National Parks Journal
Photo: Courtesy of J. Frank
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park protects some of the most unique geological, biological, and cherished cultural landscapes in the world. Extending from sea level to 13,680 feet, the park encompasses the summits of two of the world's most active volcanoes - Kīlauea and Mauna Loa - and is a designated International Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Entrance Fees
Activities
Top Hikes
1 mi · 50 ft gain · out & back
Paved, wheelchair-accessible path through landscape buried by the 1959 Kilauea Iki eruption, now slowly recovering.
Starts at: Devastation Trailhead
1.2 mi · 50 ft gain · out & back
Walk past volcanic steam vents with colorful sulfur deposits demonstrating geothermal forces below the surface.
Starts at: Kilauea Visitor Center
1.4 mi · 50 ft gain · out & back
Cross a 500-year-old lava field to approximately 23,000 ancient Hawaiian carvings viewable from a boardwalk.
Starts at: Pu'uloa Parking Area
1.2 mi · 100 ft gain · loop
Loop through a kipuka — an island of older forest surrounded by newer lava flows — with rare native plants and birds.
Starts at: Kipukapuaulu Parking Area
Upcoming Events
Explore the Summit
Join a park ranger for engaging programs that explore the geology, Native Hawaiian history, and unique native plants and animals. Programs are offered daily at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Programs last approximately 30-45 minutes. Program starts at the U.S. Flagpole located at the Kilauea Military Camp. Please note: Programs may be canceled due to hazardous weather or volcanic conditions. Stop by the Welcome Center for the latest updates, locations, and details.
Life on the Edge
Discover how people have understood and recorded volcanism for generations—through Native Hawaiian moʻolelo (stories), chants, and historical accounts.. This engaging ranger program blends geology with Native Hawaiian knowledge, offering a powerful look at how eruptions have shaped both the landscape and Hawaiian history. Programs are offered daily at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. Ranger talk is approximately 20 minutes. Meet the ranger at Uēkahuna parking area. Please note: programs may be canceled due to hazardous weather or volcanic conditions. Stop by the Welcome Center for the latest updates, locations, and details.
Cracked Nut Creatives Morning Concert at Kahuku
Cracked Nut Creatives Morning Concert at Kahuku. The National Parks Arts Foundation’s May artists-in-residence, Cracked Nut Creatives, bring a rare fusion of cello performance and live multimedia art to the Kahuku Unit. Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra cellist Joshua Nakazawa honors Queen Liliʻuokalani with an improvised interpretation of her music, shaped in real time by the shifting light, weather, and natural acoustics of Kaʻū. Multimedia artists Carlin Ma and Sam Paris layer in live visual, musical, and cinematic elements to create an immersive, one-of-a-kind experience. Drawing from their interdisciplinary backgrounds in film, music, and photography, Cracked Nut Creatives explore how people and landscape continually influence one another. Their Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park residency centers on themes of transformation, resilience, and cultural reverence. Co-presented by the National Parks Arts Foundation and Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. When: Saturday, May 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Where: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station. Turn into Kahuku near the 70.5 mile marker on Hwy 11 in Kaʻū.
Best Time to Visit
Best time to visit: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Pleasant weather with fewer crowds
Weather & Climate
The weather the summit of Kīlauea (~4000' elevation) varies daily and may be rainy and chilly any time of the year. Temperature varies by elevation. At the summit of the volcano, temperatures may be 12 to 15 degrees cooler than at sea level. The coastal plain at the end of Chain of Craters Road is often hot, dry, and windy with the possibility of passing showers.