getting up at 7 …goin there …walking off the race…8miles? and make it back to banquet at 6 sun nite…i dont think i should go tues or wed before race? thank u
Yes, you would have time. An 8 mile walk the day after? Not sure about that. Drive to the best overlooks and do wimpy little strolls. You’ll see plenty. Won’t be able to view the volcano spout in to the Ocean at night though. Next time.
When I was there in December 2 years ago they hadn’t had lava flowing in an accessible area for quite some time, so you may want to check with the park closer your arrival and see if there is any active lava flow. Even if there is lava now(I haven’t checked), there may not be by then. We still had a good time at the park, plenty of stuff to see for one day, but no flowing lava. I was kind of disappointed.
You need to be there when it is dark. You can only see the lava at night. It’s definitely worth the trip down. It’s quite a drive with pretty much nothing in between, make sure you’ve got a full tank of gas. On the way, there is a little town with a run-down, old movie theater on the right. It has a little sandwich shop in the front that has the best lunch I’ve ever had. I hope it’s still there. That’s one of my best memories from the trip! Oh, if you’re talking about the hike out on the fresh lava down by the ocean, it’s some ridiculously tough hiking for the day after the Ironman. I’d do it again, though! Have fun.
We stopped there, too, when we went to the volcanoes a couple of years ago. Very friendly couple owns the sandwich shop. In case you do stop, be aware the shop is very much on island time…no fast food there. And the drive back seems to take twice as long as the drive there.
Even if you don’t see the vulcano “river” the vulcano park is worth the trip.
I was thinking about doing the same thing last year, but when I woke up, I just didn’t feel like it. Went to McDonalds instead and then two hours later went to the Lava Java place and had a really good vanilla milkshake.
Just got back from Kona two weeks ago and yes we did the volcano and not to be a jerk it was a huge dissapointment. They had major activity starting a few months ago so all but about 2 miles of the 11 mile volcano rim road are closed because of high Sulfur Dioxide levels. Those two miles you can access will get you a view of the crater from about 4-5 miles away (at my best guess). It looks like a steamy hole in the ground and thats about it. After that we went to one of the steam vents which was interesting but not worth the 2+ hour car trip and then the lava tube which was again cool but super short. We then drove the road down the side of the volcano down to sea level which end at nothing. Just some port o potties. It was cool to see the lava fields up close but dude your in Kona you can find lava fields much closer than that to walk through.
As an alternate suggestion I would say make a small 1/2 day trip to south point - The southern most point in the US. It was pretty cool and if you are up for a 2-3 mile off road hike you will get to a green sand beach. We couldnt get to the beach b/c of my daughter (2.5 years old) but hear its pretty cool. Plus there is a wind turbine farm there and I think those are FREAKING SICK!
But to re-emphasize what others have said leave with a full tank. That drive is not easy and will eat up your gas. We left with half a tank thinking no big deal and when I was LEAVING the park the gas light came on and I was panicked for about 20 minutes looking for gas. I felt like Kramer in that seinfeld episode just pushing the car another mile.
Hope that helps.
I think the conclusion is:
- Yes, you have time for a trip.
- Check just before the trip; the vulcano activity is constantly changing.
When I raced there in '07 I went all in and planned out the tributes. There’s an older article in Triathlete mag that details (~2004?) but the basics are tributes to the King, legend has it he likes cigars and gin. To the Queen flowers and to the god Pele something personal or food? On the volcano at acceptable sites only is best I learned.
I did the King and Queen offerings in town easily and early, funny to see little airline bottles and smoke wrappers emptied about the statue, but didn’t do the Volcano Park trip with the Fam. before the race. If you believe in curses, well I was eaisily snorkeling in calm waters Wednesday before the Race and an odd swell picked me up and threw me onto a large lava/coral outcrop. Gashed open my right palm. After fair blood loss (Important for performance I’ve heard) and glueing at the emergency room, I declined stitches, it seemed Pele may have gotten revenge. I did race and finished but was slowed on the swim and on the bike liquid handoffs.
It could have been worse, like sole of the foot . . .
If I ever get back to Kona to race I"M going (appeasing Pele) BEFORE Sat.
Yes very doable. One year when I was there. I drove over there early in the week with another person doing IMH for 1st time to check it out. I took my bike along & rode the 11 mile loop around the top. It was really neat doing it on a bike as appreciated the smeels & scenery more than when in the car. Plus the winds were really howling so was a real eye opener for the other person.
My family few over later for the race & we did it again the day after the race before awards banquet. Drove down the road to the bottom to walk along the path to where it gobbled up the houses. I did that rather gingerly while my kids gallopped ahead.
Barb
We have been going to the Big Island for 15 years and the one constant is that the Volcano is always changing. Last October we were treated to a great show with the glow accessible in the Halemaumau Crater (which began erupting in March 2008) just outside the Thomas Jaeger Museum. Pulled in the parking lot, walked 60 yards and pow there it was. We went around 4:30pm and the vog was flowing freely from the crater, at twilight the smoke looked almost mauve in color and when it got dark the glow was red fire and was easy to see. My wife took 100’s of awesome pictures. Other times the flow was a long, hot walk and yet other times no visible flow. There are tons of other things to do in the park - walk through Thurston Lava Tube, a hike through Sulfur Springs, Kilauea Iki Trail - a 4 mile loop trail that takes you across one of the old craters**,** the park is one of the most unique areas in the world with a flow going on over 27+ years.
Your best be is to call the number below and it will tell you what the flow conditions are.
Kilauea Daily Update Message
ph#(808) 967-8862
Chris Lawrence
we did the volcano park the next day and was disapointed, skip it and go to the capt cook bay? we went and swam with a pod of 50 wild dolphens!!!, definitly the way to go and relax post IM.
+1. We did the same thing on the advice of a local. Lots of quality time with the dolphins (rent snorkelling gear in town).