South then Northeast then Northwest then West and then back to Waikoloa Trip
This is a long trip and bringing road food may not be a bad idea.
. We'll make an early morning run to the south to have breakfast at the Clover and Mug. Next, we'll visit the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. From here we'll drive around the southern end of the island to the Black Sand Beach. Next is Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
After visiting the park, we head back to Waikoloa via the Saddle Road.
Keauhou Shopping Center for Breakfast
78-6831 Ali‘i Dr #232, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Our plan for today's trip is to first stop and the Clover and Mug for breakfast. It's right on the way to our first stop and opens up before the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park aka GG NHP
Highway 160, Hōnaunau, HI 96726
Free with Senior Pass Open 8:15 AM–Sunset
This is one of the most beautiful sites on Hawaii. The website below describes it better than I can.
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau City of Refuge (explore-the-big-island.com)
Also, please accept my apologize for using an abbreviation for this park. We started calling this "grumpy guys" park because we could not remember or pronounce the name, but Nancy and I could use "grumpy guys" park and know exactly to what we were referring. There is no intended slight on our part. We love this park.
Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park
Hwy 11, Island Of Hawaii, HI 96777
Open 6:00 am to 11:00 pm daily.
Located between Pahala and Naalehu on the southeastern Kaʻu coast, you will discover Punaluu Black Sand Beach. This is one of the most renowned Black Sand Beaches in the Hawaiian islands; distinguished for its aqueous geology, basaltic beauty, endangered species of wildlife and Hawaiian history. As the Kaʻu side of the island is exposed to strong ocean currents, it isn’t always the best conditions for swimming, but it is a sightseer’s dream.
The Lava Tree Molds
Hwy 11, Island Of Hawaii, HI 96777
Open 6:00 am to 11:00 pm daily.
Frozen in time, lava trees commemorate trees that once stood in the path of encroaching lava. As molten lava moves across the landscape during an eruption, it may gather around the trunks of trees. Though it ultimately destroys the living plant, the flow leaves behind a hardened sculpture. These columns of cooled lava give us an idea of what was there previously, though the forest that once existed is gone.
The Lava Rock Cafe
19-3972 Old Volcano Rd. Volcano, HI 96785
Sunday: 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Monday: Closed
Tues-Sat: 11:30 am - 8:00 pm
This unique mom and pop cafe' sits nestled within an Ohi'a and Bamboo forest just a mile outside of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Visitors and residents choose Lava Rock Cafe as their favorite diner because of its affordable prices and kid friendly menu.
Known to serve both quality interpretations of classic dishes and a fusion variety of Hawaiian Style and pacific cuisine, Lava Rock Cafe is a perfect experience for travelers with varying tastes. Not to mention, their Volcano Wines and Local Beers add to a relaxing evening atmosphere that boasts live entertainment.
Being Hawai'i's original home of Liliko'i Passion Fruit Butter, items of particular honorary mention involve their Liliko'i salad dressing and their delicious Liliko'i Cheesecake. Be sure to ask your server about Lava Rock Cafe's other delicious home baked deserts & specials!
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The visitor center is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm 7-days a week except for national holidays.
For information about the Kahuku visitors center, check Basic Information - Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) Currently it's closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Both visitor centers are closed on January 20, 2025 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday
We should get up to the Volcanoes National Park around 12:00 pm. We'll probably spend about 4 hours in the park and then head back to Waikoloa via Hilo and the Saddle Road.
With stops this will be at least a 12-hour day.
The following description of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is taken from the website:
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Visitors Guide (explore-the-big-island.com)
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the most popular attraction in Hawaii and should be considered a "must visit" on your tour of the Big Island. The Park is like no other place on earth.
The cornerstone of the Park is the active Kilauea Volcano. Imagine standing on the summit of the most active volcano on earth. Hike into Kilauea Iki, the volcanic crater which was recently a lake of oozing lava. Witness steam vents, sulphur banks, lava tubes, historic lava flows, thick and lush rainforest, and raw coastline that continues to expand.
