Kilauea is the most active and famous in Hawaii's volcanic history. It has an elevation of four thousand feet about sea level. It last erupted in 1983 and is sacred to the islanders.



The people of Hawaii believe that this is the home of Pele, the goddess of fire. They also believe that she is permanently at war with her sister, who is the goddess of the sea. This is part of the islanders beliefs, and explains the relationship the Hawaiian culture nurtures between its inhabitants, the sea and the land.

In Hawaii there is a National Park for volcano watching. Anyone can go and stay there. It is a great place for camping and hiking and has unpredictable weather and a moist humid atmosphere, which in turn creates a fertile land and an amazing flourishing environment for many different types of wildlife.

The weather at the top of Kilauea can be as much as fifteen degrees cooler than at the bottom of the volcano. The extraordinary climate and environment created by the volcanoes allows for the thriving community of creatures, such as the carnivorous caterpillars and the happy face spiders.

An astounding fact is that ninety per cent of the native terrestrial fauna and flora are found only on the Hawaiian Islands! In an effort to maintain and protect this unique ecosystem the Hawaiian authorities have organized for alien plants, animals and insects to be removed from the environment in fear that they may unbalance the islands ecosystem and kill off some of the rarest living organisms in the world.

If you want to see the volcanoes and understand their importance in the formation of the Hawaiian Islands then perhaps you should consider one of the available helicopter tours. These helicopter tours are usually available via your hotel, or if you would prefer you can book before you even leave home, hence ensuring that you are guaranteed your spot and will not miss the experience.

Volcanic fumes can be hazardous and if you have any health concerns relating to heart or lung, it is worth checking if you will be at risk when visiting a volcanic site. It is also not advisable for small children or pregnant women to inhale volcanic fumes. If you are avoiding the fumes you can still visit much of the volcanoes, the fumes are only present in certain areas of the islands, so check first with the tour you have booked.

Volcanic eruptions can happen at any time and it is important to always follow the instructions of your guide. If you are keen to see the lava, there are lava viewing opportunities which can be organized through the Kilauea visitors centre, as these areas change all the time and the safety of each area is monitored by the park it is essential that you follow there guidelines and never enter areas which are currently closed to the public.