Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

One of the most interesting places to see while visiting the Hawaiian Islands is the Hawaii Volcano National Park. If you haven't had a chance to visit the Big Island of Hawaii, it is truly a wondrous place of enchantment and mystery.

To get to the park you can fly into Hilo airport and drive up Highway 11 for less than 30 miles to reach it. From Kona its a bit farther, you can either take Highway 11 south for around 100 miles or take Highway 19 to Highway 11 which goes through Waimea. Although the route from Kona is over 100 miles, it is well worth the drive with all of the beautiful scenery and sites to see. Both routes offer a great experience and chance to witness all of the Big Islands splendor and cultural uniqueness.

When you arrive at the park there is so much to see. Some of the most visited areas are Chain of Craters Road, Crater Rim Road, Devastation Trail, Devil's Throat, Hilina Pali Lookout, Jagger Museum and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Kilauea Caldera, Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs and my favorite Thurston Lava Tube. All of them are unique experiences and interesting to see, a great chance to get a real feel for the islands. You can get guided tours or you can just grab a map of the park and visit the places that you are interested in seeing.

The spirit of the volcano is known as Madam Pele. Not to be taken lightly, for she is often seen wandering around the island asking for food, legend says if you don't feed her she will cover your house with lava. She reportedly enjoys vodka also! I often wondered where the legend got the part about the vodka. It may have been from the Russians that migrated there long ago. You may think that I jest about Madam Pele and her powers, but I can attest that she is as real as you and I to a Hawaiian and many people who visit.

Hawaii is recorded to be the youngest place on earth, it is estimated to be around 70 million years old. Pele seems to always be working on producing new land. As she spus her lava out, the flows head toward the ocean and extend the land. If you are fortunate enough to visit at the time of an eruption, it is a spectacular site to see.

The park cannot be explained in words and pictures only tell part of the story, you need to visit the volcano and feel and smell the lava yourself to appreciate the true essence of Pele.