Volcanoes NP is one that you can actually say is always changing. There are active eruptions and lava flows in the Kilauea Caldera that change the landscape and create additional land on the island of Hawaii. We started on our 90 minute drive to the park early in the morning to hike the old lava flow and petroglyph area of the park along the Pacific Ocean, a 19 mile drive one way from the VC to the end of Chain of Craters Road. We were warned to do this hike early because of the heat. Good advice! It was getting hot on the trail by 9:30. There is a sea arch in the huge cliffs along the shore which is being worn away constantly by the wave action. We did three short hikes to four different old lava flows and craters of now dormant volcanoes as the road ascended to the rim, and we walked though the Thurston lava tube and up to the rim of the Kilauea Iki Caldera. Along the West Crater Rim Drive, we were on a walkway surrounded by steam pouring from vents with a strong sulphur odor. At the end of the drive is parking for the historic Hawaiian Volcano Observatory building. It was closed and condemned after the last eruption. Much of the cliff it is built on fell into the caldera, and the building is on a precarious edge. A 1/2 mile walk led to excellent viewing overlooks. Back near the VC, we went to the Volcano House Lodge, another historic park structure, for an early dinner and interesting gift shops. Another walk about a mile from the hotel led to a great overlook for watching the sunset and the lava field glowing red in the darkening sky. The impression was of many small campfires which grew in number as the darkness settled in. It was a long drive home in the dark after a 16 hour 8 walking miles day but seeing the lava eruptions in an active volcano was well worth the energy spent. Spectacular experience!
Along the Steam Vents trail. The young woman just visible along the trail has the same color hair as the rising steam.
Halema'uma°u Crater lava flow at sunset
Kilauea Iki Crater, you can hike across this wasteland but we chose not to do so. Long hike and would need another day.
Puhimau Crater, short hike to this one but across very jagged lava.
Some of the thousands of petroglyphs.
Holei Sea Arch - a lot of this fell into the ocean last winter and the rangers say it might not last too much longer with another strong storm.
Petroglyph hike area.
Even in the midst of this rugged scenery you would find beautiful flowers in places.