Hawaii (Big Island) Travel Forum

Seeing Lava Flow with Kids
Posted: Mon January 5, 2009 03:58 AM UTC

We have never been to the Big Island and would like to do a day trip on our own. We wanted to take our kids who are 3 and 5 to see the volcanoes and the lava flow during the day and in the evening but after reading different websites, I am scared about taking them. Can anyone give me some advice about this topic. Also are plan was to fly into Hilo get a rental car, see the waterfalls, go to the volcano national park, black sand beach, and what ever else we can squeeze in and fly out of Kona, is this realistic. We would arrive in Hilo at 7:30 am and leave Kona at 7:45pm on Pacific Wings. Any feedback on Pacific Wings? Thank you to all that reply!!

hawaiivac0811

6 replies

[Reply]

Re: Seeing Lava Flow with Kids
Posted: Mon January 5, 2009 04:07 AM UTC

You are right to be scared with children that young on the off chance they do stray from the paths outlined. Consider a helicopter charter to fly over the volcano to see the lava flows as well as all the other beautiful scenery of the coastline.

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Agraichen

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Re: Seeing Lava Flow with Kids
Posted: Mon January 5, 2009 06:08 AM UTC

I think it would be a great idea. Check with the rangers at Volcano National Park before hand to ask where the flows are, safety concerns and access for viewing.

Your day will be full but very make-able in your time period.

Depending on the day, traffic around Kona can get really blacked-up. Don't cut your time to the airport to short. Maybe go into Kona a little earlier and see the Refuge. The traffic shouldn't be to bad going out of town towards the airport.

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sufr54

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Re: Seeing Lava Flow with Kids
Posted: Mon January 5, 2009 07:01 AM UTC

The lava flows are on the SE side of Hilo. Usually there is a viewing platform but from what we were told you are not going to see flowing lava, just the steam and dangerous chemicals that rise with the steam. When we were there in June the viewing platform had been recently lavad (if that is a verb) and they were in the process of setting up a new one. They are not close to the lava for obvious reasons. We did the helicopter trip and it was very cool. I can assure you there was nobody close to the lava flow. For some reason mad scientists are allowed to walk around sometimes. In the evening the show is supposedly fantastic. Also, check the road to black sand beach. I seem to recall that a lava flow had closed it and you could not get to the BSB from Kona. Karl

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Roadquill

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Re: Seeing Lava Flow with Kids
Posted: Mon January 5, 2009 02:15 PM UTC

I would fly in and out of Hilo if I were you. It is a long drive to Kona, and as others have noted, the traffic can be quite bad--not great if you are trying to catch a flight that leaves right at the end of rush hour. You would have to leave Volcanoes National Park in the early afternoon, which doesn't give you much time to see all the things you want to see. It is well over an hour drive from Hilo to VNP.

Honestly, if you want to see lava, nighttime is the best way--way more impressive and fun (your kids are so young they might fall asleep, but it will be fun for the parents!). It makes sense to make this an overnight trip. There are tons of things to see and do in the area between Hilo and VNP, so you may as well stay a night on the Big Island and get to see the lava flow during darkness. The kids will be less exhausted that way, too.

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travelmad478

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Re: Seeing Lava Flow with Kids
Posted: Wed January 7, 2009 09:35 AM UTC

My brother and his family were on O'ahu this past summer and did a day-trip to the BI. They flew into and out of Hilo, arriving at 8:00 and left at 6:00. They were hard-pressed just to soak in the sights at HVNP and get back in time to turn in their car and check-in for their return flight. Granted, you have a little more time, but you will have a much greater distance to drive.

Be sure to leave yourself at least 3.5 hours to get to the Kona airport from HVNP. That's just driving time on the safe side. Add more for longer roadside scenic lookout stops, lunch, car rental return, and flight check-in. Remember: the drive is much farther than it looks on the map because of low speed limits on the road.

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BlueCollar

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Re: Seeing Lava Flow with Kids
Posted: Wed January 7, 2009 08:21 PM UTC

Thank you for that info and for everyone else that was nice enough to help. I think that after listening to everyone we will take two days to do the Big Island and take our time. Thanks again.

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