A South Pacific Journey. Step one, getting to Hawaii - Hawaiian Airlines, Big Island and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. March 2025
29th March 2025
The first destination on my adventure was the Big Island of Hawai‘i. Our flight departed from LAX at 11:20 AM, bound for Kona. It was right on time, and the aircraft—a brand-new Airbus Neon—was impressively comfortable, even in Economy. The journey was made even better by having an empty seat in our row, giving us a little extra space to relax.
After landing, we picked up our rental car from Avis without any hassle. With plenty of daylight left, we decided to take a scenic drive up to the Mauna Kea Visitor Centre. The views were stunning, and the altitude change was dramatic. From there, we continued on to the SCP Hilo Hotel. It’s a renovated motel, clean and comfortable, and served as a perfect base for our two-night stay.
After landing, we picked up our rental car from Avis without any hassle. With plenty of daylight left, we decided to take a scenic drive up to the Mauna Kea Visitor Centre. The views were stunning, and the altitude change was dramatic. From there, we continued on to the SCP Hilo Hotel. It’s a renovated motel, clean and comfortable, and served as a perfect base for our two-night stay.
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| SCP Hilo Hotel |
30th March 2025
Today, we set out to explore Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. We drove the full length of Crater Rim Drive, taking in the otherworldly landscapes.
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| Hawaii Volcanoes National Park |
We hiked down onto the crater floor,
wandered through the Thurston Lava Tubes,
and then continued our drive through ancient lava fields all the way to the Hōlei Sea Arch.
There, we stopped for a picnic and spent time exploring the rugged coastline.
There, we stopped for a picnic and spent time exploring the rugged coastline.
Although Kīlauea had been actively erupting recently, it had paused during our visit. We could still see steam rising from the crater and caught a faint red glow in the distance.
I loved the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, it lived up to all my expectations. You need to have your own car, or do a tour to fully experience it.
Later in the day, we made our way to the Isaac Hale Beach Park. Seeing the aftermath of past eruptions was sobering—roads cut in half, twisted and impassable, and large parts of the beach area overtaken by lava. Despite the destruction, the hot springs at the park were still accessible, and we ended our day soaking in their warmth, surrounded by the stark beauty of the reshaped landscape.
Later in the day, we made our way to the Isaac Hale Beach Park. Seeing the aftermath of past eruptions was sobering—roads cut in half, twisted and impassable, and large parts of the beach area overtaken by lava. Despite the destruction, the hot springs at the park were still accessible, and we ended our day soaking in their warmth, surrounded by the stark beauty of the reshaped landscape.
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| Isaac Hale Beach Park |
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| Isaac Hale Beach Park |
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