Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - Things to See and Do

What to see and do at the Volcanoes National Park, Big Island, Hawaii

Visited December 2023

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Volcanoes National Park includes two active volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is located on the Big Island in Hawaii. It was established in 1916 and includes two active volcanoes: Kilauea and Mauna Loa. The park is designated International Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We visited the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on 12/18/2023. It was a rainy day and the views to the Kilauea volcano crater were not very clear. However, the rain did increase the amount of steam rising out of the steam vents which are on the rim of the crater. Mauna Loa volcano could be seen in the distance from the Kilauea volcano crater overlook when looking in the opposite direction from the crater rim.

The Kilauea volcano is the youngest and most active volcano in Hawaii and one of the most active in the world. The volcano is 4,090 ft high and between 210,000 and 280,000 years old. It's caldera is 3 miles long and 2 miles wide. The most recent eruptive activity took place from September 10th to 16th, 2023. According to legend, Kīlauea is home to the Hawaiian volcano goddess Pele.

The Mauna Loa volcano, which is north of Kilauea, is 13,677 ft high and makes up half of the land of the Big Island. Due to its height, it is often covered with snow in the winter. It is the largest active volcano in the world, and it last erupted on November 27th to December 10th, 2022. Mauna Loa means long mountain in Hawaiian.

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