Lava Tube Lava Tube Lava Tube!…read more Did you ever think you'd see inside of a real, live lava tube? I DIDN'T! But. I did!!! How cool - great hike - great nature find - great and must do part of a visit to the park!

This lava tube experience was awesome. It was a short hike. Though the lava tube had lights inside,…read morethere were still some areas that were dark such that one could step into puddles of water if one is not careful. Got to see different plants and flowers around that are unique to the area. Definitely worth checking out if you have time while in the Volcanoes National Park.

This was an awesome place to see! It was raining during our visit, and it honestly set thw ambiance…read moreto see the lava tubes so well! I didn't realize how dark they were. Of course, I also didn't realize it was, more or less, underground until we arrived, so that was interesting. I love the area and how the lava tube is set back into the forest. It's a gorgeous area and such a cool feature to see. Next visit I totally want to see it at night!

The first lava cave I've ever gone through was in New Zealand, Rangitoto Island. It was a bit more…read morechallenging than this little lava tube. This was the second lava tube I've ever gone through, and it was quite easy and short. Easy that families and kids walk through it like nothin'! Inside, the trail is pretty flat and wide in some parts. The ceiling height isn't very high, but also wasn't too low that you'd have to duck down all the time. We came here on a rainy day, so there were a few small puddles we had to go around. The trail was lit up with lights along the path as well. So you won't really get lost. But I still ended up turning on my cell phone light just for safety. Walking through it was just basically making a big U shape from one end to the other. There wasn't a lot of people walking with us, compared to what others have reviewed. I guess we came at the right time. From the parking lot to the entrance (starting right), the paved trail headed downward to the lava tube was very green and very tropical. I was excited just being surrounded by all the plants and nature in general. After the lava tube walk, the greenery was a bit more open and woodsy as we looped back to the parking lot. We finished this walk in about 15 minutes. And although short, we all found it enjoyable from start to finish.

A very short walk to this sea arch. A bit underwhelming given how far the overlook is from the arch…read moreitself, but still cool to see the waves crashing against the rocks. An incredibly view coming down Chain of Craters Road. Park at the end and use the restrooms: it is an 1hr drive back. It's about 0.3mi to the sea arch overlook. If you have time, keep walking to the end of the paved portion of the road. There is a gate but it's for cars. Walk around for some great photos of lava.

I was blown away that the popular Hōlei Sea Arch wasn't on Yelp yet! I hate to break it to you but…read morethe sea arch itself wasn't all that spectacular. What makes it special is that this lava rock formation stands about 90 ft. high and was created by a lava flow about 550 years ago. Oh and the fact that it is a natural creation from lava cliff that constantly becomes eroded due to plummeting ocean waves that an arch is formed. Whether good or bad, each photo you take of it becomes history since the waves will eventually crumble it to a simple column then nothing at all. Perhaps after many years several other sea arches will form. What made this particular stop worthwhile for me was the drive along the Chain of Craters Road. The views of the ocean with recent and old lava flows were breathtaking--especially at the wayside stop of Kealakomo. However, you probably wouldn't venture out this far unless it were to capture a sea arch photo. The Chain of Craters Road ends here with a turn around and parking on one side of the street. Only native Hawaiians can continue on the existing road and fish here. Side fact: The word "hōlei" comes from a small endemic plant in the milkweed family.

This place is super exciting! The downfall is that it's far from Kona, so my family and I were…read morereally tired when we got back to our hotel room. It's best to come here at night to really see the lava flow, but be up for the long drive back to Kona if that's where you're staying.

