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Halema'uma'u Trail and Byron Ledge Trail, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii click pictures for larger views; click browser BACK button to return here
The dots mark the trail hiked. It was a loop starting at Volcano House hotel, thru the Kilauea Caldera, to the active Halema'uma'u crater. Then retrace the trail to Byron Ledge trail, then to Kilauea Iki volcano, then return to Volcano House. This map is a simplified version of the larger view. Be forewarned, the larger view is great to look at, but it is 250 kb. Thanks to Hawaii Volcanoes Nation Park for this map from the public handout "Hawaii Volcanoes, Official Map and Guide".
From the lookout, behind Volcano House, this panoramic view tells it all. The large open area is Kilauea Caldera. In the distance is the volcano crater, with the fire pit. You can just make out the white streaks on the inside wall that form as part of the active steam vents. Yes this is an active volcano, and we are going out there to visit it up close.
The trail winds through the rain forest. It is very well maintained, almost like walking on a sidewalk; not like hiking at all.	At some places. the rain forest is very dense just off the edge of the trail. A great way to get up close to rain forest plant, without slogging through the mud.		As the rain forest thins, the lava cliffs become visible. The rock looks like it is still flowing.
Suddenly the vegetation stops and the caldera begins. This sudden transition is the result of the hot flowing lava filling the caldera and completely replacing any ecosystem there. The trail in the caldera is much less visible, but is marked by ahu (called cairn on the mainland). The first cairn of the trail is visible in the middle of the picture.
Looking back to the rain forest, all we see is pahoehoe or pillow lava. This is smooth and unbroken.		There were many lava flows over the years. Here is where one flow covered an earlier flow
Java support needed. Please upgrade your browser to see the 360 degree panorama. A 360 degree view from the middle of the caldera, shows it's other-worldly nature. The hills on the horizon are the surrounding areas that did not sink when the caldera formed. They are 3 miles away in any direction. The feeling of being in a 6 mile wide volcano is hard to convey; you just have to be there. There is a very noticeable section where new lava has overflowed a previous lava flow. The weather is unpredictable in the caldera. It has started to sprinkle and the sky has become overcast. (clicking Right or Left edge starts rotation) click here for a larger view
		The lava is becoming more broken. Here is a 18 inch wide crack. It exposes some very interesting rock layers.
Now the lava is almost all Aa. It is broken, sharp, and unstable to walk on. There are many thin crust areas here. The sign warns hikers to stay on the trail to avoid discovering a new thin crust area.		An old thin crust area next to the trail. Imagine hiking along and breaking through the surface to fall into something like this. It is best to stay on the trail to avoid injuries.
The top has eroded off this old lava cavity. This reveals the almost fluid like rock formation inside the cavity. The colors of the lava are like nothing you would expect.		A close-up of the cavity rocks. This was a real surprise.
Another lava cavity, near the first.		As the trail continues, it gets more difficult to identify. This is one of the cairns. The cairns mark the safe areas to walk on.
The Halema'um'a crater. 1600 meters wide, 85 meters deep. This is the traditional home of Peli, the ancient Hawaiian god.		Yes this is still an active volcano. The sulfur steam vents, inside the crater, give off odiferous smoke.
The information plaque at Halema'uma'u Crater is an excellent summary. This is a sacred place to Hawaiians. In the background you can see some offerings to Peli. Visitors are cautioned not to disturb any offerings.		Retracing the trail, we get to Byron Ledge Trail and head off toward the caldera rim.
Soon the lava begins to change back to pillow lava. The trail crosses many lava inclusions from different lava flows. In the background you can just see the vegetation change where the caldera floor meets the rain forest.		A few yards from the caldera floor and the vegetation is rapidly changing to full rain forest again.

Kahuna Falls and Akaka Falls, Hawaii click pictures for larger views; click browser BACK button to return here
The trail is wide, paved, well maintained and very pleasant to view. It is only 0.4 miles long, but has some very steep sections.	The lovely Kahuna Falls from the first lookout. The falls are some distance away, but this is as close as the general public can get.
The trail is crossed by several serene streams. From the foot bridges these scenes appear suddenly.	Another serene stream crossing.
This is the 440 foot Akaka Falls. At this outlook is a covered picnic bench. You will want to spend a half an hour here to watch the spray on the sides of the falls.	The speed of the water falling leads you to ask "Where is all that water coming from ?" The top of the falls is small and narrow, and appears to be shallow.

Umauma Falls, Hawaii click pictures for larger views; click browser BACK button to return here
Umauma Fall is one of the few large triple tier falls. It is very impressive, as viewed from the outlook. To get to the outlook, you must pay the entry fee for World Botanical Garden. World Botanical Garden has great potential, but I enjoyed Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Gardens more.