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    Lava Tree State Park

    3.7 (43 reviews)

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    Angelo A.

    Yet another sightseeing spot on the Big Island which I had NO idea existed until we drove by it on our way to our rental house. Located just south of Pāhoa on Hwy 132. + Excellent park and although small, it offers fascinating specimens of lava trees created during a volcanic eruption dating in the 17th or 18th century. Very unique and interesting. + The paths are all paved and accessible by strollers and wheelchairs. + My children found the lava trees interesting, but they're 6 years old, so their attention span for these sorts of things is a bit small. What they especially liked, however, was the fact that there were numerous Pokemon Go characters to be found there. And if I understand the girls, there's a Pokemon gym too (???). + Large, covered area at the front/near the entrance to sit, chat or have a drink/snack. Two smaller covered seating areas inside the park, too. One is located at the top of some stone steps. Great for a photo op. + Restrooms. + Free. It takes less than an hour to view the entire park (even at Aloha speed), but definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.

    Heather F.

    I have a rather childish sense of humor. So yes, if you were at the Lava Tree State Park on April 8th around 2:00pm, you likely saw my behind. There is one specific sign in the park that warns of "dangerous cracks in the park area." (Not the dangerous earth cracks sign, that one isn't as funny). I asked Pete to take a picture of me near said sign, then I proceeded to lift my skirt and flash my thong clad behind. I believe my bum may be on at least 10 cameras from Japanese tourists nearby...Don't worry. No children were present. I am a lady after all. If you are in the area, definitely check out Lava Tree State Park. I wouldn't necessarily drive out of the way to see if, but if you are in Hilo/Pahoa area, you might want to stop by for a nice walk. There is an asphalt trail surrounding the park, and they have done a good job maintaining the area. The area is lush and green and there is some beautiful vegetation nearby. But do bring the bug spray as Veronica mentioned. The park actually looks 100% better than when I went to it last in 2004. They have done a good job restoring it, so if you haven't been in a long time, it's worth a revisit. The park is filled with what I can only describe as phallic lava formations. They are supposed to be lava trees, but really, to my mind, they were a bit dirtier than that. Note: very clean flush toilets at this park.

    One of the lava trees (stump)

    A flat 0.7 mile loop on a paved track takes you through what could be a garden in the jungle. The track takes you past a dozen or more of the lava trees which range from ten foot teal chimneys too little stumps. - There are three gazebos along the way for families to get out of the rain if required. - Little cell phone coverage but zero chance that you will get lost. - Signs talk about animals which we saw none of but we did see plenty of tropical flowers.

    sign
    Nancy M.

    A nice hour long stroll through beautiful lava "trees" (Lava that eats up a tree but stays in tree form.) It's a great stop over on your way into Hilo, if you want to get out and stretch your legs, or even for a picnic. When we arrived it had just stopped raining, and while it was damp, the birds were singing and I felt like I was in a different world. My almost 3 year old enjoyed running ahead on the trails (make sure you stress that they stay ON the pavement!) and there were benches under cover if you happen to get caught in the rain. The park wasn't just peaceful, it was informative. Signs doted the way telling us about different plants and I learned how a lava tree actually forms. Hard to find but totally worth the price (free) I would definitely keep an umbrella handy as you stroll this beautiful little park.

    Charles F.

    Beautiful. It's a small park but expect to do some walking. Wasn't busy when I went. Nice stroll and a little bit of education. This park is in the Puna District. That means you're in the rainforest area of the Big Island. Expect rain, mostly rain. Maybe overcast. Maybe sunshine. Expect the most unexpected weather in Hawaii. It's a very clean park, so malama the aina (I think that means take care of the land in Hawaiian, haha). Around the park there are fences, when I was younger they didn't exist. There are cliffs or deep holes, IDK how you explain it and the fences keeps everyone from falling in. Haha. Free parking. Any type of weather is a great time to visit. It's just a beautiful hole in the wall park.

    Flower
    Richard F.

    This is an amazing place to see how Mother Nature works her wonders. It's a small park so you can walk through it in a very short time. It is very interesting to see how the lava flows covered the trees. There are also trees that were blown down during the recent hurricane that hit this area. There are signs along the way to explain what you are looking at as well. The flowers growing here, especially the wild orchids, are spectacular. you can spend as much time as you want here. It's worth a stop but, you can judge for yourself if it's worth the time. I thought it was and will return on our next trip to Hilo.

