‘Aina ‘Ihi Ecotours

Tags: active eruption, birdwatching, desert, hiking, historic eruption, lava, lava tube, national park, native forest, petroglyphs, ruins

This itinerary idea explores the many facets of Kilauea over the course of 5 days, a journey from forest to lava to desert to ocean:

Day 1: Kilauea’s summit, from the native forests to the site of active eruption at Halema’uma’u crater atop the dynamic volcano.

Day 2: Kilauea’s coastal plain, with the objective of seeing active lava or the lava ocean entry at dusk, conditions permitting.

CLICK HERE for more about Kilauea Exposed (5 days) »

Tags: active eruption, hiking, historic eruption, jungle, lava, national park, native forest, ocean, petroglyphs, ruins

Kilauea’s active east rift zone is marked by the chain of craters.

Summary: Located within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, the Chain of Craters road traverses Kilauea from its summit caldera through islands of native forest surrounded by frozen rivers of lava (remnants of historic eruptions of the east rift zone reaching as far as the ocean) and finally comes to an abrupt end where cut off by recent lava flows. It provides access to many different facets of Kilauea, from volcanic craters to native forests to ancient trails and petroglyphs, unique lava formations, black sand beaches and sights of the active eruption.

CLICK HERE for more about Kilauea Volcano’s Chain of Craters »

Tags: beaches, hiking, ocean, petroglyphs, ruins, snorkelling

Kohala’s Hamakua coast rounds ‘Upolu point into the oasis-filled deserts of Kona.

Summary: Lava flows from Kohala, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa volcanoes reach the northwest coast of Hawai’i Island, the mountains themselves creating a rainshadow for the island’s leeward Kona coast. Springwaters rise near beaches in a string of oases across the lava desert, some developed into megaresorts and some still pleasantly pristine in the presence of Hawaiian ruins.

CLICK HERE for more about Oases of North Kona and Kohala »