Travel Guide
Everything you need to know β hours, tickets, tips, and how to make the most of your visit.
Overview
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island protects Kilauea and Mauna Loa, two of the world's most active volcanoes. Drive Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road, walk through the Nahuku lava tube and, when Kilauea is erupting, watch its glow from overlooks after dark.
Insider Knowledge
Check the NPS and USGS volcano updates daily, as eruption activity and closures change often.
Nearby
hawaiiDiamond Head (Leahi) is the volcanic tuff cone that rises behind Waikiki. A steep 1.6-mile round-trip trail climbs switchbacks, stairs and a tunnel to old military bunkers at the rim, with sweeping views of Waikiki, Honolulu and the Pacific.
hawaiiHawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island protects Kilauea and Mauna Loa, two of the world's most active volcanoes. Drive Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road, walk through the Nahuku lava tube and, when Kilauea is erupting, watch its glow from overlooks after dark.
hawaiiOff the Kona coast, tour boats shine lights into the water after dark to attract plankton, which draws giant reef manta rays with wingspans up to 12-16 feet. Snorkelers float at the surface holding a lit board as the mantas glide and barrel-roll just below, an unforgettable Big Island experience.
hawaiiOahu's North Shore is the world's big-wave surfing capital in winter, when swells of 20-30-plus feet hit Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline. The laid-back town of Haleiwa adds shrimp trucks, shave ice and surf shops, and green sea turtles often rest at Laniakea Beach.
hawaiiPearl Harbor National Memorial honors those lost in the December 7, 1941 attack. The free USS Arizona Memorial program includes a film and a Navy boat to the white memorial above the sunken battleship, and nearby sites include the Battleship Missouri and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
hawaiiWaikiki is Honolulu's famous 2-mile beachfront, with gentle surf ideal for first-time surf lessons, outrigger canoe rides and sunset views of Diamond Head. Behind the sand, Kalakaua Avenue is lined with hotels, shopping and restaurants, and the historic Moana Surfrider dates to 1901.
Visit overlooks after dark when the summit is active, and bring a jacket since nights are cool at 4,000 feet.
Respect closed areas; volcanic gas (vog) and unstable ground are real hazards.
Allow a full day, or better, stay overnight in nearby Volcano Village.
Common Questions
Sometimes. Kilauea erupts episodically; check NPS updates for current viewing locations.
Some roads and trails close without notice during eruptions or high gas levels.
Buy your pass online in advance to save time at the entrance.
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