Hawaii Island 303 DAYS 3 & 4–HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK Some 30 miles south of Hilo, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (NPS.gov/HawaiiVolcanoes) literally defines the Hawaiian Islands. It should come as no surprise that HVNP is the 50th State’s top visitor attraction. What pleasantly surprises, however, is that this revered natural phenomena is home to an MWR Lodging Resort. Reserved exclusively for service military from all branches, 52-acre Kilauea Military Camp (KilaueaMilitaryCamp.com) accommodates with 90 one, two- and three-bedroom cottages and apartments. Perched 4,000 feet above sea level, each unit features a fireplace and electric heater. Homey touches include a living room, minirefrigerator and coffeemaker, with select units upping the ante with a jetted tub and full kitchen facilities. Health is front and center with basketball and tennis courts, volleyball area, bowling alley, lawn games, bike rentals and fitness center with sauna. Dine “at home” or indulge at the casual Crater Rim Café, bowling alley’s 10Pin Grill and Lava Lounge with live music. Or stroll next door to historic Volcano House (HawaiiVolcanoHouse.com) where The Rim At Volcano House presents specialties with Kilauea caldera and billowing Halemaumau Crater painting a backdrop. Yet, access to some 150 miles of hiking trails and natural attractions literally steps away creates KMC’s greatest appeal. Note that most areas closed due to Kilauea’s 2018 eruption and summit collapse have now reopened. Among these are Kilauea Visitor Center and popular Nahuku (aka Thurston Lava Tube), a 500-year old lava tube where a river of 2000 degree fahrenheit (1093° celsius) lava once flowed. Ranger-led walks exploring the park’s summit are among monthly events highlighted on the calendar at NPS.gov/HawaiiVolcanoes. Check the website for more details, park updates and closure notifications. The route linking Hilo and Volcanoes also paves the way to remarkable natural attractions. Quench your black sand beach thirst at Punaluu Beach between Pahala and Naaehu. This postcard perfect setting fringed by coconut palms attracts majestic honu (Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles) lazing on warm sands. Just south of Pahoa, 17-acre Lava Trees State Park’s (HawaiiStateParks.org/parks/hawaii/lavatree-state-monument) 0.7-mile loop trail exposes a “petrified forest” of eerie lava molds of ohia tree trunks frozen in time from a late 1700s lava flow. Punaluu Beach’s genuine black sand is composed of fragmented lava that shattered from cooling so rapidly as it flowed into the ocean. Photo Credit: HTA/Tor Johnson
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