bike routes to avoid cracks and cliffs. A bicycle map and trip suggestions are available at the Kilauea Visitor Center.
Carry spare equipment for minor repairs.
Cell-phone service is not always available in many areas of the park.
Volcanic Air Pollution
Sulfur dioxide gas and sulfuric acid mist can make breathing difficult especially near Halema'uma'u Crater and on the lower half of Chain of Craters Road. At times, the entire park can be affected. On those days vigorous physical activity should be avoided. Individuals with respiratory or heart conditions, infants and pregnant women should be especially careful to avoid prolonged exposure to volcanic air pollution.
Fees and Permits
Park entrance fees apply to vehicles and bicycles and are valid for seven consecutive days. Commerical groups need a business permit before entering the park. Non-commercial groups of more than 12 bicyclists should notify the park with trip details.
Overnight Camping
Camping is free and on a first-come basis at Namakani Paio and Kulanaokuaiki campgrounds. Water is not available at Kulanaokuaiki campground. Bring warm clothing, rain gear, a tent, campstove, firewood, and flashlights with extra batteries. Fires are only permitted in barbeque pits.
Weather
Expect rain! Rain clouds can overcome sunny skies in minutes. Weather is extremely variable in the park. Along the coast it can be hot, dry, and sunny. At the volcano's summit it can be cold, wet, and windy.
Kilauea Visitor Center should be your first stop when entering the park. Remodelled in 2005, the center features informative and interactive displays, movies highlighting the special aspects of the park, and a bookstore.
Jaggar Museum is a museum on volcanology with seimographs and other equipment used by scientists to monitor volcanoes. The overlook offers spectacular views into the summit caldera.
There are two drive-in campgrounds in the park; Namakanipaio and Kulanaokuaiki. Camping is free; the only fee that applies is your entrance fee to the Park. Drive-In camping is available on a first-come basis. No reservations, no permits, and no check-in are necessary.
