Volcanoes National Park is made up of Kīlauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world’s largest shield volcano. The national park makes up about 13% of the Big Island and is one of only two National Parks on the entire Hawaiian Island archipelago. I have been following the USGS webcams for Kīlauea religiously since it has been regularly erupting since December and I wanted more than anything for it to happen on our trip. Although it didn’t happen while we were there, our visit allowed us to enjoy what the national park has to offer and scope it out for when it erupts on our vacation. Eruption episode 15 ended just days before our arrival so I can’t help but be hopeful.
We started under a waterfilled sky at Nāhuku Lava Tube. The lava tube is a short hike through a rainforest. Tubes like these are formed when form when molten lava flows cool and solidify on the surface, creating a crust with flowing lava underneath, eventually leaving behind a hollow tunnel once the lava drains. After the lava tube we went to Steaming Bluff, a viewpoint of the Kīlauea caldera. From here we watched steam billowing upwards from the crater, created when water that seeps underground is heated by magma. We also enjoyed Puhimau Crater, the only crater in the park that has the most perfect shape to create the most perfect echo echo echo I have ever heard.
Later, hours after returning from our explore of Volcanoes National Park, checking the USGS webcam, I saw that Episode 16 had started. Not knowing how long it would last we set off in the middle of the night California time to watch as lava spews from Earth’s crust.
Aren’t those ferns amazing?!