Before your next trip to the Big Island, learn Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Facts – from its earliest history to its modern marvels, and everything in between.
U.S. National Parks are more than just land, plants, and animals. They are places of history and life, rich with cultural significance. And few places embody this spirit more than Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The facts and stories surrounding this incredible region will draw you in and inspire a sense of discovery during your next Hawaii vacation!
What Is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?
There are 63 National Parks in the United States, and two are in Hawaii. One of these is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is on the Island of Hawaii (AKA the Big Island). The park is centered around two active volcanoes: Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Guests can visit both volcanoes and discover the varying landscapes of the region through hikes, drives, and overlooks.
A Brief History of the Park
Before we discover interesting facts about Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, let’s get a quick history about how it was formed.
The US National Park Service was formed in 1916, but there were National Parks long before the agency existed. Still, 1916 ushered in a new era of National Parks, and that was the year that one was established in Hawaii.
Back then, it was called Hawaii National Park, and it included three famous volcanoes in Hawaii: Mauna Loa, Kilauea, and Haleakala on Maui. Later in the century, Haleakala became its own National Park. Now, we have Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a place beloved and visited by people from around the world.
Our Favorite Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Facts
We love visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. As Hawaii travel agents, we encourage all visitors to come to the islands and discover the beauty and power of Kilauea and Mauna Loa. But if you aren’t lucky enough to be in Hawaii right now, these fun facts about the national park will help you feel like you’re here!
The Park Dates Back to 1916
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is over a century old! In its early days, the park was called Hawaii National Park, and it encompassed volcanoes on both Hawaii Island and Maui. In 1961, the two islands split into two separate national parks: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Haleakala National Park.
BONUS FUN FACT: In August 1916, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was established. Later that month, Woodrow Wilson created the National Park Service, too! Before the formation of the Parks Service, different agencies managed the national parks and monuments across the country.
There are 2 Active Volcanoes Within the Park
Kilauea and Mauna Loa are the two volcanoes within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Both are active and have erupted multiple times in the past decade.
Kilauea is one of the most erupting volcanoes in the world. Meanwhile, Mauna Loa holds the honor of being the largest active volcano in the world!
It’s On Hawaii’s Biggest Island
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is on the Island of Hawaii (AKA The Big Island). This is Hawaii’s largest, youngest, and easternmost island. And it’s getting bigger all the time! Volcanic activity causes the island to grow outward and upward.
The Park Also Has International Honors
The United Nations has named Hawaii Volcanoes National Park a World Heritage Site, a status it shares with only ten other U.S. national parks. It’s also a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve.
A Restaurant Overlooks the Crater
Want to dine on top of an active volcano? The Rim at Volcano House overlooks Halema’uma’u Crater. I’ve been at dinner time when the crater is glowing, and it’s one of the most unique dinner views I’ve ever enjoyed!
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Could Hold Nearly All of Oahu!
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is large enough to include two volcanoes, so you know this is a big place. Here’s how it sizes up:
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park → 505 Square Miles
The Island of Hawaii → 4,000 Square Miles
The Island of Oahu → 597 Square Miles.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is on the Island of Hawaii, but it’s amazing to me that the park is about the size of nearby Oahu. In fact, if you could pick up Oahu and move it east, it would almost fit inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
This shows not only how large Hawaii Island is compared to the other Hawaii islands, but also how much exploration is available within the park!
There are Multiple Climates Within the Park
Exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park? Dress in layers! There are multiple microclimates within the park, including tropical and desert. But that won’t just affect your wardrobe – it will also affect what you see throughout the parks.
The diverse climates make way for diverse ecosystems. During one drive, you may see sparse shrubs on dry landscapes and lush ferns growing thick in the rainforest.
The Park Sees Over a Million Visitors Each Year
Are you visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park? If so, you’re one in a million! That’s right, over a million people visit the park each year, with attendance peaking at 2 million in 1983, 1984, and 2017.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park a Backpacker’s Paradise
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has many backcountry hiking trails that traverse across the varied volcanic and tropical landscapes. You can reserve shelters and cabins, if you’re an experienced hiker up for a 10+ mile trek.
Day Hikes Abound
Not much for an overnight hike? There are so many options for day hiking in the parks. Choose a paved, 1-mile walk through Devastation Trail, or choose the challenging descent to the floor of Kīlauea Iki crater.
HAWAII TRAVEL TIP: One of our favorite hikes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is Thurston Lava Tube, a moderate 1.5-mile walk through a rainforest cave. The parking for Thurston (Nāhuku) is along Crater Rim Drive.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is Pele’s Home
If you’ve studied Hawaiian facts, history, or folklore, you’ll recognize this figure. Pele is one of the most talked-about Hawaiian deities, and her handprint is on many of the islands’ most notable locals.
Today, she’s said to live in Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Like the lava that flows from a volcano, Pele destroys and creates, and learning about her may be one of the highlights of your trip to the park.
This is Where it Snows in Hawaii
Many people are surprised to discover that it snows in Hawaii! The summit of Mauna Loa and nearby Mauna Kea get snowy once a year or so.
The Park Holds A Lot of History
Early Hawaiians lived in the regions within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for centuries. They lived, worshiped, and farmed on the land. When Western missionaries arrived in Hawaii in the 1800s, they lived in and visited the area. This was also when Western settlers and Hawaiian Paniolo worked on Kahuku.
Later, in the early 1900s, Buffalo Soldiers constructed a trail to the summit of Mauna Loa, which helped foster research and tourism in the area. Before that, few scientists and tourists could reach the summit because the land was so rugged.
After the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Kilauea Military Camp served as an internment camp, holding about 100 Japanese residents. During this time of World War II, the camp was also transformed from a recreational facility into a military headquarters and staging ground.
The historical facts about Hawaii National Parks always intrigue me because they show this is more than just plants, animals, and lava. This is where people have lived and worked. Long before I stepped on a hiking trail, the land was used for everyday life. And as the landscape changed, so did the communities.
Your Vacation to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Now that you know the top facts about Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, it’s time to visit and see it yourself. Whether you’ve come to the parks before or this is your first visit, we’d love to help make your vacation full of discovery and adventure (without any hassle!).
Give Hawaii Aloha Travel a call – soon, you’ll be discovering your own unique facts about Hawaii Volcanoes National Park!
