Lava Flow at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Eleven minutes drive east is the Keanakakoi Overlook on Crater Rim Drive Road, where you can see the new eruption (ask the park ranger where it is erupting today). Devastation Trail, a one-mile out-and-back trail, also has views of current eruption.
Four minutes east of these hikes is Thurston Lave Tube, which is next to the trailhead of the Kilauea Iki Trail. Kids love the lava tube! Bring flashlights.
It is a thirty minute drive down Chain of Craters Road to Puuloa Petroglyphs Trail and Holei Sea Arch.
If you're hungry, check out Volcano's Lava Rock Cafe for breakfast or lunch on Sunday, or lunch and dinner Tues-Sat. We had great omelettes there. It's only four minutes drive away.
45 minutes drive away in Pahoa, check out Lava Tree State Park and the Maku'u Farmers Market in Pahoa. The Pahoa Lava Zone Museum is a great place to learn more about the incredible 2018 lava flow (open daily 11-5). There are many cafes, coffee shops, and an organic market near the museum.
Here are some webcam images of current conditions.
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Prior to May 2018, the lava was flowing from the Pu'u O'o cone, which collapsed on the last day of April 2018.
One of the most rare and beautiful sights I've seen in my life was the Pu'u 'O'o lava flow on a good night in July 2006. We were lucky that the flow was particularly good that day. Driving down Chain of Craters Road in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, we were delighted to see two plumes of smoke rising above the ocean where the hot lava was meeting the ocean. Once we arrived at the end of the road, we walked the paved section until we came to the end of the street, where lava from the 2003 eruption covered the road! It was a great photo opportunity. A little further on there was a No Parking sign, almost wholly engulfed by lava.
Yellow markers indicated the safest route over the lava. We kept clear of the areas near the ocean because these "benches" can collapse and at least one tourist has fallen to his death into the hot water. Once the yellow markers end, we were on our own and had to make our own path over the lava. I Was glad we at least did the first half of the hike in the early evening when it was still light. It was dreadful hiking over little hills of glass-sharp lava rock at night on the way back.
There were eight markers- little white poles with flashing lights. We hiked to the third marker because we were told by others that the view was great from there, and it was true! The third marker was two miles in. Once there, we sat on the rocks and watched the spectacle! On the mountain above us, thin rivers of red glowing lava were flowing down. Then at the ocean's edge, red lava was shooting up as it hit the water, creating orange displays amongst the smoke plume. With binoculars, we could see the lava falling into the sea. Wow!
The hike back in the dark was horrendous- I was glad we hadn't gone as far as the eighth marker. The conditions were perfect to twist your ankle. For hours, we navigated mounds of shiny lava rock. The flashlight lit up the little sparkles in the rock making it hard to see the contours of the rock. I was glad to have a hunky guy to hold my hand!
It was well worth it though. What a rare and magical experience.
We were glad we brought a flashlight each and plenty of water to drink, and that we wore good hiking shoes and long pants- the lava rock was sharp as glass.

Lava Flow at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

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