Discover the Top 12 Fascinating Fun Facts About Hawaii Volcanoes National Park!

1. Pele's Fiery Tantrums

When Pele throws a tantrum, the neighborhood should watch out: Hawaii's Mauna Loa experienced a series of eruptions between 1916 and 1926, with the 1916 eruption creating a massive steam plume visible from Kilauea's summit and subsequent SWRZ eruptions causing destruction to coastal villages. Had these events occurred today, Highway 11 would have been cut off, reminding us all that living on a volcanic island is no joke.
Source => usgs.gov

2. Party at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Knock, knock! Who's there? Kilauea and Mauna Loa, bringing some fiery fiesta vibes to a park like no other: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, an International Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, bursts with incredible landscapes from sea level to 13,680 feet, showcasing active volcanoes, scenic drives, and a wealth of Hawaiian culture and history.
Source => nps.gov

Discover how Mauna Loa, the massive Hawaiian volcano, plays a real-life game of "hot lava" with its alternating eruption patterns since 1200 CE. Be amazed by nature's version of your favorite childhood pastime! 💥🌋✨

=> Fun Facts about Mauna-Loa

3. Kilauea's Real Estate Boom

Talk about a real estate boom with some serious heat: The Pu‘u‘ō‘ō eruption, which started in 1983, has been Kīlauea Volcano's longest and most massive lava outpouring in over 500 years, spanning 144 km2, and creating 177 hectares of brand-new land in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Source => usgs.gov

4. Lava-loving Hikes in the Park

If you're fed up with dull hikes and want to "lava" little fun, look no further than the mesmerizing geological marvel that is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: boasting over 150 miles of volcanic trails, visitors can experience Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, making a hair appointment – in the form of Pele's hair, lightweight volcanic glass fragments – thanks to Fissure 8's lava fountain, all while ensuring they keep a safe distance from the heated process and hazardous zones.
Source => usgs.gov

5. Lava Tube Underground Railroad

Who needs GPS when you have lava tubes as your underground railroad: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park boasts the world's longest lava tube cave, the Kazumura, stretching over 40 miles (65 km) and offering more than just a sneaky tunnel. With a thriving ecosystem featuring exclusive cricket and spider species, plus being vital to Native Hawaiians for shelter, food storage, and water, it's a real multi-purpose marvel – but remember, some areas are sacred no-go zones, so save your spelunking for other parts of the park!
Source => nps.gov

6. Mauna Loa's Surprise Parties

Mauna Loa, the notorious lava-churning machine, is like the extroverted sibling who seizes every opportunity for a surprise party – with a volcanic twist: As one of the world's most active and largest subaerial volcanoes, Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843, stands tall at 13,678 feet, but graciously avoids crashing Kailua-Kona's soirees thanks to the strategic placement of Hualālai volcano which deflects its lava flows.
Source => usgs.gov

7. Chasing Molten Magic in the Park

Feeling hot, hot, hot: but lava won't always be the friend you want to visit at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, erupts periodically, and the park is open 24/7 to let you catch a glimpse of the molten magic - but keep in mind, flowing lava sightings are not guaranteed, so always check with those wise park rangers for the latest volcanic gossip before you embark on your fiery adventure.
Source => hawaii-guide.com

8. Jaggar Museum's Fiery Farewell

Talk about a volcanic reaction: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park's beloved Jaggar Museum and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory bid a fiery farewell in 2018 thanks to Kīlauea's eruption! This not-so-subtle eruption led to the eventual demolition of the museum, which had housed important volcano science and Hawaiian culture artifacts for 96 years.
Source => nps.gov

9. Dr. Jaggar's Volcanic Love Affair

Calling Dr. Jaggar, Kīlauea's love doctor: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park once housed the Jaggar Museum, a romantic liaison between geology and originality, named after pioneering heartthrob volcanologist Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar. This steamy love affair, however, was left in ruins when the fiery heart of Kīlauea erupted in 2018, forcing a demolition and breakup of epic proportions.
Source => nps.gov

10. Mother Nature's Lava Fountain Show

Get ready for the biggest, baddest, and splashiest water show on Earth - only it's not water, but molten rock! Mother Nature unleased her fiery version of a Vegas fountain spectacular: Kīlauea Iki's eruption in 1959-60 featured the highest lava fountains of the 20th century - peaking at a jaw-dropping 1,900 feet during Episode 15 on December 17. This sizzling geologic display at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park still has visitors gushing (much like the lava once did).
Source => usgs.gov

11. Observatory Staff vs. Molten Makeover

Mauna Loa's molten makeovers were no lava-ing matter for the Observatory staff back in 1984, turning them into real-life volcano whisperers: They heroically tackled a volcanic eruption, preserving the Observatory's functionality while managing 220 x 106 m3 of lava, receiving a NOAA Special Act award for their exceptional service amidst the fiery chaos.
Source => gml.noaa.gov

12. Kilauea's Decade-long Lava Party

Who knew Kilauea was in it for the long haul, like a determined marathon runner competing for fun and lava? For a whole decade, it played host to an uninvited lava lake party: From 2008 to 2018, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park witnessed one of the longest continuous volcanic eruptions in history at Kilauea's summit, complete with lava overflow and pressure fluctuations in the magmatic system.
Source => usgs.gov