| Hawaii volcanoes are known as "shield" | | | | referred to as the "drive-in" volcano since |
| volcanoes, gently sloping mountains produced | | | | it can be easily viewed by car. Even if you |
| from a lot of very wet, fast-moving lava | | | | don't experience lava flows when you visit, |
| flows. Each Hawaiian island is made up of at | | | | there is much to see. Lava craters, giant |
| least one primary volcano. | | | | chasms, vents spewing steam, lava tubes (or |
| | | | caves) and Hawaiian petroglyphs can all be |
| When you move along the island chain from the | | | | experienced here. The Visitor's Center at |
| south, where volcanoes are active, to the | | | | the Kilauea Caldera is located at 4,000 feet. |
| northwest part of the chain, the volcanoes | | | | Here you can find books, videos and other |
| become older--and less active. The active | | | | information about the park. |
| volcanoes erupt a type of rock known as | | | | |
| basalt. When in a "molten" state, basalt | | | | Crater Rim Drive, which circles the volcano, |
| produces the fluid lava that you see running | | | | has many interesting viewpoints and jumping |
| down mountains and valleys. | | | | off points for short hikes. Also within the |
| | | | park is the Jagger Museum and the Hawaiian |
| The Big Island of Hawaii is home to five | | | | Volcano Observatory. Be sure to bing your |
| major volcanoes: Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Mauna | | | | camera, water, food and extra clothes, |
| Kea, Hualalai and Kohala. Mauna Loa is | | | | especially if you are staying in the area |
| considered the largest active volcano on | | | | after sunset. |
| earth, even though it has not erupted since | | | | |
| 1984. But Kilauea, home of the Hawaii | | | | One can easily spend a day or two exploring |
| Vocanoes National Park, is the most active | | | | Kilauea, so give yourself enough time to |
| volcano in terms of how much lava it erupts | | | | really experience the rare phenomenon of a |
| each year, and the place most visitors come | | | | live volcano. |
| to see volcanic action. | | | | |
| | | | In addition to Kilauea volcano, two other |
| Ancient Hawaiians believed that Kilauea was | | | | volcanic mountains on the Big Island, Mauna |
| the physical manifestation of the fury of the | | | | Loa and Mauna Kea are prominent. They stand |
| mountain goddess, Pele. Kilauea has added 550 | | | | more than 13,500 feet high and have frequent |
| acres of coastal land since eruptions began | | | | snowstorms during the winter. Mauna Kea even |
| in 1983. (To visualize how large this is, | | | | has year-round snow fields near its pinnacle. |
| imagine that this is enough to fill more than | | | | Imagine being able to ski in Hawaii! |
| 200 million dump trucks!). Hot rivers of | | | | |
| molten orange lava, flowing downhill can be | | | | If your time on the Big Island is short and |
| seen most any evening of the year. | | | | you would like to take a look at Kilauea |
| | | | volcano, consider a helicopter tour. Since |
| Hawaii Vocanoes National Park, two hour's | | | | you can't really "see" the mountain from |
| drive from Kona and five hours from Kohala on | | | | anywhere else on the island, a helicopter |
| the Big Island, can be the highlight of any | | | | tour is a good way to view the volcanic |
| vacation. Open year round, one can explore | | | | activity. Helicopter tour operators can be |
| the many aspects of Kilauea volcano. Much of | | | | found in Hilo and the Kohala resort areas. |
| the best hiking on the Big Island is found | | | | |
| within this park. And a visit to the park | | | | When planning your Hawaii adventure, be sure |
| will give you an up-close view of a volcano. | | | | include some time at the amazing Kilauea |
| | | | Volcano, for an "other worldly" view of life |
| The Park, open 24 hours a day, is sometimes | | | | on our planet. |