There is something mystical about standing at the edge of the Kilauea Caldera, watching wisps of smoke filter up into the air and catching glimpses of red hot lava as it breaches the blackness that covers it. Nothing brings you closer to the power of the Goddess Pele and the majesty of a live volcano. If you vacation on the Big Island of Hawai’i, be sure to take a trip to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park to feel the energy of the volcano for yourself and tour a rainforest that looks like something out of time – if Madame Pele permits.
Dangers at Volcanoes National Park
Pele reminds visitors to Volcanoes National Park to be wary in a variety of ways, as we had occasion to discover when we visited the park in March of 2008. Two days before we were to go on our tour of Volcanoes National Park, there was an explosion in Halema`uma`u crater on Kilauea Volcano. As a result, sections of the park were closed to visitors. We were fortunate that we were still able to access other areas of the park, including parts of Crater Rim Drive. But by the time we returned home to Ontario, Canada, there had been more volcanic activity and the whole park was temporarily closed to visitors.
One of the risks of which to be aware is the risk of exposure to toxic sulfur dioxide (SO2), which spews from the volcano. It is important to check in with the park’s Visitor’s Center to verify where the safe viewing areas are so that you don’t go into any area that is high risk. The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service provides information on SO2 conditions in the park, so it is a good idea to check their page prior to visiting the park to see where there might be problem areas.
