A Day Trip to the Big Island from Aulani

Arriving at small, quiet Hilo Airport was almost like stepping back in time. Where was the modern hustle and bustle of the airports we are used to? Also unusual was how most buildings and walkways are open to the island breezes, which I guess doesn’t matter when you have a climate like their. Within a couple of minutes we had made our way to the air tours section of the airport, where we would be taking off on our open-door helicopter flight over Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

As you can probably imagine, this day trip took quite a lot of planning, with the helicopter trip booked months in advance, along with our flights here and car rental for the day. We also had to live with the knowledge that, with a helicopter trip, if the weather wasn’t in our favor, then we wouldn't be able to take to the air.

Thankfully, despite the fact that the flights over the previous couple of days had been rained out, we were in luck, and we had a spectacular time. We chose the flight, as we knew we just wouldn't have the time to experience all of the vast expanse of the national park from the ground, and we wanted to try and see molten lava. Which we did, and with the doors off, we didn't just see it, we felt the heat as well! It was a truly mezmerizing experience, and one we'll both remember for the rest of our lives.

That completed, we then picked up our rental car and made our way by road back the national park. This was one of the main reasons for coming here. After all, how many national parks are home to an active volcano? From Hilo Airport, it takes around 45 minutes to drive to the park, making it very accessible for anyone lucky enough to be visiting Hilo as part of their cruise on the Disney Wonder next fall. Is it worth a visit? Most definitely!

The scenery is just stunning, and seeing Mount Kileuau in front of us, billowing out smoke, was both surreal and beautiful. I kept wondering how on earth the National Parks Service manages this place, ensuring that visitors are kept safe from a slumbering giant that every so often awakes and roars into life. The best views we found were from the outlook near the Jaggar Museum. Do keep an eye on the national parks website before your visit, as roads can be closed off, depending on what the volcano’s doing. Part of Crater Rim Drive were closed when we visited due to dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide in the air.