One of the most unique opportunities in Hawaii is visiting Volcanoes National Park. Nearly 2.5 million adventurers see this world heritage site every year. 
Volcanoes National Park was established in 1916 on 121,000 acres of Hawaii’s “Big Island” to preserve the incredible diversity of nature surrounding two of the world’s most acclaimed volcanoes. 
There are seven ecological zones in the park, from sea coast to fern forest…
all the way up in altitude to the alpine zone! 
Mauna Loa is the earth’s largest subaerial volcano,
and if you consider its mass from the floor of the ocean to its peak, 
it is also the tallest and largest mountain in the world (18,000 cubic miles;
the mass of Mt. Everest is about 365 cubic miles from sea level.) 
*Since 1843, Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times, most recently in 1984. 
**Kilauea Volcano—also within Volcanoes National park—
most recently erupted in 1983, 
and it’s actually still erupting at two locations within the park today,
making it one of the longest-duration eruptions in the world. 
***Since June 27, 2014, a steady flow of lava has been creeping
from Kilauea’s Pu’u O’o vent toward Pahoa in the Puna district, 
although this movement can’t be seen without the aid of a helicopter
(or by special permission). 
However, in Volcanoes National Park,
there are many fascinating things you can see. 
The best first stop is to the Kilauea Visitor Center to get oriented. 
They have maps, posters, guides, and an excellent 25-minute film presentation.
Due to “Vog” (volcanic gases with high concentrations of sulfur dioxide), 
we couldn’t make a circle tour on Crater Rim Drive,
and parts of Chain of Craters Road are often also closed. 
If you go, be sure to check out the steam vents, but stand upwind 
so your babies and small children aren’t breathing the toxic gas! 
The steaming bluff and Ha’akulamanu (“Sulfur Banks”) are worth a walk.
The colors aren’t as remarkable as those at Yellowstone but are still attractive. 
“Nahuku” (aka Thurston Lava Tube) makes for a fascinating short walk 
through a cave-like channel that was created by lava flowing from the volcano. 
Thankfully, once the lava stops flowing, the conduit cools and hardens, 
leaving a safe adventure to cool you down on a hot afternoon! 
If you’re fit and have all day, take a hike on the trail across Kilauea Iki Crater. 
Or, you can just admire the view from the Kiauea Iki Overlook, like we did! 🙂
One of the most memorable hikes for us was along “Devastation Trail.” 
It was an easy 1 mile round trip on a paved surface, 
but it gave us insight into the devastation still remaining from the 1959 eruption.
Still, there were signs of life emerging along the trail (50+years later), 
and pheasant cocks were staking out their territory despite the lack of ambiance. 
The highlight of the day for us was really the low light. 
As the sun began to sink, Kilauea Caldera
(the 3-mile-long crater formed by the cone cooling and then collapsing)
became all the more beautiful. 
We stopped at the Pu’u Pua’i Overlook—
nothing left but smoldering lava, cinder and ashes…black, dead, desolate! 
From there, we went back to the Volcano House,
where evening shadows were recasting the scene as a hazy watercolor painting.
Sunset over the Halema’uma’u Crater Overlook was so peaceful! 
As twilight dawned, the fire from the Halema’uma’u Crater glowed brighter 
and brighter. 
After dinner, we went to the Kilauea Overlook by the Jagger Museum. 
From there, we could see lava bubbling up from the vent
within Halema’uma’u Crater. 
I’ll never forget that site…it almost felt like I was looking into the pit of hell!
But, I was comforted to remember that for the believer
—even if we experience fiery trials that seem to burn up our entire existence— 
God will eventually cause new growth and beauty to emerge from the ashes.
“Appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations” (Isaiah 61:3-4).
(*Picture from Wiki by Brocken Inaglory, 2009; **Picture from Wiki by Jennifer Williams; ***I took several photographs of pictures and posters at the park, this being one of them. I took the rest of the photos in January, 2016.)
Summer Setting 