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