    Veronica P.

    To get to the park take Highway 130 towards the town of Pāhoa. Pass the first intersection that takes you into Pāhoa and at the next intersection (the intersection with a traffic light) make a left onto Pāhoa-Kapoho Road (this is also Highway 132). Follow this road for about 3 miles until you see the park on your left. The trees in the park were created in a 1790 volcanic eruption. Lava flowed down the mountain rather rapidly and buried the trees in lava. As the lava began to cool, the lava hardened around the trees. The trees burned from the resulting heat of the lava, which caused vertical lava tube like structures to remain. They are rather phallic in nature and one can't help but laugh when you see them. There are many fissures within the park, which allowed the lava to drain downward and the area to clear of the lava. There is a rickety asphalt trail that surrounds the park. Make sure to stay on the trail, as the ground is somewhat unstable and there are many hidden fissures if you stray from the path. The path is broken and very uneven in many places. I downgraded this park to 3 stars for the mere fact that I got eaten alive here. I must have had 20-30 mosquito bites within a half hour, so make sure you have some bug spray if you are prone to mosquito bites.

    Lava Tree !
    Yosapon T.

    A nice stop to take a stroll and walk around looking at these tree which are covered by lava? What we saw were basically trees so perfect for nature lovers :) Unfortunately the rain destroy our stroll along the park and we were soaking wet at the end... This place is good for a quick break but nothing much to do !

    Debbie H.

    This is a pretty walk around the lava trees. Some of the trees are still standing and huge ones have fallen over and torn from the roots yet you can see new growth on the branch's. I enjoy seeing life coming back after natural disasters happen, if you enjoy that kind of stuff you will appreciate the trip here. There are signs marked to stay on the paved path- the trees are tender in the area and can fall. This is a quick thing to see if you don't have much time. It was empty when we came in the middle of the day. We stopped to see this on our way back out from Pahoa-Makena black sand beach it was along the way.

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    Interesting place to visit with unique lava features that have cooled around existing trees. Nature is amazing!!!!

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    Ask the Community - Lava Tree State Park

    Review Highlights - Lava Tree State Park

    This park was fairly easy to find in the Puna district of the Big Island.

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    Carlsmith Beach Park - Beautiful clear water

    Carlsmith Beach Park

    4.8(89 reviews)
    30.6 km

    This Beach park happened by accident when my niece was looking for a place for us to eat lunch in…read moreKona. This happened to be the closest picnic area that we could come to, thanks to a little tik- tok video she watched. If you're looking for a traditional beach with sand, this isn't the place. But what you'll get instead are the famous black lava rock formations Kona is known for that spill into several lagoons full of crystal clear water. As for eating, there are plenty of places to lay down a blanket in the grass, picnic and relax. The park has several trash cans for you to use as well and I did happily notice that the park was clean. I did not have to use the bathroom here so I can't comment on that. What impressed me the most was that they had built in stairs for you to walk into the ocean. In my entire life of traveling, I've never seen a beach park with built in stairwells to walk into the lagoons. This was a treat for me. If I have one big tip, it's to remember to have your water shoes because the rocks are sharp to walk on and can easily cut you if you're not careful. I also did read that they do have outdoor showers but I didn't see them when we were here. Lots of folks brought their own snorkeling gear because there were a lot of fish, not to mention at least 3 turtles that I saw swimming around. As I'm writing this review, I'm already missing Kona and the uniqueness of this island. If you plan on going to Kona, you must come and enjoy this place. It's truly special and I would recommend it to anyone.

    After coming across social media post, Carlsmith Beach Park was a must visit for me! I added it to…read morethe list of places for my uber driver/hubby to take me. We missed it the very first time, the hubby took me to the wrong beach & had to re-route. I remember it is hard to find via GPS if you miss the turn. We found parking after the beach and walked down. When I walked to Carlsmith Beach to finally check it out for the very first time, my heart just melted and just had that Wow, grateful, OMG moments and also feels like DeJaVu. I also asked my husband to pinch me, that I am not dreaming. It was so nice to just experience this live in real life, such tranquil atmosphere, crystal clear waters. I just love the color of the water, the ocean, so beautiful! Carlsmith Beach Park in Hilo is a hidden gem for sure! After we took our tons of photos, enjoyed the scenery which I really wanted to stay longer but we had a busy day ahead. For next time I visit, I would love to picnic & enjoy lunch under the coconut, palm trees and go swimming. Although I didn't sea turtles during my visits, hopefully next time.

