Big Island of Hawaii State Park

Lave Tree Park

Just outside Pahoa take a left onto Highway 132 (Pahoa-Kapoho Road) to head to our next stop. As you get closer to the park the road will become gradually more enclosed by a majestic tree tunnel that shades the road in jungle beauty. 

Take a left into the park just past mile marker two. The parking lot will be on your right. A loop trail will guide you through an impressive jungle of vining plants, orchids, and bamboo. Along the trail are bulbous black stumps partially covered in small green plants. These are the lava trees. In 1790 a lava flow from Kilauea engulfed this rainforest with pahoehoe (smooth) lava over 10 feet deep.  As the fast-flowing lava moved through the forest it completely surrounded the moist ohia trees. The lava cooled on the outside as the tree was incinerated on the inside leaving a lava shell in the shape of the tree. While some of the molds will reach several feet high, others will be merely stumps or even depressions. The park has restroom facilities and a ragged-looking picnic pavilion. Mosquitoes are abundant, so be generous with the bug spray. Try to visit on weekdays and keep a sharp eye out for people loitering about as they may be interested in exploring the contents of your rental car as you explore the jungle.

— article continued below —

2024 Big Island Visitor Guides

Visiting the Big Island of Hawaii soon? Be sure to grab your copy of one of our updated Big Island Visitor Guides.

~ Trusted by Millions of Hawaii Visitors Annually ~

Lava Tree State Park Reviews

Guidereview:
B (based on 321 visitor reviews)

Geolocation Data

Geographic Coordinates

Latitude: 19.48430903
Longitude: -154.9016554

Open in Google Maps

Lava Tree State Park Photo Gallery
 thumbnail
 thumbnail
 thumbnail
Recommended Tours Nearby
Terms of Use & Disclosures

This website's use is your expressly conditioned acceptance of the terms, conditions, and disclaimers found within our Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability page without any modifications. Your use of this website constitutes your acceptance of all the terms, conditions, and disclaimers posted herein. If you do not agree with any part of these terms and conditions, you should not use this website. We also receive a small commission from travel partners for some of the links found on this website. All partners and related links comply with our Advertising Disclosures. For example, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. These links do not cost you anything and help provide the necessary funding to maintain this website. Mahalo!