Hawaii Tour Volcano

A Hawaii volcano tour can be a most memorable experience, and is readily available (short of eruptions!) year round. While each island boasts some volcanic heritage, The Big Island is where all the action is.

A Hawaii volcano tour of necessity begins in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916. This park, containing more than 218,000 acres, is open daily and offers guided tours and more. It encompasses both the world's most massive volcano, Mauna Kea, at 13,796 feet, and Kilauea, the world's most active volcano. Mauna Kea, which in Hawaiian means literally "white mountain", gets this name from the fact that it is quite often snow-capped. It is also thought to be the world's tallest mountain when measured from it's undersea base to the summit. Currently dormant, Mauna Kea has also become the home of an important astronomical center, where astronomers from all over the world vie for spots atop the summit to view the heavens.

Kilauea, which has been in continual eruption since 1983, gives visitors on a Hawaii volcano tour stunning views of molten lava flows, steam vents, and vast lava fields. It is said that this eruption has added more than 500 acres to the Big Island since it's eruption! One more fascinating tidbit about Kilauea, is that perched atop the crater rim overlooking the caldera is the Volcano House, Hawaii's oldest continually-operated hotel, dating from 1846. Probably not hard to keep warm at night!

On Maui, one volcano not to overlook is Haleakala, a dormant volcano in the middle of the island, long renowned for it's fantastic sunsets. It's also a great place to hike or camp, and especially ride a bike down! (Very Cool!) Good reason to go to Maui. (As if you needed one!)

When you plan your Hawaii volcano tour, be sure to plan some time to take in some or all of these sights. You'll be forever changed!

Hawaii Volcano Tours

Hawaii volcanoes are a major attraction for tourists every year, as hundreds flock to view active and dormant volcanoes. A Hawaii volcano tour will take guests by land, sea, or air, and up close to volcanic activity, letting spectators actually have site of flowing hot lava. A Hawaii volcano tour will also take you to national parks where life and lush vegetation has found a place atop the rocks of aged volcanic flow.

The Hawaiian Islands are actually formed from volcanic activity, which continues to shape and reshape the islands today. Each island of the Hawaiian Archipelago is made up of at least one primary volcano. Some of the islands are combinations of more than one volcano. The Big Island is entirely formed by five major volcanoes: Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Hualalai and Kohala. Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on our earth today and Kohala, now extinct, is the oldest of the five.

While most of the islands offer some type of Hawaii volcano tour, the Big Island is where the Hawaii volcanoes action is. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which covers 218,000 square feet, is the place to see Hawaii volcanoes in action. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park hosts both the world's most massive volcano, Mauna Kea, at 13,796 feet, and Kilauea, the world's most active volcano.

Kilauea, which has been in continual eruption since 1983, gives visitors on a Hawaii volcano tour stunning views of molten lava flows, steam vents, and vast lava fields. If inland flows are present when you are a visiting the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you may have an opportunity to see molten lava flow at close range. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park offers daily, guided tours, but visitors need to be physically fit and appropriately dressed for these hiking excursions. Even though this Hawaii volcano tour is known to be approachable, lava flows can pose danger. All visitors to the park should speak with Park Rangers and stay within the Park guidelines for viewing volcanic activity.

There are Hawaii volcano tours that offer a fantastic view from the air, while riding in a helicopter. Also, from the safe vantage point of the sea, some volcanic flow may be visible from a boat, as the lava drops off the edge of the island and into the ocean. Your sense of adventure can determine the viewing platform your want for Hawaii volcanoes.