Hike on Mauna Loa.
Mauna Loa is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and one of the main attractions for visitors to Hawaii. It is usually possible to climb the volcano, but the beautiful and fertile landscape of Mauna Loa has much else to offer.
Hiking
Mauna Loa is part of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, administered by the National Park Service. In 1987, UNESCO designated the park a World Heritage Site. The unforgiving landscape and high altitude make hiking on Mauna Loa a very strenuous experience, but it does offer the exciting opportunity to watch lava erupting from a live volcano. Past visitors have seen plumes of ash and steam erupting from the crater and in September 2010 visitors saw blue flames leaping from the vent. If you are planning an ascent of Mauna Loa, you must register with the Kilauea Visitor Center before starting and ensure that you are adequately prepared with equipment, food and water. You should also check the weather conditions and current situation regarding volcanic activity in advance, as trails are sometimes closed for safety reasons.
Macadamia Nuts
The fertile volcanic soil of Mauna Loa makes it an ideal place to grow macadamia nuts. At the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Visitor Center, you can see the macadamia tree plantation and watch the nuts being harvested. Visitors follow the nuts through the process of cracking and roasting before the nuts are finally covered in chocolate, ready to eat. You can watch all of this taking place within the factory complex. The Visitor Center also has a gift shop and a tropical garden where you can see many of the plants and trees found in Hawaii.
Hamakua Heritage Corridor
Running along the shore where the northeast edge of Mauna Loa meets the sea, taking a day trip along the Hamakua Heritage Corridor will let you explore both the natural beauty and history of Hawaii. The road runs through farmland and jungle and between valleys and clifftops between the town of Hilo and the Waipio Valley Lookout. Along the way, you will see the famous Akaka waterfall and many beautiful tropical and rainforest plants living wild, including orchids, ginger blossoms, vines and bamboo. At the Laupahoehoe Train Museum you can view exhibits relating to the Hawaii Consolidated Railway which transported both goods and visitors along this coast in the past. The journey ends at the Waipio Valley Lookout which, with its steep slopes and gently curving black sand beach, was an important place for early Hawaiians.
Tags: Visitor Center, erupting from, Hamakua Heritage, Hamakua Heritage Corridor, Heritage Corridor, National Park
