Complete Hawaii Volcano & Lava Viewing Guide
Experience the Big Island’s volcanic activity, a miracle of nature that isn’t found elsewhere on planet Earth. Hawaii provides incredible access to see the red glow of molten lava.
2024 UPDATE: The Jaggar Museum is permanently closed and the building is slated to be torn down this year as part of the park’s Disaster Recovery Project. The museum and several other buildings located on Uēkahuna bluff were severely damaged during the 2018 Kilauea Eruption. Check the park website for all current closures.
Thomas A. Jaggar Museum History
Along the rim of the Kilauea Caldera was one of the largest volcanic observation sites in the world. From this incredible perch, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory spent over a century studying the active Hawaiian volcanoes of Kilauea and Mauna Loa and monitoring active volcanoes throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The Thomas A. Jaggar Museum was the hub of this impressive scientific complex.
For those interested in the unique and exciting nature of Hawaiian volcanoes, the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum was a great educational site. Built in 1927 by the Hawaii Volcano Research Association, the first building on the site was referred to as the “Uwekahuna Museum,” and was later renamed for the famed geologist Thomas A. Jaggar that helped establish the observatory at Kilauea. The museum was located along Crater Rim Drive and was a must-visit for guests to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for many years.
The Thomas A. Jaggar Museum contained exhibits that explored the history of the site, the volcanic activity throughout the islands, and how volcanologists are continuing to study active lava flows to better predict eruptions and protect people and property from destructive forces. The exhibits displayed volcanic observation equipment used in the past as well as the present, a working seismograph, and plenty of examples of clothing and gear used by scientists to get close to lava flows. Hopefully many of these items will eventually be integrated into the main Kilauea visitor center, which is slated to be expanded as part of the Disaster Recovery Project.
While the area is no longer open to the public, the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum is a big part of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park history and was a wonderful educational experience for those interested in Big Island volcanic activity and the research being done to better understand our relationship with the planet and its geological activity. The Big Island lost a valuable resource with the destruction of this historic museum.
The two-story Okamura Building adjacent to Jaggar Musuem was also damaged beyond repair in the 2018 eruption. It was built by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the 1980s and housed offices and laboratory spaces for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO).
Uēkahuna bluff and Halema’uma’u Crater
Fortunately the Disaster Recovery Project includes repairs to the Uēkahuna bluff overlook and comfort station. From the Uēkahuna bluff, there is an incredible view of the caldera and the main crater Halema’uma’u. The scenic overlook offers unobstructed views of the Kilauea crater and caldera, which is one of the world’s most active volcanoes.
Jaggar Museum Map
