Planning a trip to Volcanoes National Park

When to Go

The best time to go is when Kilauea is really pumping. If you're lucky, you'll be in the park when the volcano is really active and fountaining; mostly, the lava runs like a red river downslope into the sea. If you're on another island and hear a TV news bulletin that the volcano is acting up, catch the next flight to Hilo to see the spectacle. You won't be sorry--and your favorite beach will still be there when you get back.

Following the Eruption on the Internet

Everything you wanted to know about Hawaii's volcanoes, from what's going on with the current eruptions to where the next eruption is likely to be, is now available on the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's new web site, http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov.

The site is divided into areas of information about Kilauea (the currently erupting volcano), Mauna Loa (which last erupted in 1984), and Hawaii's other volcanoes (including Lo'ihi, the submerged volcano off the coast of the Big Island). Each site has photos, maps, eruption summaries, and historical information.

Camping

The only park campground accessible by car is Namakani Paio, which has a pavilion with picnic tables and a fireplace (no wood is provided). Tent camping is free; no reservations are required. Stays are limited to 7 days per year. Backpack camping at hiker shelters and cabins is available on a first-come, sharing basis, but you must register at the visitors center.

Kilauea Military Camp is a rest-and-recreation camp for active and retired military personnel a mile from the visitors center. Facilities include 75 one- to four-bedroom cabins with fireplaces, 100-bunk dorm, cafeteria, bowling alley, bar, general store, weight room, and tennis and basketball courts. Rates range from $26 to $100 a night; call tel.808/967-8333 on the Big Island or 808/438-6707 on Oahu.

The following cabins and campgrounds are the best of what the park and surrounding area have to offer:

Halape Shelter--This backcountry site, about 7 miles from the nearest road, is the place for people who want to get away from it all and enjoy their own private white-sand beach. The small, three-sided stone shelter, with a roof but no floor, can accommodate two people comfortably, but four's a crowd. You could pitch a tent inside, but if the weather is nice, you're better off setting up outside. There's a catchment water tank, but check with rangers on the water situation before hiking in (sometimes they don't have accurate information on the water level; bring extra water just in case). The only other facility is a pit toilet. Go on weekdays if you're really looking to get away from it all. It's free to stay here, but you're limited to 3 nights. Permits are available at the visitors center on a first-come, first-served basis, no earlier than noon on the day before your trip. For more information, call tel. 808/985-6000.

Namakani Paio Campgrounds & Cabins--Just 5 miles west of the park entrance is a tall eucalyptus forest where you can pitch a tent in an open grassy field. The trail to Kilauea Crater is just a half-mile away. No permit is needed for tent camping, but stays are limited to 7 days. Facilities include pavilions with barbecues and a fireplace, picnic tables, outdoor dishwashing areas, rest rooms, and drinking water. There are also 10 cabins that accommodate up to four people each. Each cabin has a covered picnic table at the entrance and a fireplace with a grill. Toilets, sinks, and hot showers are available in a separate building. In the town of Volcano, 4 miles away, you can get groceries and gas. Make cabin reservations through Volcano House, P.O. Box 53, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718 (tel. 808/967-7321); the cost is $40 per night for two adults (and two children), $48 for three adults, $56 for four adults.

Visitor Centers

For information before you go, contact Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, P.O. Box 52, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718(tel.808/985-6000;www.nps.gov/havo). Kilauea Visitor Center is at the entrance of the park, just off Hwy. 11; it's open daily from 7:45am to 5pm.

For the latest eruption update and information on volcanic activity in the park, call the park's 24-hour hotline at tel. 808/985-6000. Updates on volcanic activity are also posted daily on the bulletin board at the visitor center.

Getting There

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is 29 miles from Hilo, on Hawaii Belt Road (Hwy. 11). If you're staying in Kailua-Kona, it's 100 miles, or about a 2 1/2-hour drive, to the park. Admission is $10 per vehicle; you can come and go as often as you want for 7 days. Hikers and bicyclists pay $5; bikes are allowed only on roads and paved trails.