Hawaii Hike to Lava Flow Ocean Entry

Set on the Big Island of Hawaii take the Pahoa Kalapana Road all the way to the end of highway 130. When the road turns into molten rock you are very close to park. The Kamukona ocean entry is set in Volcano National park end of craters road.

There is no public transport on the Big Island so you will need to arrange personal transport for yourself. When you reach Hōlei sea arch with the car park there is plenty of space with many bike stalls, portaloos and a few tents to purchase snacks and water. However it is a little pricier so you may want to be prepared and bring your own. Watching the lava flow is like watching a great film, a bag of popcorn is a great accompaniment

Now you have a choice, you can hire bikes for the 8 mile round trip, they cost from twenty dollars this will be quicker however the wind is against you on your return cycle which may prove a little challenging. I chose to walk everytime and I always started late afternoon. In 1986 the Kupaianaha volcano erupted spilling out and creating the black sparse molten rock landscape, with heat both from the above sun and the hot rock I decided to venture at a cooler time of the day. I also enjoy the atmosphere of dusk and there is something surreal beginning the journey in the stark light across the exposed landscape and then walking or running back under the milkyway with the dots from each torch glowing across the trail. I even saw a yellow shooting star on my return once, it is a pocket of the world where mother nature is truly showing off. Since the volcano reactived in 2016 reffered to as Kilauea Volcano’s lava flow 61G a path has been built which gives greater ease over gravel than the knotted molten rock. Signs are up warning to carry water ( I took 2 litres with me ) and to wear comfortable footwear, my friend walked it in sturdy sandals and didnt regret it so at your own risk. The signs also tell you to prepare for a long hard hike. It is fairly long but not hard in the concept of navigation, access or weathering conditions, it is fairly flat throughout. The huge cloud of smoke is clearly seen for your destination. I was surprised as I began the hike a silence and peace falls. There is minor plant and animal life, the landscape fairly barren hosts some residents. Only they and the park ranger have permission to drive here and the land around their properties is private. I thought this may be what Mars or the moon could be like in stark contrast to Red road nearby which thrives with palm trees and tropical plants. 

Halfway along the path a straw shack has been built by a local resident, he offers shade and seats to visitors, I even chatted with him over a beer from his cool box. There is also a portaloo here, if you need to use the bathroom only a few small crates in the rock offer privacy. However this it is seen as disrepectful to Pele, a mythological goddess of fire, lightning, dance, wind, volcanoes and violence. You may hear strange things that have happened to locals and visitors where they have not treated the land with complete respect and later injured themselves via the land! 

As you near the flow you can see smoke seeping out the vent down towards the sea from the hill, when you reach the end of the path a rope cordons off. If it is still light when you go take a right and walk around the rope, the molten rock is strange to walk over and you may see exposed vents and heat waves. The ground crunches and cracks, it is trickier to walk over the molten but it is also spectacular to look at. Return down towards the sea and you will start to see the crowd. I always find the ledge right at the bottom by the rope to sit and watch the sun set behind the view. Depending on the tide being in or out, you watch the hot glowing orange lava slowly pour out as the tide comes in and out it pulls the lava in the ocean and the smoke erupts covering and exposing the lava. Apart from the sound of cameras and general chat there is enough space to sit and enjoy peacefully. As the night falls you see the glowing orange inuse and defuse against a black backdrop. 

You may want to use your torch to walk back however on clearer nights, with a fuller moon and the light from the lava I was able to make out the dips in the rock. I held my torch behind to make myself known to cyclists, but not to distract me as on a clear night you can see many stars and the milkyway. Once back in the car park you can buy any snacks or water needed, if on a wednesday night I highly recommend returning to the road and taking the first left down to Uncle Roberts night market great food and great music. If visitng the Big Island I highly recommend this fairly easy hike, enjoy the surrealness, the clashing of two unpredictable and ferocious elements and the peace discovered despite this all. A brilliant natural show between Pele godess of fire and her sister Namaka godess of sea.

Note: This is an everchanging landscape please observe park rangers notifications online at the time of your hike.

Dangers to look out for: Sharp rocks, uneven footing and dehydration. Also the Sulphur levels are more concentrated here meaning the air quality is lowered.