Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Near the end of the road, across from the ranger station, is this sea arch. This rugged sec-
tion of the coast has sharply eroded lava cliffs, called Holei Pali, which are constantly be-
ing pounded by the crashing surf. The high rock arch, carved out of one of the cliffs, is
impressive.
End of the Road
LANDMARK
Quite. Chain of Craters Rd ends where the lava says it ends, having swamped this coastal
section repeatedly over the past three decades. In years past, this was the starting point
for hikes to the active flow. There's a simple information board and portable toilets here,
plus a ranger outpost and snack shack that are usually only staffed when the lava is flow-
ing nearby.
When there's no molten lava, this becomes one of the quietest, most dramatic day
hikes in the park. There's no trail per se, just wander into the Mordor-like terrain until the
surging, frozen, oily veins surround you, looking as if they cooled only yesterday.
1
Mauna Loa Rd
If you really want to escape the crowds, explore the 11.5-mile Mauna Loa Rd, which be-
gins off Hwy 11 west of the park entrance. The first turnoff leads to some neglected
lava
tree molds
, deep tube-like apertures formed when a lava flow engulfed the rainforest.
Then, after a mile, there is a picnic area (with toilets) and just beyond this is
Kipukapuaulu (
Click here
)
, known as Bird Park. This unique 100-acre sanctuary protects
an island of ancient forest containing rare endemic plants, insects and birds. About 400
years ago a major Mauna Loa lava flow buried the land here, but Pele split the flow and
saved this small island of vegetation; in Hawaiian these are known as
kipuka
.
An easy 1-mile loop
trail
through the forest makes a very meditative walk, particularly
in the morning, surrounded by birdsong. You'll see lots of koa trees and pass a lava tube
where a unique species of big-eyed spider was discovered in 1973.
About 1.5 miles past Bird Park, Mauna Loa Rd passes another
kipuka
(Kipuka Ki),
and 2 miles later the road narrows to one lane. Go slow; it's winding, with potholes and
lots of blind curves. Along the way are several places to pull over and admire the views,
and trails to explore - it's a wonderful diversion. By the end of the road, you've ascended
to 6662ft; this is the start of the extremely difficult Mauna Loa Trail (
Click here
)
to the
summit. Wander down the trail a few dozen yards for expansive southern vistas that in-
clude the smoking Kilauea Crater far below.
Activities
