| If you visit Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island | | | | seen one. |
| of Hawaii, you will see in its rainforest and along its | | | | In the summer, yellow ginger blooms in abundance |
| moonscape chain of craters, many of Hawaii's | | | | along the Volcano Highway (Highway 11, leading up to |
| endangered species, including the Hawaiian nene | | | | the Park and to the South end of the island where |
| goose and the i'iwi, a Hawaiian honeycreeper. You | | | | you can continue around to Kona). Mauna Loa and |
| may also see steam and ash from its newest | | | | Kilauea are also favorite spots among the locals for |
| eruption at Halema`uma`u Crater, and at night you | | | | plucking maile for special lei, berries for jam and all |
| may see a glow. | | | | sorts of treasures for Hawaiian Christmas wreaths. |
| When you pack for a Big Island vacation, keep in | | | | The park also offers beautiful, pristine campgrounds |
| mind that in higher elevations such as Volcanoes | | | | at not extra charge than the National Park's entrance |
| National Park, it gets very cold up at night, often | | | | fee. If you have ever thought about camping in |
| frosty. Unlike the year round 75° to 85° | | | | Hawaii, or just plain enjoy camping, you can camp for |
| daytime temps at Hawaii's beaches, up here the | | | | free up here. |
| daytime temperatures rarely rise above the 60's and | | | | Last but not least, you may get to see the glow |
| 70's, and the cool breezes and rainfall can make it | | | | from the erupting Hale`ma`uma`u. It is often visible |
| seem cooler. At night, temperatures often drop | | | | from the patio of the Park's Jaggar Museum.When |
| down to the 40's. Many of the homes have | | | | everyone is quiet, you can hear the crackling from it! |
| fireplaces, and so do the campgrounds. | | | | In the daytime you will likely see steam and ash, but |
| The Volcano Lodge has a massive fireplace where | | | | not lava - unless things change, and Pele is known to |
| they say the fire has been kept going for over 100 | | | | change her mind without notice! |
| years. You can stop by and check it out. You don't | | | | The lava flow viewing is actually outside of the Park |
| need to be staying at the lodge. Many who go inside | | | | at the coast in Kalapana at the end of Hwy 130. It is |
| to check out the gift shop or have hot cocoa or a | | | | managed by Hawaii Civil Defense. Sometimes you can |
| drink in the bar, will sit by the fire for a bit. | | | | see the lava flowing into the sea (about 3/4 mile |
| The Park's Visitor's Center is also a must-see, and it | | | | away) and a ribbon of lava flowing over the terrain |
| provides hiking trail maps, driving maps, and lots of | | | | on its way to the sea. Other times you can't see |
| useful and interesting information. For no other than | | | | anything. |
| safety reasons, stop here first. | | | | Update: Due to Halema`ma`u's eruption, the sulfur |
| In the park you can visit the volcano's series of | | | | dioxide levels can be high enough at time times to |
| craters (including the steaming Halema'uma'u Crater | | | | close the National Park. Those with lung problems, |
| where you might want to leave a leave a lei for | | | | and those very young or very old, pregnant should |
| Pele), several steam vents, and a rain forest that is a | | | | check with their health care provider before going. |
| bird watcher's heaven and ends at the walk-through | | | | Also you can get a report on the levels by calling the |
| Thurston Lava Tube. This particular area has a well | | | | National Park. With the new eruption you cannot walk |
| paved path and stairs. Hiking trails abound in the park | | | | to the rim of Halema`uma`u, but you can view from |
| and through some of the craters. | | | | the Park's Jaggar Museum's lanai (patio). In the |
| Volcano Village is inhabited by many artists, drawn to | | | | daytime you may steam and ash and at night a glow. |
| Pele's creative energy. In this small town, you will find | | | | When people aren't talking, we are hearing the |
| many workshops in hula, fine arts, and crafts at the | | | | crackling from the eruption. The lava itself here at |
| Volcano Art Center. Cedar trees are everywhere, | | | | the crater is of this writing only visible to the Park's |
| and up above the village, you'll find grazing horses and | | | | web cam. But you can see lava flows in other ways |
| cows in pastures. The wildlife is way different though. | | | | such as via helicopter, boat or at the Kalapana |
| No bear or cougar. Wild pigs runt, but we've never | | | | viewing site. |