If you live on Hawaii Island or are just visiting, there are magical and inspiring places to visit that you just have to make a plan to go and see. The island, being the size of Connecticut, has places to explore that can take most of the day to get there and can include an exhausting drive if you are not prepared. So, to lend a hand in sharing some amazing places to discover, we share with you the reality of making a plan to eat, drink and sleep, as well as adventure! This is the first of five posts in this series.
Volcanoes National Park and Seeing the Lava Flow
This is an all day adventure! It takes about 2 ½ hours to get to Volcanoes National Park from Kona along highway 11.
Before you go:
If you plan on viewing the lava, make sure you bring plenty of water, closed toe shoes, a jacket, a flashlight and something to sit on, as the lava is sharp.
Getting Started:

The caldera look out with steam vents on the cliffs
Many people take this opportunity to also stop and see the black sand beach at Punulu’u Beach and try and catch a sea turtle sighting. The turtles, (honu) love to lie on the hot black sand beach right near the parking area. Also, use the bathroom. It is a long solitary road to the park.
Volcanoes National Park-The Adventure Begins

The primordial forest of Volcano, HI
Walk along the steam vents to feel the hot steam coming up directly from the volcanic activity under the park. Unless you have been to Yellowstone or Calistoga, standing in the hot mist of volcanic steam is quite an experience!
If you plan on driving down to see the lava, you won’t have time to hike across the floor of Kilauea Iki, a nearby volcano caldera that offers a chance to understand the geology of the area more fully and enjoy a walk through a sacred place that brings the power of the volcano more fully to life. This is another trip on another day, that may include a night at Volcano House or one of the beautiful B&B’s in the Volcano Village.
Seeing the Lava Flow
As of this writing, the lava is flowing into the ocean and can be accessed by driving down Highway 130 on Chain of Craters Road, which is NOT in Volcanoes National Park. You need to drive out of the park and head towards Kalapana and Pahoa, which is an hour drive . You can stop in the quaint town of Pahoa for dinner and supplies and then head south. Some of the more popular restaurants include, Kaleo’s Bar and Grill, serving American fare and Pahoa Fresh Fish and Ning’s Thai Cuisine.
The current flow, named episode 61g flow, is still active and entering the ocean at Kamokuna. Webcam images show that surface lava flow activity persists on the upper portion of the flow field, on the pali, and in scattered areas of the coastal plain. It is currently best to hike in from the County of Hawai‘i lava viewing area on the Kalapana side to access the ocean entry. The Kalapana access is open daily from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. If you do hike in from the park side, be aware that the gases get stronger the closer you get to the ocean entry. Rangers have roped off the park side of the ocean entry and placed signs warning of the toxic fumes
Before you go, check to see if there are alerts and road closures that may exist due to the changing nature of the flow and weather conditions.

Lava Entry 2017 photo courtesy GoHawaii.com
It’s a full day of adventure enjoying the black sand beach, a primordial tropical forest, beaches and watching Pele’s fiery display as land is created right in front of you.
LUVA Real Estate Realtors are local lifestyle experts and can share with you even more tips and ideas for a fun adventure to Volcano and Kalapana.