Hot Destination

Pay homage to the largest land builder in Hawaii—volcanoes! Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii Island (aka the Big Island), is nature’s demonstration of how volcanoes built the Hawaiian Islands over the last 70 million years.

And the best hike to do in this beautiful national park? Go with the 3-mile (round-trip) classic Kilauea Iki loop for a forest-to-lava-lake adventure. The highlight? You get to walk across a once-molten lake of lava so vast and dramatic and interesting it’s almost as if you’re on another planet. Back in 1959 this volcano erupted, spewing lava 1,900 feet into the air! There are still steaming vents on the crater floor.

The hike starts in a rainforest on the crater rim (we recommend starting at Kilauea Iki Overlook and going counterclockwise). Enjoy the lush ancient ferns and ‘ohi‘a forest as you get bird’s-eye views into the crater and a few informational signs along the way detailing some of the history of the national park.

Then descend to the vast and totally unique lava bed, once a molten lake. Massive crevices to the walk, and sprigs of floral add color, including the beautiful and resilient lehua. There’s plenty of room as you cross this field … so much so that you may feel like you have the place all to yourself.

Climb back out via the rainforest, and at the parking lot you can take a brief detour across the street to hike a 0.4-mile loop through Nahuku (Thurston Lava Tube), a subterranean cave that was long ago formed by flowing lava.