Most people never get the chance to experience active volcanoes in Hawaii up close. At our Big Island bed and breakfast, it’s simply part of the stay. The park is home to two of the active volcanoes in Hawaii, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. For most visitors, Kīlauea is the main draw. It erupts more frequently than any other volcano in Hawaii and has been in an episodic eruption cycle in recent years, pulling people from around the world to the overlooks for a chance to see lava fountains light up the night sky.
If you have always wondered what it is actually like to stay this close to an active volcano in Hawaii, the short answer is that it is calm, comfortable, and for many guests, one of the most memorable experiences of their lives. But the longer answer is more interesting and more honest.
NPS Photo/Janice Wei
A Landscape That Is Always Changing
If you haven’t visited the Big Island in a long time, you may find that things look different now. That is not your imagination. Kīlauea has been reshaping the coastline and surrounding landscape for decades, and some of what visitors once came to see no longer exists in the same form.
During the 35-year Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption that ran from 1983 to 2018, lava flowed more or less continuously from Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone toward the coast. For much of that time, visitors could watch lava pouring into the ocean from Chain of Craters Road, a dramatic sight that drew people from around the world. Those ocean entries shifted, faded, and reappeared over the years as the flows changed direction. Those ocean entries shifted over time as flows changed direction, eventually building about 418 acres of new land along the southeast coast.
Then came 2018. The eruption moved to lower Puna, where lava erupted from more than two dozen vents, destroyed entire communities, and reshaped the coastline again. The beloved Kapoho tidepools disappeared beneath lava. The black sand beach at Kalapana, already buried once, was covered again. At the summit, Halemaʻumaʻu crater collapsed and deepened, dramatically changing the landscape.
Chain of Craters Road itself has had parts covered by lava in 41 of the past 53 years. The road has been rebuilt multiple times, and what you drive on today is a different version of the road that existed a decade ago. The ocean viewing area at the end of the road, where visitors once watched lava meeting the sea in real time, is now a quiet coastal overlook. The lava is gone, the bench it built has eroded, and the ocean has reclaimed much of the coastline it temporarily lost.
Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano on Earth, went nearly four decades without erupting, then in November 2022, lava began flowing from its Northeast Rift Zone with little warning, reaching speeds of 20 feet per hour and reminding the entire island that it operates on its own schedule.
This is not a story of loss so much as it is a reminder that the Big Island is still being formed. The landscape you walk through today is not the same one your parents saw, or that photos from ten years ago show.
Current eruption activity is contained within the summit caldera, but the Kīlauea and Mauna Loa have surprised scientists and residents before. That unpredictability is part of what makes staying this close to an active volcano in Hawaii such a unique experience.
NPS Photo/J.Wei
What Active Volcanoes in Hawaii Actually Look Like Day to Day
With that history in mind, the day-to-day reality of staying here is much calmer than most people expect. Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on Earth by volume, rising to over 13,000 feet above sea level and making up more than half the land mass of the Big Island. It erupts less frequently than Kīlauea but on a much larger scale when it does, with lava flows that can move fast and travel far. Kīlauea, by contrast, is one of the most continuously active volcanoes in the world. Its current eruption cycle is episodic, meaning it moves through periods of active lava fountaining followed by pauses that can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
During a pause, the park remains fully open. You can visit overlooks, hike trails, and explore the area just as you would at any other time. When activity resumes, you may experience a few small tremors in the area as the lava flows to the surface inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
During active episodes, lava fountains within Halemaʻumaʻu crater can reach several hundred feet. All recent activity has occurred within the crater inside the national park. But as the history of this volcano makes clear, conditions can and do change. The best approach is to check the current status before your visit and stay flexible once you arrive.
Witnessing the Nighttime Glow
One of the things our guests talk about most is “the glow.” When Kīlauea is actively erupting, or even during the quiet moments between episodes, a warm red and orange light often rises from the summit crater and paints the night sky. It is visible from the scenic overlooks along Crater Rim Trail, and on clear nights, you might even see that mystical light from our property. Because the park is open 24 hours, there is nothing stopping you from driving the 1.6 miles to the overlook at 2 a.m. to witness it. Staying this close means you can act on the moment when the conditions are perfect, rather than making a long trek from Hilo or Kona.
NPS Photo/Janice Wei
How the Park Manages Safety and Closures
The area around Kīlauea is one of the most closely monitored volcanic landscapes in the world. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, part of the U.S. Geological Survey, tracks activity around the clock and publishes daily updates. They work directly with Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense to manage access and communicate hazards in real time.
When conditions warrant a closure, it happens quickly and clearly. Trails and overlooks near active venting are restricted, and the caldera rim surrounding Halemaʻumaʻu crater has been closed to the public since 2007. Viewing happens from designated overlook areas along Crater Rim Trail, where guests can safely take in the activity from a distance. The park has a strong track record of acting on safety guidance, including closing major sections entirely when needed, as it did for months during the 2018 eruption. Outside of active closure areas, the park remains open and accessible.
Volcanic gas (Vog), primarily sulfur dioxide, is important to monitor during and after eruptions. Guests who have respiratory sensitivities, are pregnant, or traveling with young children should check conditions before visiting the summit area. More information on vog is available at vog.ivhhn.org.
What to Expect as a Guest at Volcano Village Estates
We follow official guidance from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense closely, and we do our best to keep guests informed about current conditions during their stay. When an eruption episode is expected or underway, we share that with guests so they can plan accordingly. We are not volcanologists, but we pay attention, and we want your visit to go well.
What we can tell you from experience is that most guests who arrive during a pause between episodes still have an outstanding visit. The park is full of things to see and do, regardless of whether lava is actively fountaining. And guests who happen to be here when an episode begins have described it as one of the most extraordinary things they have ever witnessed.
The best position to be in is close, informed, and flexible. That is exactly what staying at Volcano Village Estates offers.
NPS Photo/J.Wei
A Few Tips for Your Stay
Sign up to receive official volcano notifications before your visit for the latest eruption updates. The NPS website and the park’s social media accounts are also good sources for trail conditions and closures. Bring layers regardless of eruption activity since the summit area runs cool and the weather shifts quickly. If you have respiratory sensitivities, check the air quality alerts at vog.ivhhn.org before heading to the overlooks.
And if you wake up in the middle of the night and the sky looks orange, go. You are already close enough to make it worth it.
Plan Your Stay and Witness an Active Volcano in Hawaii
There is no guarantee of what Kīlauea will do on any given day. That is part of what makes your visit so exciting. Staying within a mile of the park entrance means you are always in position, whether the volcano is putting on a show or resting between acts.
Volcano Village Estates offers private cottages, contemporary bungalows, and in-room breakfast stocked and ready when you are. Whether you are planning your first visit or coming back to see what has changed, we would love to be your base. Plan your stay today.