-
Big Island Adventure 2009
"humuhumunuknukupuahah yeahh b****!" -forgetting…
-
Big Island Hawaii Advice
Here's some of the advice I wish I had before…
-
Aloha
Some of the favs from various trips to the Big…
Kalapana Lava Flow
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
5 reviews for Kalapana Lava Flow
This was awesome! Watching lava flow into the pacific and all of the steam as it hits the water??? SUPER COOL. AND, it's free!!!We heard about this site from a tourist information center near our hotel in Waikoloa. We drove over and were amazed. There are a bunch of warning signs saying enter at your own risk...I can see why. You definitely need a flashlight, mosquito spray (more on that), good shoes and water.
It is about a 3/4 mile hike over lava rocks and the lava fields. There are no smooth surfaces, so anyone with weak ankles should not go. We bought a flashlight there for $5 and couldn't have done it without the light. Go before sunset so you can maneuver your way down to the site. Get a good spot and have your camera ready. Unfortunately with the hot rocks, lots of crevices and cracks and dampness, it is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. I sprayed myself, but those pesky buggers bit me through my clothes! I must have looked like a maniac spraying myself and trying to spray under my clothes.
Anyway, the site in itself is well worth my bites. It's pretty amazing to see this island grow each day as lava flows out. Highly worth the trip...
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
Okay, so i'm a little biased because I came out here a few years ago and there was no one to stop you from getting as close to the lava as your shoes could handle (mine melted).
BUT nowadays they make sure to keep you a 1/2 mile away because "purportedly" rocks can be "blasted" up to a 1/4 mile. Blah blah blah i want to poke some lava with a goddamn stick, so lemme at it!
There's a lot of smoke and some glow after nightfall, but even with binocs you can't really see too much action. There's a hill in the way so I didn't actually get to see any real lava hitting the real ocean, just the effects thereof.
Rumor has it that you can go out there on your own before 4:30pm or after the rangers leave, i.e. 10:30 or so. But be careful because if they catch you, they will arrest you, fine you $500, and throw your shoes into the lava. Believe you me, its a long, sharp walk home barefoot.
We got here at 5pm, and although it opens at 5pm, there were already a bunch of cars already there. We brought water, snacks, and flashlights and hiked 3/4 mi from the parking lot to the lava viewing site across lava beds. We found a seat on a lava slab and waited from 5-7 for sunset. Finally, at dusk, we began seeing more than the smoke we were watching for 2 hours and some glowing lava. It was really far away from the lava viewing and virtually impossible to get pictures of with a typical Canon camera. Finally, at 8p, we walked back to the parking lot, utilizing our flashlights. Without them, we would've definitely fallen down because there is no other lighting.
When we arrived at the Coconut Cottage B & B in Pahoa, we found some detailed information on what to do in the area. One of the first suggestions, and one of the main reasons we headed here, was to see the active lava flow into the ocean! During our stay, the Lava Viewing area was open from 5pm-10pm, though signs stated it was only open till 8pm. Actually, the last car was allowed in at 8:00pm but those there could remain until 10pm. Everything promptly closes at 10 though, and there are strict warnings everywhere to be out by then, so make sure you do. Warnings are something like "You will be left here to die if you aren't out by 10pm" but a little more subtle.
You can get to the Lava Viewing Area by following Route 130 until it ends. During the drive, you can see the plume of smoke rising into the air in the distance. Eerie. Make sure you bring water, sneakers (no flip flops!), and of course your camera. Rain gear is also good as we had a few showers during our trips there. There is a large parking area, and some vendors at the front to buy pictures of the Lava (much better pictures than what you will get), jewelry, coffee, and t-shirts. To get to the viewing area, you walk over lots of lava rocks. The path has white and yellow paint markings to follow, which helps, but you really do need a flashlight at night or you will likely fall quite a few times as the ground is very uneven and filled with cracks. I would recommend getting out there early, before the sun goes down. The viewing is still good, and that way you only need to make one trip in the dark. The best view we found was as close to the ocean as you could get. The area is fenced off, so you can't go any further, but from that spot, we could see lava falling into the ocean, sprays of lava into the area, lots of smoke, etc. You could also see other spots where there is lava flow further down the coast.
To get a better view, try the helicopter tours or boat tours. I wanted to try both (or either) but was too sick to risk adding motion sickness to the list of things wrong with me.
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (3)
2 of the best Light Shows on Earth are located at the end of Route 130 in the Puna District, right beside the Volcanoes National Park
They are: The Billions & Billions of Stars shining down from the nighttime sky & the active Lava Flow coming down from Kilaeau into the sea
Everyday from 2 - 10 PM, the County has people setup to help guide you the spectacular sight to behold. Marked safe passage over the dried, cracked & crumbly lava fields to the shore will have you sitting about 1 mile away from an active Lava Flow - see real, true-to-life LAVA flowing into the sea
See the crimson reds, the firey yellows & the white heat of the Molten Hot MAGMA explode as it hits the cool oceanic waters.....just can't believe that this is a REAL volcano & I'm sitting here watching it!
Be sure to bring your flashlight as it gets dark as the devil out there & you don't want to try walking 20 min over cracked lava fields w/out some help
Totally worth it & best part of all - it's FREE
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (4)