The spectacular and lava flow from Kilauea at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is highly visible again. We took this photo recently from our time on board NCL Pride of America. Madame Pele could not have been more sensational. Experiencing the current lava show is simply an unforgettable experience you should not miss.
We’ll be sharing our updated review soon on NCL Pride of America. While we love adventure, this time we opted for luxury instead of a grueling 8 hour hike over lava fields. We’ll return shortly on foot to report to you on that experience.
Cruising to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Pride of America
On Tuesday night after leaving Hilo, we sailed down the coastline and by 9:45pm had arrived within a few miles of prime viewing as you can see in the above Beat of Hawaii photo. According to sources, Pride of America will continue this route as long as there is optimal viewing. Almost everyone on board was outside on the starboard side of the ship causing the captain to readjust water in the hold to keep the ship balanced. A Hawaiian Interpreter on on board provided a moving account of Pele as we all watched, listened and smelled her power.
Hiking to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Lava Flow
Highway 130 has been opened for lava viewing since late June. If you choose to visit, here are some important things to keep in mind:
1. Trail is open from 3pm to 9pm daily, with the last entrance at 8:30pm.
2. Hike is over 8 miles round trip from the highway. Lava flow can be seen throughout the hike.
3. Trail to the lava flow is unpaved and visitors should be prepared for a challenging hike including rough walking, heat, rain, dust, etc.
4. Bring a flashlight for the return in dark conditions.
5. Restrooms are limited and there is no potable water. Bring adequate water.
6. Park interpreters are available at mile marker 24.5 near the park gate. Security guards along the route are also available for questions.
7. Be prepared for a crowd. As many as 3,500 people have shown up on a single day.
Things to Do at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
A visitor center just inside the park entrance has displays, videos and information. Open 9 to 5 daily. It’s a great first stop for questions on hiking, ranger activities, and current conditions.
The Volcano Art Center is located in the Volcano House Hotel which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Also see the Thomas A. Jagger Museum, on Crater Rim Drive for exhibits and a view of the Halemaumau steam vent.
Drive the Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road.
There are alternatives to either hiking or a week-long Hawaii cruise. Local small boat based lava tours are available at a cost of about $200-$250 per person. We’ll check these out and report further.
art says
Glad to see that you took the NCL Cruise. I took the same cruise a little over a year ago, about 4 months after it was refurbished. The ship was great and a very nice staff. The food was great, we upgraded to their plan to use the upgraded restaurants instead of the basic restaurants, we heard a lot of complaints from others that they were disappointed with the basic restaurants.
The other thing that really disappointed me is, I like to do landscape photography and was looking forward to photographing the POLY COAST line on the last day, so we got a balcony stateroom and were told when booking that the ship would go up the coast on one side then turn around and go back down the coast on the other side so that both sides of the ship would get a great view of the coastline. So I setup my camera equipment on the balcony, we were on the Port Side (which the crew told me would be the second side to view the coast line). When we went down the coastline the Starboard side of the ship, we went up top and used our iphone and point ad shoot cameras to get some basic shots.
Then when the ship turned around it did not go down the coast as we had been told but went directly out to sea for the trip to Honolulu. I was upset that I was not able to get good photos of the Poly coast after being told that they would do it on both sides of the ship. I asked one of the officers why they did it that way, and he told me that they always go out to sea on the turn around, he said that you can still see the coast from the Port side its just that you are no longer as close to the shore and it is fading in the distance, but they consider that being able to see the coast from both sides of the ship.
Did you folks notice this same thing on your trip that the ship does not go down the coast on both sides? I find it very disappointing that they tell people that they go down the coast on both sides and must be doing this to sell the balconies on both sides of the ship.
In your review I hope you bring up this poor way of defining how they view the Poly coast line
Beat of Hawaii says
Thanks Art.
That cruise has never “turned around” after the Napali as far as we know (having done it before) but has always gone out to sea gradually from there. Sorry someone (agent or NCL) didn’t explain that to you and we will mention sides of the ship when we next review it. We did find in talking with agents that they weren’t super knowledgeable about certain aspects of the cruise, such as this.
Aloha.
Guy Fowler says
Aloha,
I saw you replied to my email I sent you about a week ago–Thank You. However, just when I saw you had replied–my computer quit. It is back up, but I cannot find your email to me so I can read it.
I don’t know if it is possible or not, but can you please see if you can find it and send it to me again?
Mahalo for your time.
Guy
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Guy.
No problem. This link should get you right to your comment and our reply. https://beatofhawaii.com/hawaiian-airlines-may-be-nearing-pilot-strike/comment-page-4/#comment-23092
Aloha.