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Today we explored Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. It’s just shy of a two-hour drive from where we’re staying on the other side of the island, but worth the trip (and many more in future years) to explore. We spent most of the morning hiking along the Kīlauea Caldera — the only active volcano in Hawai’i.

The Morgan Family at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

The view is stunning, with steam rising from the caldera. We didn’t see any lava, but it is incredible to view the changed landscape after the eruptions and summit collapse back in 2018. We could see one part of a highway across the crater that had collapsed into it.

The Kīlauea Caldera at a distance

After our first hike, where we also explored the steam and sulfur vents, we drove to a different part of the park to hike through the Thurston Lava Tube. This is a “500-year old lava tube where a river of 2000 degree Fahrenheit lava once flowed.” The cavern is wide, long, and dark – lit only by dim orange lights. It was also mostly empty. I guess everyone else was gearing up for the Super Bowl while we explored, a fact we were happy to take advantage of today.

Entrance to the Thurston Lava Tube

We left the park after four hours to grab a late lunch at Hilo Burger Joint, then made the drive home. There was SO MUCH we didn’t get a chance to explore, but that’s the beauty of it. We can always go back next year (we have our hike picked out, I think) and discover more each time.

With Love,

Natalie