Day 2: So Lava-Ly!

This morning we drove south and then east for our first visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park! 

Wow! It did not disappoint! 

We started our visit by hiking the Crater Rim and Sulphur Banks Trails and experiencing the geothermal steam vents. 

Below we got first look at the steam rising from the Kilauea Caldera. Soooo awesome! 

What surprised us was how lush the area was with beautiful flowers and foliage in such a harsh environment. We expected to be hiking on lava fields a majority of the time. However, most hiking was in a rainforest setting with periodic glimpses of the crater/caldera.

Feeling the warm air coming from a steam vent. (Somewhat stinky too of sulphur fumes). 

Active steam vent with rainbow striations on the lava from the sulphur deposits and reaction. 

Stinky steam! 

We felt like Indiana Jones in the jungle!

We then hiked the Halema’uma’u trail, descending briefly to the floor of the Kilauea crater and then onto Byron Ledge for views of the crater, then back up to the visitor’s center. 

Derek looking up to the top of the crater rim from which we descended.

Hiking along the crater floor. Very interesting to see the beautiful green plants and red blooms with the black lava. 

A look towards the vents and active crater. 

Wild ginger!!! Not the kind we normally eat, but it sure smells similar. The scents in the rainforest were heavenly!  Also we were hiking in a cool misting rain most of the morning. 

Zach dwarfed by giant ferns! 

No that is not an octopus. It is just a cool-looking fern. 

Another look at the Kilauea Caldera. 

Ashton come across a Kalij Pheasant. It was not very afraid of us and just farted past us on the trail. 

Views from the official caldera overlook. 

Zach attempts to use his force  powers to bring about an eruption. Too bad young Padawan, you are not a Jedi yet! 

The volcano has been experiencing seismic activity suggesting an eruption event could occur soon. We are hoping to see some kind of lava flow while we are here. However nothing happened today. 

We then drove down Chain of Craters Road to the sea to check out the Holei Sea Arch. What a drastically different ecosystem! 

Zach next to the bluffs. 

Lonely stand of palm trees at the end of a lava flow. 

The Holei Sea Arch! Magnificent scenery by the rough seas. 

We then hiked the Pu’uloa Petroglyphs Trail. 

We took a third hike on the Napau Trail to see the lava trees. Such unique vegetation.

Lava trees! These are big hunks of lava that are hollow where a large tree was surrounded during an eruption. Cool! 

After our long day with approximately 9 miles of hiking and exploring, we then drove back to our condo where we grilled hot dogs for dinner. 

Dinner and a sunset show

Another new addiction!!