Things to Do
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: A Visitor's Guide
What Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park offers, whether you can see lava, what to do there, and how to visit Kīlauea with respect and safety in mind.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island is one of the few places on Earth where you can watch the planet actively building itself. The park protects two of the world's most active volcanoes: Kīlauea, which has been erupting nearly continuously since 1983, and Mauna Loa, the largest volcano on Earth by volume. You can walk through lava tubes, stand at the edge of an active summit crater, cross fields of hardened lava still warm from the last flow, and, when conditions are right, watch lava glow at night. To understand Pele here is to understand why Hawaiians have always treated this landscape as sacred.
What the park is
The park spans a huge range of landscapes, from summit craters to coastal lava. Kīlauea has erupted frequently in recent years, reshaping the land. For hours, fees, and closures, always check the National Park Service at nps.gov/havo. You can find this and other official sources on our resources page.
Check current conditions
Volcanic activity, air quality (vog), and trail access change often. Before visiting, check the National Park Service for the latest eruption updates, alerts, and closures. Follow all safety guidance.Can you see lava?
Maybe. When Kīlauea is erupting, glowing lava can sometimes be viewed from safe overlooks, often most vivid after dark. When there is no eruption, you can still see craters, steam, and vast lava fields. Manage expectations and let whatever is happening be the highlight.
What to do there
Drive Crater Rim Drive, walk the Kīlauea Iki trail across a crater floor, explore the Thurston Lava Tube (Nāhuku), and stop at overlooks. Give yourself most of a day, and pair the park with Hilo town and Mauna Kea on a Big Island itinerary.
Pele and respect
In Hawaiian tradition, the volcano is home to Pele, the goddess of fire. Many visitors are asked not to take rocks from the park, both by law and out of respect for Pele. Treat the landscape as the sacred, living place it is, in keeping with respectful travel.
Guided volcano tours
Small-group volcano tours with a guide who tracks current activity, many with free cancellation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park?
Can you see lava at the park?
How much does it cost to enter?
We research each guide against primary sources: the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Mālama Hawaii, the National Park Service, the State of Hawaii and its Division of State Parks, the National Weather Service, and the U.S. Census. For culture, language, and history we lean on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Bishop Museum, and the scholarship of Mary Kawena Pukui. We send readers to those sources rather than speaking over them. When rules, prices, or conditions change, we update the page.