Lava viewing guide for the Big Island

Lava viewing is a must-do activity if you are lucky enough to be on the Big Island while one of the volcanoes is actively erupting. Hawaii wouldn’t exist if it were not for the continuous volcanic activity that created all the islands, and seeing this happening in “real-time” is, for many people, a once in a lifetime experience.

Where is the lava located?

While our volcanoes are among the most active in the world, they are not always erupting. The previous eruption lasted between 1983 and 2018 and, while it is almost certain there will be a new eruption, we cannot predict when this will happen.

This means, unfortunately, that the answer to the question “can we see lava in Hawaii?” is “no”.

-> Current eruption status: no flowing lava

Luckily, you can still enjoy many volcano-related highlights and activities while visiting our island! Great things to do for volcano enthusiasts are, for example, a visit to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (almost mandatory) and a visit to one of our many lava tubes.

The rest of our guide is relevant only when lava is visible on the surface. We’ll keep you updated!

How to see the lava yourself

Seeing the lava up-close-and-personal is an experience that few people ever forget. How close you can get to the lava depends on where the flow is active, and what lava viewing locations are accessible. Access to the flow could be restricted if local conditions are deemed unsafe or the path to the flow crosses private land.

Most of the time the volcanoes on Hawaii erupt at a very calm pace (with ‘aloha’ if you will), and it is quite easy to get close to the action. We give a very short summary of all options you have to see the lava below:

• From up-close as it flows over the land and/or into the ocean. Conditions permitting, your options are:
  1. A (guided) lava hike, and
  2. An ocean lava boat tour.
• From a distance, e.g. with:
  3. A helicopter tour or
  4. From a public viewing area.

1: Hiking to the Lava: Guided Tours and DIY (when possible)

Hiking to the lava is the best way to get up close. Sometimes, however, lava hikes are not possible because there either is no lava flowing on the surface, or access to the site of the eruption is too dangerous or crosses private lands.

If access to the flow is possible and it is on public land you will be able to find several companies that offer guided hikes to the lava flow during daytime or at night.

Hiking tours to the lava flow can be tiresome but are worth every drop of sweat!

Hiking to the lava yourself (DIY)

Sometimes it is pretty straightforward to find your way to the lava yourself and it is good to remember that it is not mandatory to join a lava viewing tour to see the lava. If you do plan for a DIY adventure please make sure to educate yourself on the risks, to dress properly, and to bring plenty of water and sunscreen. A good place to start doing this is by checking out our lava hiking safety chapter.

Besides safety, the most important distinction that determines whether you can hike out to the lava yourself is where the lava is flowing:

• Are the surface flows within the national park boundaries? Yay! If the park determines that access to the flow is safe you can go on a hike to see the lava. Because viewing conditions change on a daily basis you should look up the most recent information about the active surface flows shortly before you plan to see the lava yourself. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Visitor Center and the “what’s going on with the Volcano” web page of the Volcanoes National Park are good places to do so.
• Are the surface flows on privately owned lands? If the lava is outside of the park boundaries there is a good chance it is on privately owned lands and that you will be trespassing while hiking out. Make sure to get proper permission from the land owners before hiking up to these spots! By far the easiest way to see the lava in this case is to enlist a lava tour guide with proper permissions.

The following video by Ph.D. student-turned-filmmaker Tyler Hulett titled “Dawn of Fire” shows a time-lapse video of the slow-moving lava flows of the Kilauea volcano. This gives a good representation of what you might see when hiking to the lava:

This is one of our favorite videos to watch and get lost in the lava landscapes of the Kilauea volcano. Even after dozens of repeats we remain enchanted and mesmerized. Give the video a quick watch while you read more in our guide!

Guided Lava Tours

Guided lava tours offer know-how, equipment, and access to restricted terrains where needed. Their guides are trained professionals that know the area intimately. The added value of using a lava tour guide is of course safety, but also getting to know the extremely interesting background information they can provide about the eruption, and, of course, the peace of mind of making a safe trek without getting lost.

