Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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 Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Location in Hawaii
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| Location | Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States |
| Nearest city | Hilo |
| Area | 354,461 acres (1,434.45 km2) |
| Established | August 1, 1916 |
| Visitors | 1,433,593 (in 2024) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Criteria | Natural: viii |
| Inscription | 1987 (11th Session) |
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is a special national park in the island of Hawaii. It is home to two active volcanoes: Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Kīlauea is one of the world's busiest volcanoes. Mauna Loa is the largest shield volcano on Earth.
This park helps scientists learn how the Hawaiian Islands formed. It also lets them study volcanism, which is how volcanoes work. For visitors, the park shows amazing volcanic views. You can also see rare plants and animals. It offers a look into the old Hawaiian culture linked to these lands.
The park first opened on August 1, 1916. It was called Hawaii National Park. Later, it was split into this park and Haleakalā National Park. Because of its amazing natural features, it became an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980. It was named a World Heritage Site in 1987. In 2012, the park was shown on a special America the Beautiful Quarters coin.
On May 11, 2018, parts of the park closed. This included the visitor center. Explosions and ash clouds from Halemaʻumaʻu crater caused the closure. Earthquakes and road damage also happened. Some areas, like the visitor center, reopened on September 22, 2018.
Most of the park is open now. But some roads and trails are still closed. Buildings like the Jaggar Museum were too damaged in 2018. They were taken down in 2024. Volcanic activity stopped in August 2018. Kīlauea was quiet until December 20, 2020. Then, an eruption began at Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Since then, the crater has erupted now and then. It has lava fountains and flows. But it's not as big as the 2018 events.
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What is the Environment Like?
The park covers about 354,461 acres (1,434 square kilometers) of land. About half of the park is a special Hawaii Volcanoes Wilderness area. This area was set aside in 1978. It offers quiet places for hiking and camping. This wilderness includes the top of Mauna Loa, called Mokuaweoweo.
The park has many different environments. It goes from sea level up to the top of Mauna Loa. Mauna Loa is the Earth's biggest active volcano. It is 13,679 feet (4,169 meters) high. The weather changes from wet tropical rainforests to dry, empty [[Kaʻū Desert]].
Recent eruptions have happened at Kīlauea's main caldera. Another active spot is a remote vent called [[Puʻu ʻŌʻō]].
The main way into the park is from the Hawaii Belt Road. The Chain of Craters Road goes to the coast. It passes many craters from past eruptions. Part of this road is now covered by lava. It can only be used for emergencies. The park's Kahuku District can be reached from Highway 11.
How is the Climate?
The park's climate changes a lot. This is because it goes from sea level to high mountains. The headquarters area gets a lot of rain. It has mild temperatures all year. Higher up, it gets colder and drier.
What is the Park's History?
Long ago, Hawaiians believed Kīlauea and its Halemaʻumaʻu caldera were the home of Pele. She is the volcano goddess. Hawaiians would visit the crater to give gifts to Pele.
In 1790, a group of warriors, women, and children were near the volcano. A very strong eruption happened. Many people died. Their footprints in the lava can still be seen today.
The first Westerners to visit were William Ellis and Asa Thurston in 1823. Ellis wrote about seeing the erupting volcano. He said it was "sublime and even appalling." He felt "astonishment and awe."
The volcano became a place for tourists in the 1840s. Businessmen like Benjamin Pitman and George Lycurgus ran hotels there. The Volcano House is the only hotel inside the park today.
Lorrin A. Thurston helped create the park. He was Asa Thurston's grandson. He owned The Honolulu Advertiser newspaper. He wrote articles to support the park idea. In 1907, Hawaii paid for members of Congress to visit. They even had dinner cooked over lava steam vents!
After many tries, a bill was passed. President Woodrow Wilson signed it on August 1, 1916. Hawaii National Park became the eleventh national park in the United States. It was the first in a U.S. territory.
The park's main goal is to protect and study Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. It also aims to keep Hawaiian plants and animals safe. And it wants to preserve the traditional Hawaiian culture linked to these lands.
A few weeks later, the National Park Service was created. It was made to run all the national parks. The park was renamed Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on September 22, 1961. This happened after it was separated from Haleakalā National Park.
