Big Island Lava Boat Tours
No visit to the Big Island is complete without heading out to see molten lava. There are many ways to see the flows but a Lava Boat tour is a real treat.
2021 UPDATE: Most of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has reopened, please check the Park website for closure info.
If this is your first Volcano encounter, and for the majority it is, your initial stop should be at the Kilauea Visitor Center. Here you will find a well-run visitor complex managed by the National Park Service that can help you plan your visit. They are typically your first stop to help you get oriented in the park and find out about current conditions.
The park’s free film “Born of Fire, Born of Sea” at the top of each hour is an excellent primer to learn about geology and volcanism, with remarkable highlights of past eruptions and features on Hawaiian culture and natural history.
Moreover, the center provides the latest eruption information (every 30 minutes) maps and day hike trail guides, safety precautions, air quality and road conditions. Free ranger-led tours of the nearby area are also given on a regular basis, and their start times and meeting places are posted near the center’s front doors.
There is a small bookstore at the visitor center that sells educational materials related to Hawaii’s natural and cultural history, as well as souvenirs, and supplies. Wheelchairs are available to borrow and there are restrooms and a place to fill up water bottles.
Hours
Open 7 Days A Week 9am-5pm
Location
1 Crater Rim Drive
Volcano, HI 96785
Contact Info
(808) 985-6000
NPS Website
No visit to the Big Island is complete without heading out to see molten lava. There are many ways to see the flows but a Lava Boat tour is a real treat.
Boasting the only Hawaii golf course to be located on an active volcano, Volcano Golf and Country Club is a local favorite for a reason.
Thurston Lava Tube, dating back 350-500 years is an exemplar example of the many lava caves on the Big Island formed by continual volcanic activity.