Devastation Trail - Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

The Kīlauea volcano erupted on the side of the Kīlauea Iki crater in late 1959.  The eruption created lava fountains up to 1,900 feet high and covered a portion of Crater Rim Drive with a cinder and ash pile over 125 feet high.  This relatively new hill is called Pu'u Pua'i.  Before the eruption, the plains and crater were a lush rain forest.  While the forest has slowly been reclaiming the land, the devastation is still evident around Pu'u Pua'i and on the crater floor.

The Devastation Trail is a ½ mile paved and relatively flat trail along the edge of the rain forest and the devastated area.  There are parking areas at both ends of the trail.  We stopped at the parking area closer to the entrance to begin our walk.  At the second parking area, we continued on the gravel Halema`uma`u - Byron Ledge Trail about ¼ mile to an expansive overview of Kīlauea Crater.  We walked the Devastation Trail during our February 2014 visit.

The 400 foot deep Kīlauea Iki crater is 5,000 feet long and 3,000 feet wide

A closer view of the crater including a portion of the Kīlauea Iki trail

Pu'u Pua'i has blocked Crater Rim Drive since 1959

The 50 foot high "bathtub ring" around the crater was created by wave action in the lava lake during the eruption

During the eruption, part of Pu'u Pua'i slid into the crater and left these "islands"

Vegetation is beginning to take root after more than 50 years

The paved trail leads through the edge of the rain forest

Pu'u Pua'i

Smoke rising from the Halema`uma`u Crater over two miles away

Lehua flowers on an ‘öhi‘a tree

At the south end, the trail crosses the remains of the old Crater Rim Drive

Halema`uma`u - Byron Ledge Trail

An ‘öhi‘a tree creates a wind break for other flora

One of several collapsed areas along the trail

Another collapsed area along the trail

The summit of Halema`uma`u - Byron Ledge Trail before it descends to intersect the Byron Ledge Trail

Jaggar Museum on the far rim of Kīlauea Crater

Vegetation slowly covers the devastated area

Kalij Pheasant was imported as a game bird in the early 1960s

An entrance fee of $10 provides a seven-day pass to visit the park.  Other entrance options include the Hawai`i Tri-park Annual Pass for $25 for twelve month access to three parks in Hawai'i, an America the Beautiful Annual Pass for $80 for twelve months access to most national parks and forests or a Senior Pass for a one-time fee of $10 for those age 62 or over for access to most national parks and forests.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm.