What's not to love about visiting a national park? We came here to see if perchance we could catch…read morethe volcano erupting however we missed it by a day and only got to see the steam flowing out of the mountain and the steam vents. This is a huge park with lots to do. We went to the crater rim side to hike the trails out there and check out the lava tube. We also visited the visitor center to get more info about the park and other places to go. My family earned their hiking credits here and we spent about 3 hours here exploring before heading back to the hotel. We were on the top part of the island so it was a 2 hour drive, however I recommend leaving before dark as the roads get dark, there is no light and it's often zero visibility.

What an overload for the senses. There are trails of all lengths and difficulty so plan well. Bring…read morelots of water, closed toed shoes and pack food if you plan to make a day of it. The view of the active volcano is spectacular and the rangers are helpful with answering any questions. The parking is sufficient although you may have to drive around for a moment if it's busy. We did the long hike and it was rigorous, but not impossible as long as you do not have mobility issues. There are stairs and steps at the beginning and the end, but walking across the lava field is amazing. Follow the rock formations for your directions. At the end, we wanted to wash our hands, but the only place for a sink is in the volcano house. All other areas are just out houses so plan accordingly. Every purchase in the gift shops supports the Rangers and the park so be kind and pick up an item or two and even feel free to give an additional donation when you check out. There are not many gas stations on the road to the volcano coming from the south around the bottom of the island. However, gas is cheaper when you do find it then you may find in Kona.

This park is beautiful and sacred. You can learn indigenous Hawaiian history & culture here and…read moreexperience serenity in this very special place. I especially enjoyed walking on the lava rocks to the protected areas where I saw fish everywhere! The water is clear and perfect. This park is large and I recommend that you have at least two hours here to soak it all in. There are hiking trails and picnic areas too. There are clean bathrooms, water fountain & a small gift shop as well. Note: For visitors concerned with accessibility, it may be a little tough to access the beach areas as the terrain is sandy, rocky & uneven. I did read that beach wheelchairs are available at the visitor center though. Mahalo.

This is the most sacred of the Hawaiian Parks, which was used as safe harbor during wars between…read moreislands. Many of the historical warrior chiefs were buried here and represented the proud heritage of healing those seeking refuge from the fighting. The rehabilitation first included healing wounds and feeding the starving warrior back to health. Next, the mental spirit was revived and trained how to live in peace.

We made a pit stop here on our way back from the national park…read more You pull into a driveway and you have immediate access to the falls. Parking lot is tiny but people usually view, take a few pics and leave so just wait. There's only one attraction here - the falls so it's a quick stop to admire and move on. You can also climb up an access way to get a view of the full waterfall. Overall we enjoyed it but our viewing was muddy due to recent rainfalls

Amazing and beautiful area to have a picnic and take family out for an hour or two…read more Cute trail small hike for the kids to enjoy. Lots of landscape to take advantage if you are looking for a nice photo opportunity. $10 for parking and $5 for each person. Very reasonable. The scan code was easy to use and fast for payment. There was nice ambassadors helping not just one person so it made it a fast experience and they were informative of where we could walk and viewpoints. Great customer service. Restrooms were cleaned. The informational boards had graffiti on it.

This place is super exciting! The downfall is that it's far from Kona, so my family and I were…read morereally tired when we got back to our hotel room. It's best to come here at night to really see the lava flow, but be up for the long drive back to Kona if that's where you're staying.

A difficulty arises in writing a review for a natural phenomenon - these things can be so…read moresubjective and even temperamental based on the time of year, weather, personal opinion, et cetera - but Kalapana Lava Flow is undoubtedly one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders I've ever experienced. And it's definitely something you experience rather than just see - you see the juicy yellow and orange glow of the molten lava, you feel the heat radiating on your face from several yards away, and you hear the cracks and pops as it slowly settles and oozes onto the land beneath it. You feel as though you are witnessing the last remnants of Creation, the sixth day has yet to finish, and the primordial energy of eons past is still in the throes of its final breaths. You and your fellow observers will likely feel the need to whisper and speak in hushed tones, as if it is holy ground or the embodiment of some celestial force. Anyway, if you can see the flow at night, this'll undoubtedly be one of the most profoundly majestic experiences you can imagine. The lava ebbs and flows even within the spans of minutes and hours, so don't be discouraged if you see only a bit of oozing rather than a true flow once you arrive. It's dynamic and moves slowly but stealthily, and a new eruption site can arise on the periphery that wasn't there just ten minutes prior. As a reference, we arrived at the bike rental area (from Hilo, drive the 130 through Pahoa and completely to the south end of the 130, at which point it will force you onto a smaller road in a southwestern direction that will eventually dead end in a parking area), around 5pm, paid $20 a person for a high quality mountain bike, biked the first mile or two in, and then started our journey north over the rocks around 5:20. This leg took at least an hour or so, and we loitered around the different lava sites for at least an hour before making the trek back in the dark. All in all, allow for at least four hours of time from start to finish - we were driving away back to our condo at nearly 9pm exactly. Tips: - bring STRONG flashlights or headlamps for the trek back over the lava. The cheaper and dimmer the light, the more difficult. Also bring the basics such as cash, snacks, water, your [charged] camera and phone, and sunscreen for the trek in. - wear hiking boots; any sturdy tennis shoe will do but the igneous ground, often simultaneously rough, grainy, and hot, will do a number on any flimsy sneakers. Don't wear any stylish or fancy tennis shoes either, or even hardy sandals - I guarantee you will regret it. - if you wear contacts, bring back up glasses. - don't park at the first parking area or get your bike from the vendors; shop around smart. Many vendors are obnoxiously hawkish. - on a similar note, do indeed get a bike to go the first mile or so! The first leg of the walk is pretty but dry and dusty and pales in comparison to the actual destination. All the bike companies look like they throw in extra lights, water, and snack bars. You'll really appreciate the bike for the last leg back as well - best $20 spent so far. My husband and I both finished up the trip in complete agreement that seeing the lava up close in person was one of the most spectacular moments of our lives thus far!

This Beach park happened by accident when my niece was looking for a place for us to eat lunch in…read moreKona. This happened to be the closest picnic area that we could come to, thanks to a little tik- tok video she watched. If you're looking for a traditional beach with sand, this isn't the place. But what you'll get instead are the famous black lava rock formations Kona is known for that spill into several lagoons full of crystal clear water. As for eating, there are plenty of places to lay down a blanket in the grass, picnic and relax. The park has several trash cans for you to use as well and I did happily notice that the park was clean. I did not have to use the bathroom here so I can't comment on that. What impressed me the most was that they had built in stairs for you to walk into the ocean. In my entire life of traveling, I've never seen a beach park with built in stairwells to walk into the lagoons. This was a treat for me. If I have one big tip, it's to remember to have your water shoes because the rocks are sharp to walk on and can easily cut you if you're not careful. I also did read that they do have outdoor showers but I didn't see them when we were here. Lots of folks brought their own snorkeling gear because there were a lot of fish, not to mention at least 3 turtles that I saw swimming around. As I'm writing this review, I'm already missing Kona and the uniqueness of this island. If you plan on going to Kona, you must come and enjoy this place. It's truly special and I would recommend it to anyone.

After coming across social media post, Carlsmith Beach Park was a must visit for me! I added it to…read morethe list of places for my uber driver/hubby to take me. We missed it the very first time, the hubby took me to the wrong beach & had to re-route. I remember it is hard to find via GPS if you miss the turn. We found parking after the beach and walked down. When I walked to Carlsmith Beach to finally check it out for the very first time, my heart just melted and just had that Wow, grateful, OMG moments and also feels like DeJaVu. I also asked my husband to pinch me, that I am not dreaming. It was so nice to just experience this live in real life, such tranquil atmosphere, crystal clear waters. I just love the color of the water, the ocean, so beautiful! Carlsmith Beach Park in Hilo is a hidden gem for sure! After we took our tons of photos, enjoyed the scenery which I really wanted to stay longer but we had a busy day ahead. For next time I visit, I would love to picnic & enjoy lunch under the coconut, palm trees and go swimming. Although I didn't sea turtles during my visits, hopefully next time.

Lovely, peaceful trails at this park. In this visit we only had time for the nature trail which was…read morewell maintained and had a number of interpretive signs describing the various trees and shrubs. Also near the nature trail is the arboretum of native plants with additional interpretive signs, be sure to visit both areas. If you have more time, do the jeep trail to gulch trail as a loop.

This place is pretty confusing and also empty so we were afraid to explore too much. We checked out…read morethe garden but it seemed a bit under maintained and dead. Seems pretty easy to get lost and no reception so come prepared. Plenty of parking but for some reason gave kind of eerie vibes.

Very cool experience to walk through 2 caves…read more Bring a flashlight / headlamp. Your phone flashlight won't be as strong but can work if you have no options. Ideal shoes would be hiking boots but gym shoes will work. There are steep steps going down and then uneven rocks until the cave. The cave is uneven as well. Parking: maybe room for 10 cars, so parking could be difficult. When we went around 1pm on a Saturday, we didn't have a problem. Park and walk across the street to enter. Bathrooms: I did see some. Didn't use them though.

When we went it was on and off raining. The stairs are quite steep- down to the two caves. One on…read morethe right and one on the left. If you have trouble with balance etc. you should consider waiting in the car as the caves were wet and slippery. Was just accross the street from the parking lot. We were there for about 1/2 an hour. And it's FREE! I enjoyed seeing what the lava had created. We went to the volcano after this. Recommend flashlights and at least one head lamp. Phone lights are just too little!

I don't know if I would call this a hike, so much as a paved loop walk. Try to come early as the…read moreparking lot can get really filled, spilling into "paid" parking on the side of the roadway. You probably won't spend longer than an hour hear, unless you really get obsessive about capturing those perfect photo shots to post on Instagram. The pictures people have posted pretty much speak for themselves. But nothing beats seeing this live waterfalls, flowing in-person. With the wind in your hair, the scent of all the lush plants and such. This is on the Hilo side of the Big Island that is Hawai'i, so check the weather plan around the tropical rains that may or may not happen around the weeks you visit. You may pass some roadside stalls along the way here, where they're selling freshly cut pineapple of incomparable sweetness and flavor. Overall, definitely a space to get your dose of shinrin-yoku/forest bathing to cleanse your etheric body and be present in the moment.

This is more than just a waterfall, it's an experience where you immerse yourself in a rainforest…read moreand appreciate the beauty, sounds, smells, and little creatures around you. Although the entire hike is about half an hour, I would recommend you take your time and see everything around you. The hike itself is not strenuous. Some of the reviews indicate the steps were arduous, but our little 3-year-old had no problem. The paths are paved with railings. It didn't take long before we reached where Akaka falls was visible. It is beautiful against the mossy green backdrop. Then we climb the stairs to see the other waterfall, but when we got there, it was pretty anti-climatic. It's a small little fall, but still worth seeing. Overall, this is a beautiful spot to discover new plants, see a couple of waterfalls, and take a ton of pictures.