Pele, the mythical Hawaiian fire and volcano goddess, is said to have created the Hawaiian Islands some 70 million years ago. Even today, active volcanoes add to the chains land mass.
Many native Hawaiians believe the fire and volcano goddess named Pele created the Hawaiian Island chain. From the first eruption on the ocean’s floor, some 70 million years ago, Pele is said to have slowly built the islands as they grew to the surface after countless, underwater explosive incidents.
Regardless of the mythology, each of the Hawaiian Islands is comprised of one or more volcanoes. The largest and southernmost island in the Hawaiian chain is the “Big Island” of Hawaii, which is made up of five volcanoes–Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Hualalai, and Loihi. Loihi is the youngest of the group and is still hundreds of feet below the surface of the ocean.
Even today, the Big Island continues to grow as a result of continued volcanic activity. Kilauea and Mauna Loa are two of the world’s most active volcanoes. Mauna Loa is already the largest mountain on Earth, when measured from the ocean floor. It rises to some 56,000 feet, which is 27,000 feet higher than Mount Everest.
Volcanoes continue to spew molten lava into the Pacific. On Hawaii’s Big Island, Kilauea has been continuously erupting for over 25 years.
Continental volcanos tend to be more explosive, while Kilauea and Mauna Loa produce fiery rivers of slow moving, molten lava. Layer upon layer builds up and more land is created, as it flows into the Pacific. In fact, since Kilauea began erupting in 1983, it has added nearly 500 acres to the Big Island.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, covers over 333,000 acres, including the active Kilauea, which is the also the mythological home of Pele. The park is on the southeastern side of the Big Island and the Kilauea Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visitors can experience ecological zones ranging from ocean coastline to alpine wilderness, walk on lava flows, explore inside ancient lava tubes, and hike on over 150 miles of trails, ranging from sea level to nearly 14,000 feet in elevation. Park rangers will explain how the Big Island continues to grow every day and guide you to safe viewpoints to see nature (or Pele) in action.
For those staying in the popular Kailua-Kona area, such as at the ocean front Royal Kona Resort, it is well worth the time spending a full day traveling around and discovering the immense beauty and mystery of the Big Island, all leading to Pele’s home at the magnificent Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Along the way, you will come across numerous beaches that boast of sands that are green, red, black, and other unusual colors. You may even spot sea turtles sunning themselves on the beaches. Stop by some of the Kona coffee plantations and macadamia nut farms that dot the landscape. Find stunning waterfalls that jump out from the mountains.
The Activities Center at the Royal Kona Resort can make all of the arrangements for this incredible trip. Go to www.royalkona.com to get started on a fiery journey around the Big Island.