VNP tours

[CaptainThunder]

I contacted a company about a private tour out of Hilo in June.  When the proposed tour didn't include the Volcano National Park, I was surprised and questioned it.  He said "I can take you to Volcano Park instead of going to Fissure 8, but most of the marquis sites are closed due to the seismic activity from the summer eruption.  Fissure 8 offers a better view of what volcanic activity there is now, and was during the summer.  The closest one can get to the crater is approximately 2 1/2 miles away right now, and the lava lake is 1,000 feet down, so there is no visible activity.  The Jagger Museum building has been condemned , and Thurston lava tube is closed due to safety concerns."  Is it even worth going to the VNP anymore?

[CruiserBruce]

Have you looked at the Volcano National Park website:

 

https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm

 

Great source of current info. 

[CaptainThunder]

Thanks.  I will check out that site.  You would think a local guide has current information.  He just gave me this information this morning.

[TwinMamainMN]

1 hour ago, CaptainThunder said:

Thanks.  I will check out that site.  You would think a local guide has current information.  He just gave me this information this morning.

 

The site CruiserBruce posted has a list of what is closed and what is open. It looks to be consistent with what the local guide told you. Interesting. I'm curious what else you find out. We don't sail until May 2020, so hopefully more of these things will be open then. We are looking forward to VNP and would like to explore it.

[CaptainThunder]

4 minutes ago, TwinMamainMN said:

 

The site CruiserBruce posted has a list of what is closed and what is open. It looks to be consistent with what the local guide told you. Interesting. I'm curious what else you find out. We don't sail until May 2020, so hopefully more of these things will be open then. We are looking forward to VNP and would like to explore it.

Problem is a laundry list of activity labels without explanation doesn’t provide much meaningful information.  For example, I don’t know if what is still open is worth while going to it.

[CruiserBruce]

1 hour ago, CaptainThunder said:

Problem is a laundry list of activity labels without explanation doesn’t provide much meaningful information.  For example, I don’t know if what is still open is worth while going to it.

 

Only you can decide what is worthwhile to go to, as it depends on your interests. We have been there a couple of times, always found it interesting and fun.

[CaptainThunder]

14 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

 

Only you can decide what is worthwhile to go to, as it depends on your interests. We have been there a couple of times, always found it interesting and fun.

Sure I agree with you.  I just was hoping that people with experience with the park such as yourself might share what activities at the park they found "interesting and fun" so I can see if those things will still be open and help me to decide what is worthwhile.  Any input is appreciated.

[CruiserBruce]

VNP is about the scenery...places where you can see and experience old eruptions, walk on lava, go in lava tubes, etc. Unfortunately the museum removes a good over view and lots of info. They may set up some replacement for your viewing at least some of the info.

 

I would go again if we were there. In a heartbeat. This is Mother Nature actively at work, even if you can't get real close to some of Her projects.

[Beachiekeen]

I checked out the site thoroughly and looked at pictures and read about what is open and will share with my family and make the decision.  Doing the research was interesting and even though there is no active lava, it still looked really interesting and there are some great overlooks.  Also, I follow VNP on Facebook and  the Pu‘u Pua‘i Overlook, and Devastation Trail just reopened, not sure if that is reflected yet on the website.  We don't go until November so we will wait until this summer to decide but IMO it's still worth doing.  All the tour operators we are considering explain on their websites that they will take guests to the places that are open.  The site is also very helpful in helping you craft a route to make the most out of the time you have if you want to drive to the park yourself.

 

I think the operator you spoke with probably gets more requests for seeing active lava than he/she does seeing the park itself.

Edited April 12, 2019 by Beachiekeen

[TwinMamainMN]

3 hours ago, Beachiekeen said:

I follow VNP on Facebook...

 

Why the heck didn't I think of doing that?!?? Off to FB now...