Hawaiian Volcano Trek

When you arrive in Kona, you’ll meet your guide and others whose adventures in travel have brought them to explore the power of the volcanoes of Hawaii, breathtaking natural landscapes, the wonders of the sea, and Hawaii’s Aloha spirit.

After a long day of travel to reach here, relax in the botanical gardens of the Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary. Walk among ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs and Tibetan Sand Paintings. Walk a labyrinth and a Native American medicine wheel. Then enjoy a relaxing dinner overlooking incredible ocean views as you look forward to the adventures ahead.

You depart early tomorrow morning for Volcanoes National Park!

 Rise early to travel to Volcanoes National Park, located between the Kilauea and Mauna Loa Volcanoes. On the way, stop at an island coffee shop where you can actually view the trees where the Arabica coffee you are drinking is grown in volcanic soil!

Along the drive are more beautiful views overlooking an incredible coastline. You will be fascinated by Panalu’u Black Sand Beach, famous as a turtle nesting area. Keep an eye out for those graceful sea turtles as they often swim quite close to shore!

As your drive approaches Volcanoes National Park, your eco-friendly, rainforest lodging is nearby, but you will be excited to begin experiencing some of the area’s most astounding volcanoes – and some incredible hikes. Conditions with the volcanoes change all the time, so you will regularly check in with the rangers for the latest information and the current situation with the active lava flows, along with where to safely hike for the best views of actively flowing lava.

While at the Park, stop at the Jagger Museum to learn more about volcanoes and get a great view inside the crater of Kilauea!  At twilight, watch the incredible glow of the Kilauea Volcano under the stars.

Today, your experienced guide will bring this living landscape to life with an in-depth exploration of the natural and cultural history of recent eruptions. As you hike to the crater of Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano, you’ll discover that Hawaii’s volcanoes are not like most others around the world. Volcanoes like Kilauea have long-lasting stable eruptions that create rivers of constantly flowing lava, rather than those where the pressure builds up to a violent explosion.

Depending upon the volcano’s current activity, you’ll be able to get as close to the lava as is safely possible.

Today you’ll explore three volcanic craters as you trek to Mauna Ulu as steam still rises, hike the ridge above the Kilauea Iki Crater and across the plumes of steam rising from the crater floor, and walk to the 4.000-foot summit of Kilauea and view Halema’uma’u Crater. Through it all, you’ll find a unique ecosystem, surreal lava formations, and plants and animals that make this surreal place home.

Visit the unique underground world of lava tubes and get to know more about the volcanic processes that continue to shape the island of Hawaii. These incredible tunnels form as lava flows and the inner layer of lava continues to flow as the outer layer begins to harden. The lava eventually stops, but the tunnel remains. Enjoy a fascinating walk through part of the 500-year-old Thurston Lava Tube after a short hike through the rainforest. For a more adventurous and rugged spelunking experience, you also have the option to spend the day covering several miles in the Kazamura Lava Tube System. 

After getting the day’s lava update about openings and closings around the Kilauea Volcano, you’ll know what areas are possible to visit today. If the flow is acceptable, you’ll enjoy another unique vantage point from a lava boat that allows you to get close to the molten lava as it flows into the ocean.

Tonight, you’ll experience dramatic star-gazing from the summit of the dormant volcano, Mauna Kea, Hawaii’s tallest mountain at almost 14,000 feet – no trekking required. Some of the best telescopes in the world are here due to the clear atmosphere and isolation. NASA astronauts have also trained in this other-worldly landscape! A spectacular sunset awaits you, followed by a brilliant night sky.

As you head back towards Kona today, you’ll journey onto private land (with permission) to view Kona’s Hualalai Volcano. You’ll find giant craters, rainforests, lunar landscapes, and another unique lava tube to explore. Breathtaking panoramic views of the Hawaiian landscape await you.

As the sun sets, enjoy a beautiful oceanfront dinner. Tomorrow your volunteer adventure awaits!

Before heading home tomorrow, you’ll spend the day volunteering with Hawaii Wildlife Fund’s Marine Debris Removal Project in Ka Lae, the southernmost point on the island and the United States. With its strong trade-winds and ocean currents, a mass of floating plastic larger than the state of Texas is continuously pouring debris onto the beaches endangering all marine species.

The group has already cleaned up 12 tons of trash during the past year and more than 100 tons during the past four years. That’s a staggering thought as the waste keeps coming ashore at a rate of 15-20 tons per year — and tragic, considering that the endangered hawksbill turtle nests here and humpback whales and monk seals and other marine wildlife make this coast their home.

You’ll join with volunteers from around the world to make a difference in this ongoing massive project.

Saying Aloha goodbyes to Hawaii is never easy. The unique beauty of the sights and sounds of Hawaii are within you and will always be with you. Cherish your memories of the incredible raw beauty of the volcanoes and the new friends you met along the way.