hawaje - big island
Hawaii,  Hawaii,  North America,  Polynesia,  USA

Hawaii – Big Island is getting bigger and bigger…

When I landed at the Kailua Kona airport, located in Hawaiian Big Island, I felt like being a part of Apollo mission. I was surprised that after only 40-minute flight I saw totally different reality.

Hawaje - Big Island

Sandy beaches from O’ahu Island were replaced by rocks and black sand. Lushy, verdant Hawaiian vegetation gave place to the apocalyptic, volcanic landscape which seemed to have no end.

Hawaje - Big Island

The culprit of this is Kilauea – one of the most active volcanoes on earth. At first sight it looks inconspicuously because on the contrary to other volcanoes it has a flat, wide cone and its eruption isn’t vertical.

Hawaje - Big Island

Kilauea’s eruption goes through two rift valleys. From these fissures in the earth’s crust, magma flows.

Hawaje - Big Island

Kilauea’s eruption started in 1983 and the volcano is still active. It constantly extends the area of Big Island.

Hawaje - Big Island

In 2014 increased volcanic activity threatened small town – Pahoa, located on eastern side of the island.

Hawaje - Big Island

Driving the road no. 137 along the eastern coast of Big Island one can see interesting black sand beaches and typical, monotonous, post-volcanic scenery.

Hawaje - Big Island

Due to the volcanic activity, the road ends on makeshift car park. From this point you can go for a walk across the lava desert to the New Kaimu beach, known also as Coconut Beach.

Hawaje - Big Island

Hawaje - Big Island

What’s more interesting, some people live here, in the middle of black, barren lava field. Estates on Hawaii are very expensive except Pahoa surroundings. So if you want to move to Hawaii and you are short of money, here’s the offer: detached house on the active volcanic area without electricity and running water but with full panorama of volcanic area. Just take a look…

Hawaje - Big Island

Hawaje - Big Island

Houses are located very close to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park where above mentioned Kilauea volcano is situated.

Hawaje - Big Island

But it’s not the end… Kilauea is actually a volcano in volcano. Inside you can see Halema’uma’u crater which is its most active part.

Hawaje - Big Island

Kilauea isn’t the only one attraction in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Close to the crater you see steaming Sulphur banks.

Hawaje - Big Island

Hawaje - Big Island

Nearby sulphur banks is viewing platform, which apart from being a good vantage point it’s a place where you can feel the heat coming from the ground.

Hawaje - Big Island

Hawaje - Big Island

A little bit farther form the volcano on so called Crater Rim Drive you can visit Thurston Lava Tube – a cave which was formed by magma flow.

Hawaje - Big Island

The path to this place is very surprising because it’s the only place where you can see verdant vegetation for a change. 

Hawaje - Big Island

Crater Rim Drive crosses with Chain of Craters Road, which leads across post-volcanic scenery to the coast.

Hawaje - Big Island

Hawaje - Big Island

Practical info:

Admission to the park costs 10$ per car (ticket is valid 7 days). Car is necessary to see everything as attractions are located in a quite long distance from one another.

Hawaje - Big Island

 

Who I am... I'm just an ordinary girl, who once believed that dreams come true, and since then, I’ve been pursuing them consistently. My adventure with travelling started in 2008 and since then, I've seen a lot of interesting places which I describe on my blog. I’m interested in the history and culture of the countries that I visit and that’s why I travel as much as I can. However, in addition to the preservation of my memories, the main purpose of the blog is to show you that dreams come true and you can travel often and cheap!

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