A difficulty arises in writing a review for a natural phenomenon - these things can be so…read moresubjective and even temperamental based on the time of year, weather, personal opinion, et cetera - but Kalapana Lava Flow is undoubtedly one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders I've ever experienced. And it's definitely something you experience rather than just see - you see the juicy yellow and orange glow of the molten lava, you feel the heat radiating on your face from several yards away, and you hear the cracks and pops as it slowly settles and oozes onto the land beneath it. You feel as though you are witnessing the last remnants of Creation, the sixth day has yet to finish, and the primordial energy of eons past is still in the throes of its final breaths. You and your fellow observers will likely feel the need to whisper and speak in hushed tones, as if it is holy ground or the embodiment of some celestial force. Anyway, if you can see the flow at night, this'll undoubtedly be one of the most profoundly majestic experiences you can imagine. The lava ebbs and flows even within the spans of minutes and hours, so don't be discouraged if you see only a bit of oozing rather than a true flow once you arrive. It's dynamic and moves slowly but stealthily, and a new eruption site can arise on the periphery that wasn't there just ten minutes prior. As a reference, we arrived at the bike rental area (from Hilo, drive the 130 through Pahoa and completely to the south end of the 130, at which point it will force you onto a smaller road in a southwestern direction that will eventually dead end in a parking area), around 5pm, paid $20 a person for a high quality mountain bike, biked the first mile or two in, and then started our journey north over the rocks around 5:20. This leg took at least an hour or so, and we loitered around the different lava sites for at least an hour before making the trek back in the dark. All in all, allow for at least four hours of time from start to finish - we were driving away back to our condo at nearly 9pm exactly. Tips: - bring STRONG flashlights or headlamps for the trek back over the lava. The cheaper and dimmer the light, the more difficult. Also bring the basics such as cash, snacks, water, your [charged] camera and phone, and sunscreen for the trek in. - wear hiking boots; any sturdy tennis shoe will do but the igneous ground, often simultaneously rough, grainy, and hot, will do a number on any flimsy sneakers. Don't wear any stylish or fancy tennis shoes either, or even hardy sandals - I guarantee you will regret it. - if you wear contacts, bring back up glasses. - don't park at the first parking area or get your bike from the vendors; shop around smart. Many vendors are obnoxiously hawkish. - on a similar note, do indeed get a bike to go the first mile or so! The first leg of the walk is pretty but dry and dusty and pales in comparison to the actual destination. All the bike companies look like they throw in extra lights, water, and snack bars. You'll really appreciate the bike for the last leg back as well - best $20 spent so far. My husband and I both finished up the trip in complete agreement that seeing the lava up close in person was one of the most spectacular moments of our lives thus far!

Loved this 5 miles round trip hike to the beach. Huge variety of vegetation and most of the trail…read moretramps through a tree forest. The tree forest is interesting with some abandoned and vegetation encrusted old jeeps and cars, historic rock walls and towards the end, spur trails to the sea cliffs, and a collapsed lava tube. At the end is a gorgeous bay favored by sea turtles. We saw at least 23 turtles on our visit. Please note that this trail is muddy and very muddy in spots even when it has not been raining, and the footing is very uneven so it is not for the casual walker, for flip flops or any shoes that you don't mind getting very muddy. I found that having hiking poles was helpful in order to gage how thick the mud was at various places on the pathway. Go early as it is very humid by late morning or mid day.

Read the reviews. Is it muddy and rocky and uneven? YES. But it's mostly in the shade! Be prepared,…read morehave the right shoes, take your time, a lot of the really bad spots and walk around areas etc. if you're not careful, you will end up covered in mud. The beach is neat, we enjoyed snorkeling. Be careful as there can be some strong currents on the far left side (if you're looking out) according to some locals we met.