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    Carlsmith Beach Park
    Carlsmith Beach Park
    Carlsmith Beach Park - #intenslypassionatephotography

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    #intenslypassionatephotography

    Kalapana Lava Flow

    Kalapana Lava Flow

    4.5(34 reviews)
    16.2 km

    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!

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    Kalapana Lava Flow
    Kalapana Lava Flow
    Kalapana Lava Flow

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    Ha'ena Beach - aka Shipman Beach - Instagram: @telephonesmopthie

    Ha'ena Beach - aka Shipman Beach

    4.6(19 reviews)
    16.1 km

    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.

    The Puna Trail that leads from the dirt parking lot to the secluded Shipman Beach (Ha'ena Beach) is…read more2-1/2 miles in each direction and consists of a jungle, lava rocks, and muddy conditions. It can be challenging especially during the rainy periods and at times it may seem forever until you reach the very end. Nevertheless, I was finally able to make it to the beach and it was worth it in the very end, though it's not one of these points of interest that I would want to do again. As for Shipman Beach, it's a nice place to relax at if it wasn't for the strong waves and currents particularly during the winter months. On better days, you might even see some sea turtles hanging out on the rocks nearby (do not approach them!). Best to apply bug repellant prior to hiking and make sure to scrub your shoes before and after at the trailhead brush.

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    Ha'ena Beach - aka Shipman Beach - Instagram: @telephonesmopthie

    Instagram: @telephonesmopthie

    Ha'ena Beach - aka Shipman Beach - One of at least 5 abandoned vehicles

    One of at least 5 abandoned vehicles

    Ha'ena Beach - aka Shipman Beach - Instagram: @telephonesmopthie

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    Instagram: @telephonesmopthie

    Natural Lava Swimming Pool - Swimming pool

    Natural Lava Swimming Pool

    4.0(1 review)
    8.8 km

    We found out about this oceanside swimming pool (250 feet long)from the Big Island Revealed app…read more It's five feet deep in some spots. Bring your water shoes and snorkel gear! It's 2.7 miles north of the corner from Highway 132 and 137 (so, go North on Government Beach Road). This is a paved road. Around 2.7 miles, you'll come across a small hill, on the downside of the hill, you'll see a dirt road on your right through a hau bush (twisted looking trees that are entwined). If you hit Pakaka Road, you went too far. There is no parking lot. There is a small one-spot parking space that you can back into (perpendicular to the road). There are two roadside beams indicating this spot. You can also park along the road. From Government Beach Road, on the dirt road, it's 1500 feet to the shoreline. The pool is 100 yards to the left once you hit the shoreline. I do not recommend driving down the path to the shoreline because the branches are low and it's super muddy. It's an easy walk. Towards the shoreline, you'll see an abandoned turquoise minivan. It's obvious that someone was squatting in the van at some point. The engine has been torn out, windows broken, carry-out boxes everywhere, and the rainforest has started to entwine itself with the car. On the coast, there were more signs of squatters. The pool was beautiful. We went during high tide and the pools were super full and the waves were crashing hard against the rocks. The app said we should go during low tide...whoops. We didn't run into a single person. It was super secluded and beautiful. Although the walk was really neat through the hau bush and having an oceanside swimming pool to ourselves was cool...I would not do this again. Honestly, I didn't feel safe. We didn't see any squatters but the signs made me uneasy. There is no cellphone signal and your completely isolated. I recommend this for large groups of people only.

    Photos
    Natural Lava Swimming Pool - Right of the swimming pool

    Right of the swimming pool

    Natural Lava Swimming Pool - This is at high tide - I recommend going during low tide!!

    This is at high tide - I recommend going during low tide!!

    Natural Lava Swimming Pool

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    Lava Tree State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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