A Volcano for All Ages

With her husband and daughter in front of steaming Halemaumau Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. // © 2010 Marty Wentzel; istockphotos; photos.com

During our August 2010 vacation on Hawaii’s Big Island, three generations of my family spent a full day exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Our first stop was the park’s visitor center, the best source of information about Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. The center’s free 25-minute movie helped us prepare for our adventures to come. After that, we stopped next door at the Volcano Art Center to see local arts and crafts inspired by the area’s rich history and culture.

The teenagers’ favorite part of the day was exploring Thurston Lava Tube, a cave-like marvel with dripping ceilings and undulating walls. But all of us were mesmerized by our next site: steamy plumes rising up out of Halemaumau Crater, which most recently erupted in 2008. In the adjacent Jagger Museum, a park ranger told us that, after dark, the lava pool in the crater emits an eerie glow. Next time, we’ll stay overnight in one of the many nearby bed-and-breakfasts so we can see it firsthand.

The day ended at windswept Kealakomo Overlook, located some 2,000 feet above sea level. From there, we could see how lava has poured down the mountain over the centuries, ending at the vast coastline below. All of us, from young to old, came away with lifelong memories of a land that is still in creation.