There is a lava tube named after the Thurston family. It is called Thurston Lava Tube (Nāhuku). It is a cool cave formed by flowing lava.
The Goddess Pele in Art
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Around 1929, an artist named D. Howard Hitchcock painted Pele. She is the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes. In 1966, Hitchcock's son gave the painting to the park. It was shown in the visitor center. Some people felt the painting did not look like a Hawaiian goddess.
In 2003, the Volcano Art Center held a contest. They wanted a "more modern and culturally authentic" painting of Pele. A group of Native Hawaiian elders chose a painting by Arthur Johnsen. In his painting, Pele looks more like a Polynesian person. She holds a digging stick and an egg. In 2005, Johnsen's painting replaced Hitchcock's.
Adding More Land to the Park
In 2003, the park grew much bigger. An extra 115,788 acres (468.6 square kilometers) of land were added. This was the largest land purchase in Hawaii's history. This new area is called the Kahuku District. It made the park 56% larger. The land was bought for $21.9 million.
In 2022, the park expanded again. The Trust for Public Land gave 16,451 acres (6,657 hectares) of Pohue Bay to the park. This area has many important Hawaiian cultural sites. These include old quarries, lava tubes, burial sites, and trails. There are also old village remains and petroglyphs (rock carvings). A well-preserved part of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is along the coast.
The Pohue coastline is vital for endangered Hawaiian animals. These include the Hawaiian hawksbill turtle and Hawaiian monk seal. Rare red shrimp called opae'ula live in the area's anchialine ponds. Many native and migrating birds visit the bay.
Recent Volcano Activity
On March 19, 2008, a small explosion happened in Halemaʻumaʻu. It was the first explosion there since 1924. Debris from the blast spread over 74 acres (30 hectares). Some ash fell in a nearby town. The explosion did not release lava. Scientists think it was caused by gas or water.
Before this, a large sulfur dioxide gas vent opened. This made gas levels from Halemaʻumaʻu very high. Because of the dangerous gas, some roads and trails were closed.
In mid-May 2018, the Kīlauea District of the park closed. This was due to explosive eruptions at Halemaʻumaʻu. The Kahuku District stayed open. The Kīlauea District reopened on September 22, 2018. Volcanic activity had stopped in early August. Now, the volcano is much quieter.
In summer 2019, a small water pond appeared in Halemaʻumaʻu. It grew into a small lake. On December 20, 2020, an eruption began. The lava boiled away the lake. It started to fill the crater with lava.
Most of the park is open in 2025. But some roads and trails are still closed. The Thurston Lava Tube (Nāhuku) reopened on February 21, 2020. Workers cleared large rockfalls. They added sensors to watch new cracks. They also improved water drainage and parking. Earthquakes during the 2018 eruption caused these cracks and rockfalls.
In 2022, the Mauna Loa volcano erupted. It had been quiet for many years.
Important Historic Places
Several places in the park are listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings on the island of Hawaii. These are important historical sites:
- 1790 Footprints
- Ainahou Ranch
- Ainapo Trail
- Kīlauea Crater
- Puna-Kāʻu Historic District
- Volcano House
- Whitney Seismograph Vault No. 29 at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
- Wilkes Campsite
Visitor Centers and Museums
The main visitor center is near the park entrance. It has displays and information about the park. The Volcano Art Center is nearby. It is in the old 1877 Volcano House hotel. It has historical displays and an art gallery.
The Thomas A. Jaggar Museum is now closed. It was damaged in the 2018 eruptions. It used to have more exhibits. It also offered a close view of Kīlauea's active vent, Halemaʻumaʻu. The museum was named after scientist Thomas Jaggar. He was the first director of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. This observatory is next to the museum. The U.S. Geological Survey runs the observatory. It is not open to the public.
The Kilauea Military Camp offers places to stay for U.S. military members. Volunteer groups also hold events in the park.
Images for kids
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Thurston lava tube in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
See also
- List of national parks of the United States
- Devastation Trail
- Holei Sea Arch
- Kilauea Iki
- Kamoamoa
- Olaa Forest in the Park
