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| Hiking | 3.86 Miles |
760 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.86 Miles | 2 Hrs 1 Min | | 1.91 mph |
| 760 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | On our drive up, we would start debating doing the hike this afternoon or tomorrow AM. We kept an eye on the continual change in the forecast. As it turned out, depsite overcast skies and wind, we went for it. It was 4PM and our goal was to be done by 6, so that we would have plenty of light. When we got out of the truck, it was nippy so we all changed to pants from our shorts.
In November 14, 1959, the Kilauea Iki crater cracked into a half-mile long fissure and, over the next five weeks and 17 eruptions, spewed out enough lava to fill half of the crater you see today with molten rock. At its most dramatic point, lava exploded 1,900 feet in the air(!!!), the tallest eruption in Hawaii’s history. By December 20, 1959, the eruptions stopped and the remaining lava slowly cooled to form the hardened lava lake you’ll walk on today.
As you start the hike on the Crater Rim Trail, there are occasional gaps in the vegetation so that we could see a view to the faint trail across the hardened lava lake. The people hiking below look like ants, of course. There were others hiking in both directions on this part of the wide rim trail. After about 1/2 mile we reached the Kīlauea Iki Trail which descends pretty rapidly from the rim to get to the crater floor. There are a few switchbacks along the way. This first part of the trail takes you through a dense forest. You hike over some rocks and tree roots. In all, the trail descends about 400 ft. over the course of 6 or 7 switchbacks, depending on how you count.
Once you get to the Kīlauea Iki floor, the trail levels out and really gets interesting. I compared it to hiking on a glacier with all the cracks and upheavals and such. Kilauea Iki is like a suburb of Kilauea.
Now, you are crossing a molten lake of lava formed in 1959, when Kīlauea erupted. In some places, the lava plates have been broken apart and lifted up. To stay on the trail, follow the ahu (stacked rocks), but do not disturb them or build new ones. You can also follow the numbered trail markers; although I didn't realize what they were for at the time. Also, we hiked in a clockwise direction, which I recommend and in this case, the wind was at our backs going across.
There were only about a dozen hikers on the floor with us, going in both directions, but mostly counterclockwise per Forest Service recommendation. Once you get to the far end of the crater, Pu’u Pua’i will be to your left. This hill was formed during the 1959 eruption and the lava that filled the crater came from the vent at the base of this cinder cone. (Gushing Hill), the cinder-and-spatter cone created during a 1959 eruption beside the Kīlauea Iki crater caused by lava fountains that shot 1900 feet in the air.
At the time, I thought it was just a grotto and we almost walked past it.
As you get near the rim, the lava becomes rough and jagged. This is splattered lava that cooled into these chunks of rock. The path narrows considerably so you have to pay attention. From the crater floor, you will hike back up the rim on a steep, short trail with a few sets of stairs. On the west side of Kīlauea Iki, the loop trail begins a steep but very short ascent back out of the crater through a lush green rainforest replete with large and small ferns, moss, trees, and (unfortunately) the invasive Himalayan (kahili) ginger, a fast-spreading plant “so thick that the seeds won’t even get to the ground,” preventing growth of native ʻŌhiʻa Lehua and ferns.
I say that hiking in this direction is easier overall because this short 140-ft. ascent is not all of the elevation gain to get back to the Kīlauea Iki Overlook; rather, it becomes much more spread out as the trail makes its way around the north rim of the crater. This trail, for the most part, is flat, with a few short climbs and descents along the way. It’s a beautiful walk through the forest. There are a few overlooks of the Kīlauea Iki Crater along this part of the hike. It was a thrilling experience. My parents were at the Volcano House in March 1966 and she wrote a letter mentioning Kihlauea.
3:53-5:56PM, TEMP 60.7, 84% humidity, 13 mph wind from the NNE
Next we headed to a friends house at Punualu'u, a black sand beach. Well that was way cool. It was quite the house, but needs lots of reno. We enjoyed the beach, the fire, the cocktails, the entertainment provided by our hostess, hamburgers and the stars. Reminded me much of my way younger days.
Three-part video:
Part 1 [ youtube video ] Kona to the Volcano and start of the hike
Part 2 [ youtube video ] all hike
Part 3 [ youtube video ] and Punua'lu'u Beach |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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