Big Island, HI

How amazing would it be to say that you got to spend the night on a volcano? That’s exactly what my friend Dee and I did and it turned out to be one of the craziest and most surreal experiences we’ve ever had – but one that I would do again in a heartbeat! It’s actually completely do-able if you happen to be on the Big Island of Hawaii and you venture to the part of the island where the town of Volcano is located…

Volcano Village is just a stone’s throw away from Volcanoes National Park, which showcases the magnificent volcanoes of Mauna Loa and Kilauea. That’s a whole experience in itself and I’d recommend a couple of days to tour the park. It’s perfect, therefore, to stay somewhere nearby, and that’s where Volcano Village comes into the picture! There are several bed and breakfast facilities to choose from as well as a few hotels. We picked a nice B&B called Volcano Hale and were totally pleased with the charming accommodations in the middle of the rain forest, yet at an elevation of more than 3000 feet on the rim of Kilauea’s caldera. It was absolutely unbelievable! Just to THINK that we were going to spend the night sleeping on a volcano was mind-blowing!

The temperature change was a bit of a shock up there. The further up we climbed (and it’s a gradual climb, you don’t even realize you’re on the side of Mauna Loa) the colder it got. By the time we’d reached Volcano Village, the temp was in the low 50’s, a startling change from the 80’s we’d had in Hilo! We also were stunned to see how much it rained up there. I’m not sure if it was just our bad luck, but the two days we were there, it always rained or drizzled in Volcano. But the rain is what keeps all the vegetation looking so glorious, so we had to just accept and appreciate that! I also think the rain helps keep the smell of sulfur at bay. But we learned for the next time – be prepared in the warm clothing department, or…suffer! Dress in layers because I suspect you never know what the weather in Volcano is going to be like. I’d recommend long pants, warm socks, sneakers or other closed shoes, and sweatshirts over short-sleeved shirts. A rain jacket of some sort is a good idea, too. We showed up in sundresses (for cute photo ops, of course!) and no long-sleeved sweatshirts. The only thing we did right was to bring sneakers, so at least our feet didn’t get soaked! Luckily, the B&B had warm beds and we snuggled in them that night.

It was very exciting to sleep there, knowing we were on a volcano! Warm and cozy in our beds, with the pitter-patter of rain on the roof, we were thrilled, knowing that we were doing something that not everyone gets to do in life.

You can get to Volcano easily from either Kona in the west or Hilo in the east by taking Highway 11. There are signs everywhere along the way – you can’t miss it! But most importantly, you don’t WANT to miss this if you’re on the Big Island!