The entrance and the Kilauea Visitor Center are located on Highway 11, a little over two hours from Kailua-Kona and approximately 45 minutes from Hilo. The Park is open 24 hours a day all year and it's free with your Senior Pass. The focus of the park is, of course, the Kilauea Volcano, the general study of volcanoes, and the magnificent rainforest.
Just past the entrance to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the road to your left leads to the Kilauea Iki Overlook, Thurston Lava Tube, and Chain of Craters Road. Keep that in mind for later, as we recommend continuing straight to the Visitor Center for a nice overview of the park, maps, current conditions, hiking trails, plus interesting exhibits highlighting various geological, environmental and historical features of the Big Island.
Steam Vents and Sulphur Banks
Less than a mile past the visitor center on the left is Steam Vents. Stop here to witness how ground water seeps down through cracks in the surface lava, meets hot subsurface volcanic rock and returns to the surface as steam. Looking around, note how void the area is of trees. The ground only a few feet below the surface is too hot for trees to survive.
Thurston Lava Tube
Heading back toward the Park entrance, turn right onto Crater Rim Drive right before the entrance station. In a little over 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) you will come to Thurston Lava Tube on the left side of the road.
Thurston Lava Tube (Nahuku) is a stunning example of a historic lava flow. A lava tube is a sort of cave formed during an eruption when the thicker and slower moving lava flow on the surface cools and begins to form a hard outer shell. After the faster moving lava underneath has passed through, what is left is a tunnel or tube. Make a point of stopping here; it's an easy walk and well worth your time.
Chain of Craters Road
A couple of miles past the Thurston Lava Tube, Crater Rim Road meets Chain of Craters Road. Turn left and follow the road as it winds across a dramatic landscape of old lava flow and dry lava lake craters. Chain of Craters Road ends abruptly after 18 miles, along the coast near Holei Sea Arch where the lava flow from the Pu'u 'Ō'ō vent of the Kilauea Volcano crosses the road.
Kilaeua Iki Trail
Heading back toward the Park entrance, our favorite hike in the Park is the four mile Kilauea Iki loop. This spectacular hike drops to the lava lake bed at the bottom of the massive Kilauea Iki crater, still steaming from activity far below the surface.
Even if you aren’t up for a hike, stop at the Kilauea Iki overlook to enjoy the marvelous view of the crater, with Mauna Loa towering far in the distance.
Mauna Ulu Trail
Mauna Ulu is another great place to explore, a few miles farther down Chain of Craters Road from Kilauea Iki. This short hike brings you to the top of the Mauna Ulu volcanic cone, where one of the longest known rift zone eruptions of Kilauea took place between 1969 and 1974.
Volcano Village Restaurants
If you need gas or a snack before getting back on the road, the quaint village of Volcano, Hawaii is just 2 miles north. Check our Volcano Restaurants page for a list of area dining establishments. Enjoy your visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park!
Return from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to Big Island Volcanoes Page
The Saddle Road
2-198 Rainbow Dr, Hilo, Hi 96720
(808) 587-0400
Saddle Road, also known as State Route 200, is a 54-mile stretch of road which connects the east and west sides of the Big Island of Hawaii. It lies between the "saddle" of two of Hawaii’s largest mountains, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.
The road was constructed in 1942 by the Department of the Army to provide access to the largest military training facility in the state, the Bradshaw Army Airfield. It also offers the shortest route to travel from one side of the island to the other at just a little over an hour and half.
The thoroughfare started out as a one-lane rough road which was widened and paved over the years. However, the below par improvements and poor maintenance made Saddle Road one of the most dangerous highways in the state because it had many rough areas including nasty curves and risky rises. In fact, there are several small crosses along the road that are believed to serve as memorials for the people who have died while traversing the infamous road. For a time, many car rental companies also forbid use of their cars on Saddle Road due to its bad condition.
The Federal Highway Administration, Central Federal Lands Highway Division (FHWA) and the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) have since joined hands in improving Saddle Road which has now become a popular route especially among the adventurous. The road offers diverse scenic landscapes such as dried lava flows, rolling grasslands, desert-like fields and lush rainforests. Apart from access to the slopes of Mauna Loa and the observatories atop Mauna Kea, there are also trailheads that lead to several hiking trails.