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Top To Do's on

The Big Island 
     
    HAWAII

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Explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

How to get there

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is in the southeast corner of the Big Island of Hawaii and occupies about 12% of the island's land mass. Highways circle the perimeter of the island, so there is easy access to the park from the major airports at Kona and Hilo. Many tourists drive a rental car to the park, but you can also go as part of a group tour. Look for tour operators at Viator.com, or search Google for "Hilo" and "Volcanoes National Park" and you'll find options from companies like Roberts Hawaii and others.

When is the park open?

The park is open 24 hours a day, with its busiest time being between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Despite the 500 square miles of park space, our observation is that most visitors stay within a few miles of the park entrance.

How much does it cost?

Entrance to the park costs $25 per noncommercial vehicle. This fee is good for seven days and covers all the occupants in the vehicle. Individuals that come by bus, bike, motorcycle or on foot will pay fee of $12, which also covers seven days. Of course, national park passes are valid and welcome. Our lifetime senior citizen national parks pass worked perfectly for our group of five.

What's the park like?

Since the Big Island first poked its head above the blue Pacific waters some 500,000 years ago, volcanoes have shaped and molded the diverse topographical and environmental landscape of the island on an almost continual basis. Elevation changes from sea level to 13,500 feet have transformed the island into a climatic and vegetative cornucopia, with landscapes ranging from almost desert dry to rainforest to arctic in a span of less than 50 miles.

Upon arriving, your first stop will undoubtedly be the visitor center where, depending on your time and level of interest and curiosity, you can get either Volcanoes National Park 101 or glean enough information for a thesis toward a master's degree in volcanology. The center is well staffed with park rangers and well supplied with park souvenirs and basic provisions for your visit. You can also learn about the ranger-led walks and talks that happen several times a day and that go to multiple destinations.

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Seek out black-sand beaches and Natural Hot Springs

There’s nothing like feeling volcanic particles between your toes. If you get bored of all those picture-perfect golden-sand beaches, head to one of the Big Island's volcanic beaches, featuring gray, black, and pebbly basalt sands. In fact, one of the newest beaches in the world can be found just northwest of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at Isaac Hale Beach Park: Pohoiki Black Sand Beach. The beach, drenched in black sandy particles, formed back in 2018 from Kilauea’s most recent eruption.

Here in Pohoiki you will find the only Natural Hot Springs In Hawaii.

Ask the Lifeguard How to get to all of them, there are many to be explored.

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Visit the green-sand beach

These unique olive sands are worth the trek. Papakolea—one of only four green-sand beaches on the planet and the only one in Hawaii—is near the island’s southernmost point, carved into an ancient cinder cone. It’s a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer), fairly easy hike to the beach from the parking lot over sandy, uneven terrain. The beach appears green thanks to a special particle (olivine) inside the sand. Skip the offer for a ride from the parking lot, as these are illegal. Make sure to bring water and snacks, and leave this rare phenomenon exactly as you left it.

 

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