Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
The Big Island of Hawaii is a place where the power of nature is impossible to ignore. Among this rugged shoreline near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the land feels raw and unfinished, shaped by fire, lava and the constant pounding of the Pacific Ocean. Here we are standing on black volcanic rocks with waves crashing against the shoreline.
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park was established in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson to protect the volcanic landscapes of Kilauea and Mauna Loa. It was one of the earliest national parks created to preserve an active geological environment. The park preserves a place that is constantly changing. Lava flows have repeatedly reshaped roads, forest and coastline.
This coastline is part of the story. The black rock was once liquid lava flowing from Kilauea volcano. When the lava reached the ocean, it cooled rapidly, hardening into new land. The result is a dramatic shoreline of jagged lava cliffs.
The Islands are not static, but part of an ongoing natural process that has been shaping Hawaii for millions of years.
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