Kilauea Volcano is one of the most varied and exciting regions of the Big Island.  Much of this area is encompassed by the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and Kilauea has often been called "The World's Only Drive-In Volcano".  In the areas where the volcano is NOT erupting, the beauty of the rainforest environment is unsurpassable.  Here grows the Hapu'u Fern and the Ohi'a Lehu'a tree, which exist nowhere else on Earth.

A cherished experience will be having dinner at the Volcano House Inn Restaurant, overlooking the firepit of Halema'uma'u, or browsing through the collection at the Volcano Art Center (housed in the original Volcano House) consisting, for the most part, of work produced by Artists living and working in the Volcano area.

While driving down into the eruptive areas of the National Park, along the Chain of Craters Road, the vistas and views seen are an experience never to be forgotten.  Witnessing the awesome power of Nature at her most spectacular imbues the entire environment with a magical quality that is both unique and exhiliarating.

While just outside the national park, (its quaint buildings often seen peeking through the cool mists of 3700 feet elevation) tiny Volcano Village offers lodging, wonderful restaurants, art galleries and a unique charm all it's own.  Volcano Village is a small and closely-knit community of Park Rangers and other park employees, geologists and scientists, Artists, Hilo business people, and those other intrepid souls who fancy living next door to a live volcano.  If you asked them, they would say they wouldn't live anyplace else in the world!

Highway 11 continues North from Volcano, toward Hilo, passing through the Puna District, which is mostly deep rainforest, lightly inhabited. The drive down from Volcano is tree-lined and scenic, through what once was sugar cane land, and is now privately held farmland.  The "country flavor" of this area is evident in the small stores, and farms lining the highway.

Thank you for taking our Volcano tour and be sure to visit the other areas of the Big Island of Hawaii - click on the link below to return to the Big Island Image map. Aloha! and Mahalo!!

Waimea | Hilo | Kilauea Volcano | South Point | Kona - Keauhou | Kohala Coast
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