From Fire to Sea: The Big Island's Most Unforgettable Hiking Adventures

Aloha mai kākou,

My name is Kalani Miller, and the trails of Hawaiʻi Island are written into the story of my life. I remember my first solo hike on the Kīlauea Iki trail like it was yesterday. I felt the cool, damp air of the rainforest on my skin, heard the call of the ʻapapane in the ʻōhiʻa canopy, and then stepped out onto the crater floor. The world changed. The air grew warm, shimmering with heat from the earth just beneath my feet, and the sheer, raw power of this place settled deep in my bones. That was the moment I understood: hiking here isn't just exercise. It's a conversation with the ʻāina, the land itself—a land that is alive, breathing, and constantly changing.

In this story, I'm not just going to give you a list of trails. I'm going to take you on a journey. We'll walk across a still-steaming crater floor, stand on cliffs where kings once surveyed their lands, and trek to a beach made of green jewels. Along the way, I'll share my personal tips—the things you won't find in other sources—to help you explore safely, respectfully, and create memories that will last a lifetime. This island offers a world of adventure, from easy family strolls to epic treks that will test your limits. So lace up your boots, pack your respect, and let's go walk the ʻāina.

Treks Through Fire and Steam — A Deep Dive into Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

There is no place on Earth like Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a reason. Here, you can witness creation and destruction firsthand, often in the same view. With over 150 miles of trails, it can be overwhelming, but I've spent countless days exploring its wonders. This is my mini-breakdown of the park's most essential day hikes, each offering a unique window into the heart of the volcano.

The Iconic Crater Hike: Kīlauea Iki Trail

If you only have time for one hike in the park, make it this one. It is the perfect summary of the Big Island's dramatic contrasts. In just a few miles, you journey from a primordial rainforest into the heart of a volcanic crater, a landscape so alien it feels like another planet. This trail is a physical demonstration of the island's ecological diversity, taking you through two completely different worlds.

The Experience — My Walk-Through

I always recommend hiking the loop counter-clockwise, starting to your right from the Kīlauea Iki Overlook. The trail begins as a gentle walk along the crater rim, plunging you immediately into a cool, lush rainforest. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and ginger. Listen for the songs of native birds like the crimson ʻapapane, which flit among the red lehua blossoms of the ʻōhiʻa trees. Giant hāpuʻu ferns, some growing up to 30 feet tall, create a prehistoric canopy overhead.

After about a mile, you'll begin your descent. A series of stone steps and switchbacks takes you down 400 feet to the crater floor. The transition is breathtaking. One moment you are in the shade of the forest, the next you are standing on a vast, black, solidified lava lake under an open sky. This is the floor of Kīlauea Iki, which means "little Kīlauea". In 1959, this tranquil scene was a seething cauldron of molten rock, with lava fountains roaring 1,900 feet into the air—taller than the Empire State Building. The ground you are walking on is the cooled crust of that eruption. As you cross the mile-wide expanse, you'll see steam still rising from deep cracks in the earth, a potent reminder of the immense heat that remains just below your feet. The trail across the crater floor is marked by ahu, or stacked rocks. Follow them carefully. The ascent on the other side is steep but rewarding, taking you back up through the forest to complete the loop.

A Rainforest Walk Through a Lava Tube: Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube)

This is a magical experience for the whole family and a perfect, easy addition to a day in the park. The Nāhuku trail is less of a hike and more of a wondrous stroll into the earth's plumbing.

The Experience — A Journey to the Earth's Interior

The adventure begins on a paved, 0.4-mile loop trail that descends through a stunningly dense fern forest. The air cools, and the sounds of the outside world fade, replaced by the dripping of water and the rustle of giant ferns. It truly feels like you're entering another world. You soon arrive at the mouth of the lava tube, a massive cave formed some 500 years ago when a river of 2,000°F lava flowed through here, the outer edges cooling and hardening to form a tunnel.

Inside, the 600-foot-long tube is cool, damp, and lit with a dim, orange glow that casts an eerie and beautiful light on the walls. You can see the smooth, curved shapes left by the flowing river of rock. The tube's Hawaiian name, Nāhuku, means "the protuberances," likely referring to the lava drippings that once covered the ceiling. Sadly, these were taken by souvenir collectors in the years after the tube's discovery in 1913, a powerful reminder of why we must respect these fragile places.