I broke my leg on 04/06/18 when I took the "Sunset Lava Hike" which was a distance of over 13 miles…read moreand nearly 8 hours. I broke my fibula on a fall I took at about mile 10. I was required to hobble for 3 miles/ 2 hours on a broken bone. Chris was our guide and offered zero first aid or concern for my situation. When we returned, Fabienne was unaware that I had even been injured. Neither she or Chris offered any first aid or advice as to where I could seek medical attention. I knew that this hike would be strenuous, but the longest estimate I could find for how long this hike would be was 6.5 miles. It was at least 13 miles. That's a half marathon. I booked the tour and was told I would be contacted three days before to confirm the start time. I heard from Fabienne less than 24 hours before, and that was the first time a distance of 8 miles was mentioned. I said 8 miles was at my top limit of ability. No mention was made that there was the potential for longer. When we arrived at the starting point for the hike, flashing road signs said "3.5 miles to lava". A group of 6 of us (another couple, a father and his 10 year old son ) started at 3:50pm. Sunset was at 6:36pm. As 6pm passed, we had already traveled nearly 5 miles. When questioned how much longer until we would find lava, Chris answered defensively. He stated that we were traveling a longer distance because it was a less steep incline, which while true, he refused to tell us how much more distance this was was adding. He said we'd find lava "In another 15 to 20, no more than 25, minutes ". We found lava at 7:05: an hour after Chris' estimate and well after sunset. We stayed for about 20 minutes and then agreed we were exhausted and wanted to head back. We estimate we had already hiked 7 miles. We left the lava around 7:30. At about 9:40, around mile 10, I fell and (unknown to me at the time) broke my left fibula. I was in a tremendous amount of pain, but tried to put on a brave face and say "I hope it's only sprained". My husband asked Chris "Do you know first aid"? Chris, standing 15-20 feet away, in the dark, did not approach me or examine my foot in anyway and replied "Yeah, I know first aid, but she doesn't need it. If she was really hurt, she'd be having a bigger reaction". Fortunately, my husband had an ankle wrap and we tended my food as best as we could. I was unable to put weight on my ankle at all. I tried hobbling with my husband supporting me on my left side, but it was excruciating. Another member of our group, Hung (the father of the 10 year old) came to my assistance without being asked. With his and my husband's aid, I hobbled the last 3 miles. Chris never once called back to see how I was doing or offered any moral support or guidance. About 1 mile before reaching the road, I misstepped with my bad food into a fissure in the lava field. I cried out in pain and was stuck. I managed to slip my foot out of my shoe, and pried it out of the crack. Chris came back to check on us and said "Yeah, you really have to be careful where you put your feet". At this point, my husband lost it, raising his voice to Chris. "Great advice. 'Watch where we put our feet'. Got it. You have one job. Get us to the road!" Chris replied "Man, nobody has ever yelled at me before". We arrived back on the road at about 11:40 pm: 7 hours and 50 minutes after setting out. Fabienne came out to meet us, all smiles, asking if it had been awesome. When we informed her of my injury, her response was a simple "Oh bummer, but did you at least get there before sunset?" When we told her no, she said, "Oh man, I'm going to have to start these hikes earlier". That's it. No care or concern or even awareness that I had been injured two hours earlier. When we started the hike we had made a note that my husband's fit bit registered 8500 steps. When we finished, it read 42,332 for a total of nearly 34,000 steps. This hike is dangerous. There is no way to not make it so. I accepted that before I booked the trip. What I take enormous issue with is the lack of forthrightness about how long this hike could potentially be. I was leery of an 8 mile hike, but was up for it. If I had been told "But it could be over 10-12 miles" (let alone over 13 miles) I would not have done it. We signed no liability waivers. Chris, as a guide, offered no leadership skills. His defensiveness and lack of answers when questioned fostered no confidence. His complete disregard for my injury and unwillingness to perform first aid (let alone actually examine me) is negligent bordering on criminal. The injury occurred on April 6th. I returned to L.A. on April 9th and saw a doctor on April 10th who confirmed I had broken my tibula. I have had my leg in a cast for nearly 5 week, am facing another 3 in a walking boot, and will require physical therapy after that.

Our tour guide took us (family of four) at the last second on Thanksgiving day. The group was…read moreprobably 16ish, led by two guides. Our kids were younger, and she ended up staying with just the four of us all night. The lava is always changing, so there was concern (on our part) that we might walk away without seeing lava, but you can tell she wouldn't let us leave without seeing lava, so we kept trekking until we got to some good flows. Once we got there, we didn't feel rushed at all, and she helped us take tons of pictures. Long hike back, in the dark, but that's where the provided headlamps came in handy. Small operation that obviously focuses on the customer's experience...would highly recommend if you're looking to cross this off your bucket list.

Have you ever wanted to take a walk on an alien planet? What a strange and beautiful landscape…read more There aren't a lot of tourists here, and getting here means turning off the Google Maps once you're near and using an old fashioned map with a little sense of adventure. I think most people end up in the parking lot wondering "is this the place?" Follow the home drawn signs and keep walking. Don't dress for swimming, this isn't a swimming beach, wear sturdy shoes, workout shoes with good support or even hiking boots. Wear a hat to protect your head and sunscreen before you get out (it takes a few minutes for sunscreen to work). There is no way I can prepare you for what you will see, it's not like anything else I've ever encountered. So bizarre, so uncommonly beautiful.

We loved the black sand beach with turtles coming in to rest. Not much sand mostly rocks and the…read moreday we went it was windy and I wouldn't swim.

I am so thankful that my friend brought me here, it was special seeing black sand for the first…read moretime! With two parking lots, there's plenty of parking available. Another plus was seeing Lifeguards available. They must have certain hours because towards the end of the day, they announced via bullhorn, that they were leaving and if you needed a lifeguard, call 9-1-1 if no one was around to help. There is a coned off/Restricted area for sea turtles. Please obey federal and state laws that protect our turtles. They were here first and should be allowed to bask in the sun without being harassed! Clean bathroom is also available if needed. Enjoy a lovely day at the beach!

We had seen Richardson beach in Hilo which is a smaller black sand beach, but we decided to stop…read morehere on our way to Kona. There are 2 parking lots when you first arrive, a small one and a medium sized one. Check the second lot if the first one is full. We were glad we stopped here because feeling this black sand was different. It was very shiny and not wet at all. I'm not really sure how to describe it but you'll understand what I mean when you touch it. It was very windy when we visited and no one was in the water because the water was very rough.