Lava exploding 200 feet high?! Use these top tips for surviving the Hawaii volcano.
I went to Hawaii for the very first time this year, twice. In April I went to Kauai with my friend Ryan and in June I went to Oahu and Big Island with my friend Angela. These three islands are so different from one another and offer a completely new experience. And don’t worry, I’m working on Honest Travel itineraries for all of them coming soon.
When we were on Oahu, days before heading to Big Island, something crazy happened! News broke that the Kīlauea Volcano erupted at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park which was coincidentally where we were headed next.
Now pretend like I’m your cool science teacher…on June 7, 2023 at 4:44AM, Kīlauea Volcano erupted with the largest lava fountains reaching more than 200 feet high. Within a few hours, 33 feet depth of new lava had been added to the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Damn that’s a lot of f*cking lava!
Flights instantly tripled in price to fly between islands because everyone was trying to see this natural wonder for themselves. So here are the Hawaii volcano top tips if you want a piece of the lava magic.
Big Island in Hawaii is the destination for bucket list adventures.
I wanted to visit Big Island to swim with the manta rays that span 12-15 feet wide. It’s something I always wanted to do because they’re incredible creatures that I've been obsessed with since learning how to scuba dive.
Between the mantas and the erupting volcano, Big Island (AKA Island of Hawaii) really does hold the title for checking cool sh*t off your bucket list. I’d like to remind you that you don’t need to leave the country to have an epic adventure (although the flight is 10-hours direct from NJ).
When’s the next time I’ll be able to see an erupting volcano?
Our itinerary was already packed so if we wanted to see the volcano, we had to make it a late night adventure and that it was, my friends. We didn’t get back to our hotel until after 3AM. I was in Croatia right before Hawaii, so I was essentially running on a 12-hour time difference which had me super zonked throughout the trip.
But if we weren’t up for the adventure, I know I would have regretted being on an island with an erupting volcano and not seeing it. The pure adrenaline rush definitely kicked in…
We drove 2.5 hours one way and got there after 11PM.
We left our hotel in pitch darkness after 8PM in our rental car and started our route. By the time we got to the National Park, you bet it was packed. We waited another 25 minutes to find a parking spot.
This wasn’t really a surprise because if you want to see an erupting volcano, obviously it looks best at night vs. the daytime.
Don’t be dumb and please follow National Park protocols.
Hey guess what? People can be really f*cking stupid! The trails were marked with red lights on the ground to get visitors to the best viewpoints. Lots of people were trying to get to the other side of the volcano, going off the trails. I surely don’t want to be the one to find out how hot molten lava really is!
It wasn’t hot from where we viewed the molten lava.
It wasn’t that hot from where I was at the volcano but actually cold enough to wear my Patagonia fleece. Also, the air smelled smokey but it wasn’t dangerous or unbearable. It was surreal to see the vividly orange lava slithering down the slope.
Was it worth it?
1000% yes! You travel somewhere new for an adventure, right? If you ever get the opportunity to see something that is so once-in-a-lifetime cool, please go! Although the drive was long and late into the night, it was so rewarding to see that volcano glowing.
That lady Mother Nature is truly something else…
Be good,
JB
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