Do You Really Need A Guide For Hawaii Lava Hike?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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You can take a tour through the park and have your own vehicle available for exploration if you use Shaka Guide's Hawaii National Park Driving Audio Tour

! When is the Best Time to Visit? It's always a good time to visit HAVO. If you're only going to view lava, you can go right now!

Do you need a tour for volcano National Park?

They want to see Kilauea up close and personal without spending a whole day travelling and hiking to finally reach the summit.

If you book a tour in advance, you don't have to spend half of the day travelling to the volcano and getting to the summit

. Tours can last anywhere from 50 minutes to several hours.

How much time do you need at volcano National Park?

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a must on any Big Island itinerary. We recommend spending

at least one day

in the park. That is enough time to see the highlights, especially after the closures due to the recent volcanic activity in 2018.

Is Kilauea still erupting 2021?


Kīlauea volcano began erupting on September 29, 2021, at approximately 3:21 p.m. HST

in Halema'uma'u crater. Lava continues to erupt from a single vent in the western wall of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. All lava activity is confined within Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

Can I see lava at volcano National Park?

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day, so

your chance to see glowing lava (from near or far) is pretty good when the volcano is actively erupting

(it's periodically erupting only at the summit in Halemaumau currently), especially when it's dark. Just look for the red glow.

Can you drive through volcano National Park?


Visiting the park by car is easy to do

. The two main roads visitors will travel are Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road. All roads in the park are two-wheel drive roadways and do not require four-wheel drive vehicles.

Is it safe to visit Kilauea?

Overall,

it is pretty safe, especially if you follow a few safety guidelines for visiting the recently active region

. Kilauea, one of the world's most active and largest shield volcanoes, is an ever-present reminder of the incredible forces of nature that are constantly at work on the Big Island of Hawaii.

How do I get from Honolulu to volcano National Park?

There is no direct connection from Honolulu to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. However, you can

take the line 20 bus to Airport Upper Level, take the walk to Honolulu airport, fly to Hilo, then take the taxi to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

.

Can you drive to Volcano in Hawaii?


Depending on where along the Kona coast you're driving from, you can expect the drive to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to take around 2-2.5 hours

. From the Waikoloa area, going the southern route may take around 2.5-3 hours. But that's without any stops!

How much does it cost to get into Volcano National Park?

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park normally charges

$30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, $15 per pedestrian or bicycle

, and the pass is good for seven days. The entrance fee waiver for the fee-free days does not cover camping or backcountry overnight permit fees.

How long is Crater Rim Drive Hawaii?

Crater Rim Drive is an

11-mile

road that skirts the edge of the Kilauea Caldera in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and contains several scenic views and hiking opportunities.

Can you walk on a volcano in Hawaii?

Volcano, Hawaii


You are able to actually walk on the Kilauea Crater floor

. You will even feel the heat under your shoes. Wear good hiking shoes, and carry your own water, and be reasonably fit. It's exhilarating to be walking on Kilauea, and feeling the Pele Goddess energy.

Do you need four wheel drive for volcano National Park?

The short answer is

no, you don't

. Well, I guess if you want to drive to the Mauna Kea summit, it is officially said that a “4-wheel drive vehicle is required” to drive past the Maunakea Visitor Information Station, although there are reports of tourists driving up in a normal car.

What should I wear to volcano National Park?

Wear

sturdy close-toed shoes

. Hiking on lava rock can be hazardous due to uneven, unstable, and sharp hiking surfaces. Lava fields are shadeless and hot. Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.

Does Kilauea erupt every day?


For the past 200 years, Mauna Loa and Kilauea have tended to erupt on average every two or three years

, placing them among the most frequently active volcanoes of the world. Some intervals of repose between eruptions at a given volcano have been much longer than its long-term average.

When did Kilauea last erupt?

December 20, 2020

Is lava flowing at Kilauea?


There are currently two active lava flows on Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano: the Kahaulae'a 2 flow, and the Peace Day flow

. Both begin at Pu'u O'o, the center of Kilauea's current eruption for most of its 30-year history.

How close can you get to lava?

How close can you get to flowing lava? You can get around

700 meters

close to flowing lava and it will still be quite hot. Though I hope you don't try this it would be a very quick death for you if you somehow managed to get much closer than that.

Is there lava on Maui?

#1 –

Hana Lava Tube

The first secret of Maui is the Hana Lava Tube. These caves were formed as a result of fresh molten lava erupting from underground. The lava then made its way towards the ocean.

How many volcanoes are erupting right now 2021?

There were

79 confirmed eruptions

at some point during 2021 from 75 different volcanoes; 31 of those were new eruptions that started during the year. A stop date with “(continuing)” indicates that the eruption was considered to be ongoing as of the date indicated.

Can you drive all the way around Crater Rim Drive?

Tours that outline sights and stops along the way are available in the NPS smartphone app and also on the park website.

Crater Rim Drive from Uēkahuna to the Devastation Trailhead parking lot is about 5.6 miles (9.0 km) one-way, taking about 20 minutes to drive without any stops

.

How long does it take to drive from Kona to volcano?

Finding Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is located on the island of Hawai'i. From Kailua-Kona: 95 miles southeast on Highway 11 (

2 to 2.5 hour

drive), or 125 miles through Waimea and Hilo via highways 19 and 11 (2.5 to 3 hours).

Which Hawaiian island is safest?

If you're just looking at the sheer number of incidents on each island,

Kauai

is the safest island to live on. In 2020, the Kauai Police Department reported the lowest number of violent crime incidents and property crime incidents of any of the four major islands.

What are two dangers of lava viewing?

  • Bench collapse can kill.
  • Tephra jets & littoral fountains hurl hot lava.
  • Steam blasts toss rocks.
  • Acid fumes and glass particles can irritate eyes and lungs.
  • Scalding waves burn.

How many deaths has Kīlauea caused?

Human death toll Volcano Year 400+ Kilauea

1790

353

Mount Merapi 2010
326 Makian 1861 245 Nyiragongo 2002
Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.