Chain of Craters Road

Welcome, scholars and adventurous travelers, to the profoundly striking Chain of Craters Road. This exceptionally scenic and geologically spectacular nineteen-mile asphalt ribbon represents one of the most remarkable vehicular…

Our initial geological stops along the upper elevations of the descent present a series of profound topographical anomalies known as pit craters. The first significant feature on our left is the Puhimau crater. …

Continuing our descent, we arrive at the Pauahi crater, a location of immense structural complexity and historical eruptive significance. Unlike the simple, cylindrical voids of the upper pit craters, Pauahi presents as a…

We now approach the geological epicenter of one of the most spectacular and voluminous effusive events in modern volcanic history: the Mauna Ulu eruption. Beginning in May of nineteen sixty-nine and persisting with remarkable…

As the gradient of the road begins to steepen noticeably, plunging toward the distant coastal plain, we find ourselves dissecting a massive, uniform expanse of dark rock. This is the nineteen seventy-nine lava field, a distinct…

Reaching the relatively flat, expansive coastal plain, we arrive at a site of profound archaeological and cultural significance: the Pu'uloa Petroglyph field. This area requires a one-point-five-mile round-trip hike over an…

As we traverse the final, sweeping miles of the coastal plain, the immense scale of Kilauea's land-building capacity is undeniable. We are driving over terrain that, geologically speaking, was created yesterday. …

Our final point of academic observation at the terminus of the Chain of Craters Road is the magnificent Holei Sea Arch. Located just a short walk from the road's end, this towering, natural geological formation extends…