Tips and Tricks for Enjoying the 2023 Kīlauea Volcano Eruption Inside Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Editor’s note: Volcanic eruptions start and stop regularly. It’s important to check the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park website before visiting for the most up-to-date eruption information.

After a brief hiatus, Tūtū Pele is active once more. In the late afternoon hours of Thursday, January 5, 2023, lava began to spurt free from the earth and pooling in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater.

Kīlauea Volcano’s summit has undergone some drastic changes since the lower Puna eruption. When subsurface magma shifted to the Lower East Rift Zone (Puna makai) in 2018, the Halemaʻumaʻu Crater collapsed within the much larger Kīlauea Caldera; it doubled in diameter and quadrupled in depth. Since then, it has been host to a sulfate-rich lake in 2019, and lava returned in 2020.

As eager onlookers flock to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park after dark to view the lava lake reborn, there are a few things we implore you to keep in mind for a fun and safe viewing.

Plan Ahead for the Perfect Day at Kīlauea Volcano

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (HVNP) is located in a remote part of Hawaiʻi Island. Access to resources, including restaurants, convenience stores, and even gas stations is limited.

• Fuel up ahead of time: The closest gas station to HVNP is ʻOhana Fuels in Volcano Village. It is only two miles from the park entrance station, but pumps shut off at 7:30p.m. Top off your tank before making the commute to the park in the evening to save the stress of refueling later.
• Make a pit stop early: While you’re fueling your car, don’t forget your own personal fuel. Grab a hot drink, snacks, and dinner before you head into the park. There are a handful of places to grab a bite in the area.
  • Dine overlooking Kīlauea Caldera at Volcano House. Find a seat at Uncle George’s Lounge for drinks and a lighter fare, or sit in for high-end dining at The Rim. The lounge is open until 9:30p.m., and dinner at The Rim is served until 8:30p.m.
  • Located outside the park, Volcano’s Lava Rock Café is a great option for a no-fuss meal and coffee. Open to 8:00 PM every day except Monday.
• Watch the clock: Lava viewing is especially crowded around sunset and early evening. Peak visitor times are between 6–9 PM. To avoid the crowds, come later in the evening. The park is open 24 hours, every day.

Dress to Impress at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Hawaiʻi is known for its blue skies and warm weather year-round, but temperatures in the park can drop to a brisk 50°F (10°C) once the sun has set. The park is unsheltered from winds, and receives a regular dose of rain. Save the board shorts and tank tops for the beach, and pack these instead:

• Warm outerwear and a rain jacket
• Closed-toe shoes
• Long pants
• Flashlights

Make a Day (and Night) Out of you Trip to visit Kīlauea Volcano

It’s a long way to go if you want to visit HVNP, and even longer if you’re coming from Kona. Why not stop and enjoy some of the sights along the way? Or, better yet, spend a night in Volcano Village? Check out these landmarks in the area:

• Paradise Meadows Orchard and Bee Farm: This beautiful woman-owned farm offers chocolate, honey, and coffee — everything you might need as a treat for yourself, or as a gift for your friends. Taste the entire lineup, and pick what you love most. Find this right on South Point Road.
• South Point Park: Why not take the road the entire way, all the way down to South Point Park? Breathe in salty fresh air as you take in a near 180-degree view of the Pacific Ocean. You’re also not far from Papakōlea, one of four green sand beaches in the world.
• Punaluʻu Bakery: In the little town of Naʻalehu, you’ll find the southernmost bakery of the United States. Known for their colorful sweet bread, give one of their local staples, the Portuguese malasada, a try.
• Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach: There are only a small handful of black sand beaches around the world, and thanks to Hawaiʻi’s unique volcanic landscape, we have many of them. Our residential sea turtles come to bask on the sun-warmed sand during the day.
• Volcano Winery: Visit one of three wineries in all Hawaiʻi, and get a taste of their volcanic wines and teas, enriched by the unique soil.
• The Kahuku Unit: Hike through rolling pastoral fields in this overlooked extension of HVNP. It’s hard to believe this serene landscape is situated on the slopes of an active volcano.
• Volcano Garden Arts & Café Ono: This unique and eclectic art-studio-garden-café hybrid is situated right in Volcano Village. Purchase artwork by local artisans, and then enjoy lunch in the gardens. If you’re lucky, you might just get the chance to chat with resident owner and artist, Ira Ono himself.
• Nearby food trucks: Check out the local food truck vendors in the area. Aunty Pon’s and Tuk-Tuk have your Thai food cravings covered, and Rico’s has your taco fixings.
• Volcano Thursday Market: Head over to the Cooper Center in the late afternoon every Thursday for jewelry, clothing, artwork, and food! Stalls open from 3–6 PM.

When you’re done, rather than a long drive back home, why not stay in the area? Check out these accommodations in the surrounding Volcano area:

• Volcano House: Not only can you dine overlooking the caldera, you can also spend the night there. Check out Volcano House’s rates and availability here.
• Nāmakanipaio Campground & Cabins: Rent out a cabin or pitch a tent at one of the most unique campgrounds on the island, located in a remote part of HVNP. Learn more here.
• Volcano Village Estates: For a tranquil stay in the middle of a rainforest, this is the perfect retreat. Evenings can get cool and cozy, and mornings are greeted with the songs of forests birds. This small estate is walking distance to the park.

Be Mindful of Your Surroundings at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Be courteous of the host culture, others around you, and HVNP. Like you, everyone has made the drive for a good experience.

• Be mindful of your flashlights. Keep your lights on ground, and not pointed at other hikers. Red light flashlights help maintain night vision, making them a more polite option at night.
• Use your indoor voice. We might be out in the vast wilderness, but there is serenity in silence.
• Stay on marked trails and overlooks. Do not pass boundaries set by HVNP, which are placed for your safety.
• Leave the drones at home. Flying unmanned aircrafts is disallowed in HVNP without a permit.
• Do not interrupt or record hula or chanting rituals. These are intimate parts of Hawaiian culture and should be respected.
• Use the restroom in the actual restroom. They’re open 24/7, there’s absolutely no excuse not to.
• Be mindful of closed trails. The HVNP website is always updated with closures. As of 1/6/2023, Puʻupuaʻi Overlook and parking area are closed to protect nēnē. Devastation Trail is partially open from Devastation parking area and Old Crater Rim Drive remains open.

Take a Second to Connect with Nature at the Kīlauea Volcano

My favorite part of the evening is always when I turn out the lights and take the opportunity to feel just how expansive the world is, looking out over the Kīlauea Caldera or up into the sky. This far away from the streetlights, it’s easy to feel like the only person in the world.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane! If you’re visiting HVNP after January 12, 2022 until February, look northeast. These dark, clear skies provide ample opportunity to see the C/2022 E3 (ZTF) comet. The last time this green, icy body passed through our skies was 50,000 years ago — when humans were only using stone tools!

Looking for more adventurous activities on Hawai’i Island? Check out some of our suggestions here.

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