These tours can last between 1 hour and half a day depending on how far away the lava is. The hike almost always takes you over very uneven terrain it is important to have an honest conversation with the guides beforehand to make sure you are physically able to complete the hike.

A list of outfitters that organize hikes to the lava can be found on the price comparison website hawaiiactivities¹. These hiking tours are sometimes combined with other activities so make sure to thoroughly read the descriptions before booking. Booking a lava hike tour far in advance is risky because at the time of your visit the lava may have stopped flowing. We strongly recommend to that you carefully review the cancellation conditions and, if they are strict, not to book these tours more than a few weeks in advance.

Another option for guided hikes can be found within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. One such example is the “Volcano Unveiled” tour by Hawaii Forest & Trail.

Visiting the Lava with a professional guide is a spectacular experience

No lava on the surface? No worries!

Even when there are no surface flows, you can still engage in extremely interesting activities to learn about lava and the cultural and natural history of the volcanoes of Hawai’i. After all, the Big Island is 100% created by volcanic eruptions, and you don’t need to see red-hot lava to be amazed by all the remnants of its creation!

A visit to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and/or one of the many lava tubes on our island are good places to start.

Another option is a guided tour. The advantage of these tours is that their guides are expertly trained and provide a wealth of volcano-related information. Volcano-related tours generally take you on fascinating hikes through the park, private lava tubes, and many other stunning places that are difficult to find or reach without a guide.

We list some very well-respected tour operators that offers these tours in our volcano tours section.

2: Lava viewing from the ocean: lava boat tours

When lava is flowing into the ocean you can enjoy viewing it from an extremely close, yet safe distance by boat. Definitely a unique and thrilling experience!

Lava boat tours without limited entry approval from the US Coast Guard must keep a distance of 300 meters (984 feet) from the ocean entry point, and outside the safety zone (source). Under special circumstances tour operators are granted permission into the lava safety zone and can get closer to the point of ocean entry. All four lava boat tour providers listed below have received such permission.

Lava enters the ocean while a lava boat gets close to the action. Photo taken in 2017 during the 61g Kamokuna ocean entry.

Because of ongoing changes in regulation of lava boat tours we always recommend that you inquire about cancellation policies and refunds when booking a lava ocean tour. If the lava is flowing you can find lava boat tours at the following websites:

• Kalapana Cultural tours
• Hawaiian Lava Boat Tours
• Moku Nui lava tours
• Lavaocean / seelava Lava Boat Tours

Note that the first 3 provider on the list above all use the same vessel (the “Ohana” with a 39 passenger capacity).

Safety and licensed lava boat tour operators

There are many possible risks when trying to see lava enter the ocean which we describe in our lava ocean safety guide and it is important that you choose your lava boat tour with care because of the many risks associated with seeing lava this way.

Make sure to always check if your tour operator is licensed to ensure that they possess the experience and training required to get you to the viewing area and back safely. According to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DNLR) the four tour companies we list above are the only tour companies permitted to offer the lava boat tour activity.

3: See the lava with a helicopter tour

Helicopter tours let you see the lava and volcanoes from above. A helicopter can get you close to a lot of action that is not accessible over land or water and gives you an impressive birds-eye perspective. Think, for example, about a look into the crater lake, seeing surface lava flows from the air, or lava burning through forests.

Helicopter tours are your best bet to see the lava when other ways such as a hike or boat tour are not possible because they are able to keep a safe distance while still offering an amazing perspective. If this is the case you should plan ahead because helicopter tours can fill up weeks in advance!

Helicopter tours that take you to see the lava depart from both Hilo and Kona. Tours from Hilo are shorter and more affordable. Still, helicopter tours are not cheap. The so-called “volcanoes and waterfalls” tours from Hilo start at around $200 to $250 for ~45 minutes of flight time.

Tours by Paradise Helicopters (external link) leave from both Hilo and Kona. See also our own guide to helicopter tours on the Big Island for an overview of all helicopter tour operators and tour options.

Helicopter tours give you great views of the lava even when there is no lava flowing on the surface. See for example the following video showing the impressive aftermath of the 2018 LERZ eruption, which was shot during a Paradise Helicopter flight on October 3th, 2018. Video credit goes to Mick Kalber from Tropical Visions Video:

4: Lava viewing at Public Viewing Areas (and from the roadside)

Most of the time when lava is flowing on the surface it is possible to see it at a safe distance from a public viewing area. From these areas active lava can be visible directly, or is accessible with a (short) hike.

Public viewing opportunities change with time but some recent examples are the Kalapana viewing area and the Jaggar Museum Overlook of the Halema’uma’u crater in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (both closed).

Seeing the glow in the Halema’uma’u Crater (currently status: no glow/no lava lake).

There are several places within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park from which you can get a great view of the Halema’uma’u crater. Because of safety issues it is not possible to enter the crater, but you can get pretty close.

Our favorite views of the Halema’uma’u crater are from the Steaming Bluff overlook (more information), stop #2 on the Crater Rim Drive tour.

During daytime you can see an impressive plume coming from the crater but the view is truly breathtaking before sunrise and after sunset. At night, the glow of the lava lake colors the steam red, and if the weather is clear this blood-red plume is set against a sky full of stars.

The glow from the Halema’uma’u crater at night in the Volcanoes National Park, seen from the now closed Jaggar Museum overlook. The summit lava lake disappeared during the 2018 LERZ eruption.

There is an element of chance involved in trying to see the lava like this because of frequent rains and fog. Weather here at the summit can change quickly though, so try waiting it out for ~30 minutes to see if it clears up.

5: See the aftermath of the 2018 LERZ eruption

The 2018 Lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption zone is a very interesting place to visit, as it offers a sobering perspective on the impact of eruptions on the local people and ecology of the island.

Starting in Pahoa you can stop in for a look at the Pahoa Lava Zone Museum. This is a small building featuring artifacts from the last eruption, photographs taken by locals, and exhibits from the now-abandoned Jaggar museum.

From Pahoa you can then follow Highway 132 to the South/East. This road was only recently rebuild over the still-cooling lava flows that covered it in 2018 and it provides some of the best impressions. You can follow this road up to a point that used to be called “4 Corners”, but now is only one corner and the end of the road. Be careful with parking and touching the ground because the rocks in the area can still be very hot. From here you can see a panorama of miles of new lava rock. With clear weather you can see all the way to the ocean.

You have probably heard about Leilani Estates, ground zero of the 2018 LERZ eruption and home to Fissure 8. Leilani Estates is still a residential neighborhood and all roads except for Leilani Avenue are private. You cannot park along Leilani Avenue and the people living here don’t appreciate what they perceive as disaster tourism. Please show consideration for the residents and don’t drive into the neighborhood. You can see enough of the area while following Highway 130 to the South from Pahoa, for example at Lava Tree State Monument.

Following Hwy 130 further South brings you to Kalapana, after which you can drive up Highway 137 to Pohoiki which was nearly covered by the Leilani Eruption, and has massively changed as a result. This is one of our favorite scenic drives on the island!

The Kilauea Volcano: past and present eruptions

There are five (!) active volcanoes in the state of Hawai’i: four on the Big Island (Mauna Loa, Kilauea, Hualalai and, still under water but ever growing, Loihi) and one on Maui (Haleakalā). The Kilauea volcano last erupted between 1983 and 2018, and is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

The Island of Hawai‘i with lava flows erupted in approximately the past 1,000 years shown in red. Image credit: USGS

Kilauea is also the youngest and most active Volcano in the state of Hawaii. The oldest lava flows belonging to Kilauea are dated between 210,000 and 280,000 years ago which is pretty young for a volcano. Its eruptions over the last 1000 years have shaped the whole south east side of the island and cover about 90% of its surface.

The last 100 years of volcanic activity can be divided in 7 eruptions. Click on the link in each episode to read an interesting summary on the USGS website.

• The May 1924 explosive eruption of Kīlauea in Halema’uma’u (with the most powerful explosions at Kīlauea since the early 19th century)
• The Kīlauea 1955 Lower East Rift Zone Eruption in Lower Puna (the first eruption in historic times to occur in any populous area in a U.S. territory)
• The 1959 eruption of the Kīlauea Iki Crater (580 m (1,900 ft) high lava fountains!)
• The 1960 Kapoho eruption (when barriers were built in an attempt to divert lava flows)
• The 1969-1974 Mauna Ulu Eruption (with lava falls higher than Niagara)
• The Kīlauea’s summit eruption, 2008 – 2018 (lava lake viewing at the summit!)
• The 1983 – 2018 Pu‘u ‘ō‘ō Eruption (read more about the latest two episodes below)

Scientists have divided the Pu‘u ‘ō‘ō eruption into 62 episodes of activity, defined by the style of eruption and the location of the vents. We describe the most recent two (the 61g episode and the eruption in lower Puna), below:

1. The lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption (2018)
2. The 61g eruption (2016 – 2018)
3. How to best check the eruption progress yourself (online resources)

1: Kīlauea Volcano lower East Rift Zone / Lower Puna eruption [2018]

The Kīlauea Volcano lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption in lower Puna was preceded by the collapse of the Pu?u ?ō?ō vent on April 30th and the onset of the draining of the Halama’uma’u lava lake on May 2nd. On the 3rd of May 2018 several fissures in the Leilani Estates subdivision opened, marking the start of this new eruptive episode: the Lower East Rift Zone eruption (LERZ, full chronology).

You can also find a really interesting summary of the LERZ eruption summarizing things that we have learned from this event in the journal of Science (our tip: start by browsing the figures and reading the chapter called “Synthesis of 2018 activity” to get a good overview of the article contents). Another good place to learn more is by this cool narrative put together by the USGS.

The 2018 Lower East Rift Zone eruption in numbers:

• 13.7 square miles of land inundated by lava (the surface of almost 6631 football fields!)
• 875 acres of new land created by ocean entries
• 716 dwellings destroyed by lava
• ~30 miles of roads covered by lava
• ~1 billion cubic yards of lava erupted (enough to fill at least 320,000 Olympic-size swimming pools!)
• ~60,000 earthquakes between April 30–August 4, 2018

After burning brights for a few months the eruption ended in early September, leaving behind new land and damaged neighborhoods. See for example the following before/after compilation showing the heavily impacted Leilani Estates subdivision:

Videos of the 2018 LERZ eruption

The best way of getting to know a volcano is to see it, and the same goes for individual eruptions. Many impressive and educational videos have been made about this eruption, and we highlight 4 here:

1: ‘AILA’AU: Forest Eater

This is a short film by Lance Page from Page Films that takes viewers on a journey through the infamous 2018 eruption of Kilauea’s lower east rift zone. No text but 8 minutes of mesmerizing footage and sounds that make you feel like you were there. Highly recommended!

2: 100 Days : 2018 Kilauea Eruption

This video is titled “100 Days : 2018 Kilauea Eruption” and was made by local photographer Andrew Richard Hara. It shows a compilation of his work made during the eruption. You can purchase his works through his website.

The video is available in 4k and contains some AMAZING footage!

3: A video showing the magnificent and destructive force of lava.

The following video shows an impressive collage of the Kilauea volcano East rift zone eruption as of ~May 27, 2018:

4: A video review of the eruption made by the USGS

This video scores HIGH marks on the educational aspect but is a little bit less visually pleasing compared to the other ones showcased. It summarizes the changes brought by the 2018 eruption to the summit area (Halema’uma’u) and the fissure eruption in the Lower East Rift Zone in the NPS/USGS video below (original source):

Chronology for the Kīlauea Volcano’s 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapse

The LERZ eruption lasted only about 3 months, but in that short period of time A LOT of things happened. Below you can read a chronology [source: USGS] of the events associated with the summit collapse to the LERZ eruption. Below the chronology you can find a useful infographic showing just how much the Halema’uma’u summit has changed.

