Feb 25, 2024
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is such a unique destination in
the National Park System. Located on the Big Island, it’s
surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, it has rainforests, and it boasts
two active volcanoes in Mauna Loa and Kilauea.
A visit to Hawai’i Volcanoes comes with a number of options. Do you
simply hope to catch an eruption of Kilauea and head somewhere else
in Hawaii, do you explore the backcountry with its more than 160
miles of trails, or you try to soak in the Hawaiian culture?
Hopefully you’ll do all of that and more, because the park is so
remarkable and offers so much. But it also can be a dangerous
place. While the volcanoes are not explosive like Mount Saint
Helens was back in 1980, visitors still can get close to Kilauea’s
crater, and if they ignore safety, quickly find themselves in
trouble or worse.
To get a better understanding of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park,
we’re joined today by Ranger Nainoa Keanaaina, a law enforcement
ranger who grew up near the park, worked in its backcountry, and
now is closely involved with search-and-rescue activities and other
tasks to keep visitors safe and getting the most out of their
vacation.