Pauahi Crater - Chain of Craters Road - Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

During our February 2014 visit, our fourth stop on Chain of Craters Road in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park was at Pauahi Crater.  This crater is approximately 2,100 foot long, 1,300 foot wide and 360 feet deep.  Although initially formed as a series of three adjacent pit craters, it was partially filled by lava flowing from fissures in or near the crater twice in 1973 and again in 1979.  In 1979, the smaller and deeper west pit filled with lava that spilled over into the east pit.  Now the west pit is both the smaller and the more shallow pit.  Additional rockfalls have covered some of the 1979 lava flow.

November 1979 lava flow visible from the driveway

Driveway and parking area

First view of Pauahi Crater with Mauna Ulu on the horizon

Looking southeast across Pauahi with the shallower west pit in the foreground

Northeast side with talus on top of 1979 lava flow with the deeper east pit in the distance

Rock ledges on the southwest side of Pauahi

Steam vents on Mauna Ulu

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.