• April 30: Long-term Pu?u ?ō?ō eruptive vent collapses; magma begins moving down the rift zone toward Puna
• May 1: HVO issues notice of potential eruptive activity on Kīlauea’s lower East Rift Zone (LERZ); Deflation of Kīlauea’s summit begins; Halema?uma?u lava lake starts to drop
• May 2: First ground cracks open on the LERZ in and adjacent to the Leilani Estates subdivision
• May 3: Onset of LERZ fissure eruptions; Kīlauea Volcano Alert Level raised to WARNING
• May 4: Magnitude-6.9 earthquake on south flank of Kīlauea!
• May 9: HVO issues notice of potential explosions at summit of Kīlauea
• May 9-12: Lull in lower East Rift Zone fissure activity
• May 10: Halema?uma?u lava lake disappears from view
• May 11: Hawai?i Volcanoes National Park closes to the public
• May 15: Aviation Color Code for Kīlauea elevated to RED in anticipation of summit explosions
• May 16: Onset of Kīlauea summit explosive events (ash up to 30,000 ft above sea level); HVO building vacated
• May 19: Lava enters ocean near Mackenzie State Recreation Area (this flow lasted about 10 days, the park was spared)
• May 25-26: New pit opens on floor of Halema?uma?u at summit; fissure 8 reactivates on LERZ
• May 29: The down drop of the caldera accelerates; onset of near-daily summit collapse events, with each event releasing energy equivalent to that of a ~M5 earthquake
• June 3: Lava erupted from fissure 8 reaches the ocean at Kapoho Bay
• June 24: Aviation Color Code lowered to ORANGE (collapse events no longer producing ash)
• Aug. 2: Kīlauea summit collapse events end
• Aug. 4: LERZ fissure 8 activity significantly decreases; summit deflation stops
• Aug. 17: Eruptive pause at fissure 8; Kīlauea Volcano Alert Level lowered to WATCH
• Aug. 21: Ocean entries no longer active
• Sept. 1-4: Weak lava activity observed within the fissure 8 cone (last LERZ lava activity?)
• Sept. 22: Hawai?i Volcanoes National Park partially reopens!!

The Halema’uma’u crater dropped in total over 500 meters during the ~60,000 earthquakes associated with the 2018 LERZ eruption. Image credit: USGS

2: The 61g lava flow [2016-2018]

A breakout from the east flank of Pu‘u ‘ō‘ō on May 24, 2016 marked the end of another fissure eruption on the flank of the Pu?u ?ō?ō which started almost two years earlier on June 27, 2014. This was just in time for nearby residents, as the June 27th flow came very close to reaching the city of Pahoa.

This breakout was later named the 61g flow (Episode 61, “g” lava flow). It reached the base of the Pulama Pali by the end of June and entered the sea at Kamokuna on July 26, 2016.

Between July 2016 and March 2018 it was possible to see the ocean entry of lava flow 61g close to Kamukuna both from land and from the sea. In March the up-to-then stable ocean-entry plume stopped being visible, and the Pu?u ?ō?ō crater collapse on April 30th, 2018 marked the end of the 61g eruption.

The 61g eruption was especially easy to see because the lava was slow-moving and accessible from both sides within the park. The presence of a nearby gravel road made the hike to the flow relatively easy and even allowed bike rentals to operate!

The map below shows both access routes and the (inactive) ocean entry point for the 61g flow during the end of its “career”:

This USGS map shows Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone lava flow field for April 30th, 2018. Access to the (mostly inactive) flow field was possible from both sides (Kalapana from the east or the chain of Craters road from the west) following the emergency road.

3: Best online resources to monitor the eruption progress:

You can find a plethora of information about ongoing eruptions online, though not all of it is correct. Unfortunately, many news outlets over-sensationalize events for their own profits, which leads to a lot of misinformation.

Some official resources that we keep an eye on and that can help you keep up-to-date with the status of possible ongoing eruptions are:

• By the USGS: the daily Kilauea volcano lava flow update and the often updated USGS multimedia gallery.
• The /r/Bigisland/ page on Reddit for ongoing discussion on the newest developments.
• The Hawaii County Civil Defense Alerts.

