
PARK LOCATION
Explore the Park


Hiking and Trails
Begin your adventure at Jaggar Museum to view the great summit crater of Kīlauea, then explore Crater Rim Trail to the Kīlauea Iki trailhead. Chain of Craters Road will take you over successive years of lava flows and terminate at the start of the coastal trail to the 61g lava flow.

Park Wildlife
Keep your ears and eyes open for a flock of the iconic nēnē—they call when they fly. The nēnē is the only Hawaiian goose, and is the official state bird. This World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, with its lush tree fern and ʻōhiʻa lehua forest, is alive with the sound of ʻapapane birds foraging in the canopy.

PARK LOCATION
EXPLORE THE PARK

Hiking and Trails
Begin your adventure at Jaggar Museum to view the great summit caldera of Kīlauea, then explore Crater Rim Trail to the Kīlauea Iki trailhead. Chain of Craters Road will take you over successive years of lava flows and terminates at the start of the coastal trail to the 61g lava flow.

ʻIke hana Noʻeau
Frequent ʻIke Hana Noʻeau cultural and crafting workshops enhance the visitor center experience, and the yearly Cultural Festival and BioBlitz is not to be missed. Make sure to catch the bi-monthly After Dark in the Park series featuring researchers, dance performances and local musicians.

Park Wildlife
Keep your ears and eyes open for a flock of the iconic nēnē—they call when they fly. The nēnē is the only remaining Hawaiian goose species, and is the official state bird. This World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve with its lush tree fern and ʻōhiʻa lehua forest, is alive with the sound of ʻapapane birds foraging in the canopy.

Hiking and Trails
NPS guided hikes are scheduled year around, and there are also self-guided trails. Guided hikes for 2017 included: People and Land of Kahuku, 'Ōhi'a Lehua, Hi'iaka & Pele. Palm Trail is a moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop traversing scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. Pu‘u o Lokuana is a short, moderately difficult 0.4-mile hike to the top of the grassy cinder cone, Pu‘u o Lokuana.

Cultural Events
We partner with the park on ʻIke Hana Noʻeau “Experience the Skillful Work” cultural demonstrations that are free to all. Join NPS and HPPA staff to learn how to weave lauhala (pandanus leaf) into bracelets and bookmarks, stamp cloth with a carved bamboo stamper in the traditional Hawaiian style, and more. Check wit visitor center staff to find the current schedule of offerings.

Park Biodiversity
Kahuku was a ranch until relatively recently, and park staff are still working to restore the native forest landscape in the most promising areas. There are no land animals native to Hawaiʻi, so for Kahuku, the return of the forest will mean the return of native forest birds such as the deep red ʻapapane and crimson ʻiʻiwi. Kahuku is also known for variations in the color of the iconic, and usually scarlet, ʻōhiʻa lehua blossom. Look for the blossom color variations in salmon, yellow, and orange.
Explore Kahuku


Hiking and Trails
NPS guided hikes are scheduled year around, and there are also self-guided trails. Guided hikes for 2017 included: People and Land of Kahuku, 'Ōhi'a Lehua, Hi'iaka & Pele. Palm Trail is a moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop traversing scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. Pu‘u o Lokuana is a short, moderately difficult 0.4-mile hike to the top of the grassy cinder cone, Pu‘u o Lokuana.

Park Biodiversity
Kahuku was a ranch until relatively recently, and park staff are still working to restore the native forest landscape in the most promising areas. There are no land animals native to Hawaiʻi, so for Kahuku, the return of the forest will mean the return of native forest birds such as the deep red ʻapapane and crimson ʻiʻiwi. Kahuku is also known for variations in the color of the iconic, and usually-scarlet ʻōhiʻa lehua blossom. Look for the lehua blossom in salmon, yellow, and orange.
Park Features
Hover to Discover
This park has two active volcanoes. Kīlauea has been continuously erupting for over thirty years. Mauna Loa has not erupted since 1984 but has shown signs of unrest in recent years.
The extremely rare and critically endangered honuʻea (hawksbill sea turtle) nests on the protected shoreline of the park.
Kīlauea is currently erupting in two areas: the summit, and in the volcano’s East Rift Zone.
Attentive naturalists may catch sight of the jewel-like iridescent koa bug, which is found on the native tree of the same name, and is only found in Hawaiʻi.
Most visitors to the park readily notice ʻapapane, the deep red, black, and white forest bird foraging in the forest around the summit.
The ʻōhiʻa lehua tree is the keystone species of Hawaiian forests, and supports numerous native bird and insect species.