Kilauea is the Most Active Volcano in Hawaii

If you are planning a trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, you must visit Kilauea. Whether you are staying in Kona or Hilo, its less than 2 hours away via car. For only a $10 entry fee (per vehicle) to the Park, you have nature's mystery and marvel literally at your feet.

For years, when you said "Hawaiian volcano," people thought of Mauna Loa. Yet, Kilauea is a separate volcano that is much younger and more active than its northwestern neighbor. While native people refer only to the summit caldera as Kilauea, geologists include the entire volcano within the appellation.
Since 1952, Kilauea has erupted 34 times. Starting in 1983, the Kilauea volcano has been continuously spewing lava from its cone, running down 11 km (about 22 miles) to the ocean. Its a dramatic sight, especially at night. Its one of the world's most active volcanoes.

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was established in 1916 (43 years before the massive eruption of Kilauea Iki). Visitors to the 230,000 acre park can witness the continuous birth of the island, which is the result of over 70 million years of volcanic activity. The National Park is recognized as an International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site.

Kilauea Eruption

Cinder cone in the Kiauea Iki crater (c) Stephanie Hicks

Kilauea Iki's Massive Eruption in 1959

The crater floor across which we hiked was a bubbling lake of molten lava just 50 years ago! In November 1959, Kilauea Iki erupted with impressive force. Fountains of lava reached 1900 feet into the air and, at its peak, the volcano was spewing 2 million tons of lava per hour.
When the lava cooled and hardened, the resulting Ka'u Desert continues to show signs of the recent eruption. Walking 1 mile across the crater floor, steam vents remind you that you are in an active volcano. The Devastation Trail takes you through what used to be a rain forest, but was wiped out by cinder and pumice in 1959. And, off in the distance, steam billows from the mouth of the Halemaumau crater, while lava flows continuously towards the ocean.
Knowing all that... would YOU hike through the bottom of an active volcano crater?
We did!