Expedition Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller
Date: March 8-12, 2025
Located on the Big Island of Hawaii, this national park was established in 1916 and in the center of it are Mauna Loa and Kilauea active volcanoes. We hiked seven different trails and one lava tube. The terrain differed from the summit area at 4,000 feet down to the ocean. The trails by Kilauea rim were rocky with steam vents and some green growth. As we dropped in elevation you had flowers and plants growing through hardened black lava. Other areas were like a tropical rainforest with a wide variety of flora and fauna. Two nights we hiked over to the volcano rim and could see hot lava and its red fire burning. It erupted on our third day sending lava 400 to 500 feet into the air. And, of course, rainbows everywhere.
