| Hawaii is famous for many things. For the most | | | | cuts off the roads to tourist activity. |
| part, it is the food and the beaches, but another | | | | For another look at how much damage a volcano |
| area of the islands that you will want to be sure | | | | can do, take the journey down Devastation Trail. |
| to see is the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. | | | | It is only a short walk of about 30 minutes, but it |
| There is no place like it in the United States and | | | | leads you past an area that saw volcanic activity |
| after seeing any part of the 500 square miles of | | | | about 50 years ago. It is actually still a little difficult |
| space that it occupies, you will realize how | | | | to breathe there and those with breathing or |
| incredible these volcanoes are. | | | | heart problems are advised to stay away to |
| While volcanoes are not as active as they once | | | | avoid any difficulties. |
| were, they are still letting people know that they | | | | Hiking is obviously a big part of the enjoyment of |
| are around on occasion. There are still two active | | | | this area. Walking the grounds is the best way to |
| volcanoes in Hawaii and activity has happened as | | | | check things out because you can see up close |
| recently as about 2 years ago. If you are feeling | | | | how beautiful some of these creations are and |
| your oats and choose to walk close to the lava, | | | | how devastating the volcanoes have been over |
| you will feel a heat that is almost unbearable and | | | | the years. They may look beautiful, but you do |
| will quickly realize how much damage this liquid fire | | | | not want to be around when they get angry. |
| can do. | | | | Thurston Lava Tube is another trail that you may |
| If you are interested in passing by the two | | | | want to check out. It is a fairly comfortable walk |
| volcanoes that are still active, you will have to go | | | | of about 4 miles that takes you into the |
| see either Kilauea or Mauna Loa. Mauna Loa is a | | | | rainforest. The path winds up at Kilauea Iki Trail |
| massive structure of 13,677 feet high and is | | | | where you can stare into the heart of a |
| absolutely breathtaking. Kilauea is the one that is | | | | streaming crater. It is quite impressive and |
| more active and likes to let people know that it is | | | | something that you would be hard pressed to see |
| still around more often than not. This is actually | | | | anywhere else. |
| where the underwater Ring of Fire is located and | | | | When your day is coming to an end or at the |
| made up of several of these volcanoes in the | | | | very beginning, you would be well served to stop |
| area. | | | | off at either the Jagger Museum or the Hawaiian |
| Now just because these volcanoes are active, | | | | Volcano Observatory. Both of them will give you |
| they have not truly erupted like the Halema'uma'u | | | | a little extra knowledge about the area and help |
| did in March of 2008. This was a massive spewing | | | | you better understand everything that you are |
| of gas and ash that covered some 70 acres of | | | | about to see or have seen during your journey. |
| the island. To this day, the lava still streams and | | | | |