Safety and Practical Information for seeing the lava

Volcanic fumes are hazardous to your health. Persons at risk of respiratory problems or with heart problems, pregnant women, infants, and elderly people, are all discouraged from engaging in this activity. Getting close to the lava flow is both spectacular and risky and it is very important to realize that hiking out to the lava unprepared can put you in harm’s way.

You can use the following resources to learn about these safety hazards and how to avoid them:

1. Lava safety (hiking)
2. ocean entry hazards
3. Vog (volcanic smog)

1: Hiking to the lava: stay out of closed areas and be prepared!

We recommended that you wear comfortable socks and walking shoes or hiking boots when hiking out. Pack sunscreen and water together with your camera. If you plan to view the lava flow after dusk, remember to bring one flashlight per person and replacement batteries. The Kilauea is a dynamic volcano, and lava viewing conditions change daily. Even if a viewing area is organized by the National Park, this does not guarantee close access of the lava. Often a 1+ hour hike over hazardous terrain is necessary to reach the flow front of the lava.

If you want to be well prepared take 4 minutes and watch this video about safe lava viewing of ocean entries made by the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park staff. It is especially good to watch if you want to get as close as possible to lava ocean entries while staying safe:

We can’t overemphasize being prepared for the hike. Far too many times, ill-prepared people (most often tourists) go on a lava hike wearing sandals and flip flops. Such footwear is not appropriate or safe for the rough lava surfaces, and wearing them may force you to return home prematurely without having seen the lava. If you plan on staying past sunset (and we highly recommend this), each person should carry their own flashlight for the walk back (see “Guided lava tours“).

2: Safety concerns at the lava ocean entry

Please be aware that lava ocean entries can create extremely dangerous conditions. The two main concerns regarding your safety if you want to see the lava flow into the ocean are:

• The stability of the new land you are standing on (the lava bench)
• The noxious gasses that are released when the lava meets the ocean.

Stability of the new land

Newly created land is inherently unstable and much of the new land will collapse back into the ocean after a while.

Park rangers keep a close eye on the stability of the lava bench and limit the lava viewing area based on what they judge to be safe. This safe distance is based on visual inspection and thermal imaging and is was set, for example, at 1/2 mile or 820 meters for the now now inactive Kamokuna episode (see image below).

On May 3rd a large part of the Kamokuna lava delta collapsed into the ocean within minutes. Collapsing lava benches can cause a small tsunami and the associated explosions can hurl hot rocks over a large distance. Credit all images: USGS

Collapses like this may even trigger small tsunamis of scalding hot water. Please follow any instructions given by park rangers regarding a safe viewing distance.

Noxious Gases

It is very important to stay away from the plume when you are watching the lava enter the ocean. In general, the wind carries this noxious ocean entry plume offshore and out to sea during nighttime and early mornings. From mid-morning through late afternoon the wind sometimes shifts and carries the plume onshore/along the coast.

The white plume is very hot and contains super-heated steam and many chemicals that range from unhealthy to lethal. The water droplets in the plume can be as corrosive as battery acid. Read more about the dangers of scalding water, steam plumes and poor air quality on the USGS website.

3: Vog (volcanic air pollution)

Contrary to what many may expect, the Big Island has problems with air pollution during active surface flows. This volcanic pollution is called ‘vog’, a blend of the words “smog”, “fog” and “volcanic”, and it is so normal here that it is part of the common language on the Hawaiian Islands.

Vog is a form of hazy air pollution much like smog. It is created when sulfur dioxide gas emitted by the Kilauea volcano reacts with oxygen and moisture in the presence of sunlight. Just like smog, there are certain health hazards associated with vog.

You can find voggy conditions in the downwind direction of all eruptive sites. Because the dominant wind directions are east and north-east, the areas most affected by fog are those south and southwest of these sites. The USGS has teamed up with IVHHN/Durham university and HDOH to form the Interagency Vog Dashboard where you can find specific vog advice for visitors to Hawai’i.

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