World Heritage Identification Number: 409
World Heritage since: 1987
Category: Natural Heritage
WHE Type: Protected Areas & National Parks
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇺🇸 United States of America
Continent: Americas
UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America
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Exploring Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: Where Volcanoes Shape the Land
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, is a testament to the raw power and beauty of nature that lies within the heart of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. Encompassing two of the world's most active volcanoes – Kīlauea and Mauna Loa – this UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1987, offers a unique opportunity to witness the ever-changing landscape shaped by volcanic activity.
The park's centerpiece is Kīlauea, whose volcanic activity has continually reshaped the surrounding landscape. Its eruptions have sculpted a diverse and captivating terrain, from lava tubes and craters to steam vents and expansive lava fields. The Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, located within the summit caldera, is particularly noteworthy, offering a window into the volcanic activity of Kīlauea. Visitors can observe volcanic activity from designated viewpoints when conditions and park access permit, although specific eruption-viewing locations can change as volcanic activity and safety conditions evolve.
Mauna Loa, the world's largest shield volcano, towers above Kīlauea at an impressive height of 4,169 meters. Its enormous bulk dominates the island and represents one of Earth's most impressive examples of a shield volcano. Although less frequently active than Kīlauea, Mauna Loa has experienced numerous eruptions throughout recorded history, including a major eruption in 2022. Its broad slopes and enormous summit caldera demonstrate how repeated eruptions have gradually built the volcano over hundreds of thousands of years.
The park's geological features extend far beyond its two famous volcanoes. Visitors can encounter hardened lava flows, volcanic cones, pit craters, steam vents, lava tubes, and dramatic coastal cliffs formed as molten rock repeatedly reached the Pacific Ocean. Roads and trails provide access to some of these remarkable landscapes, including the Chain of Craters Road, which descends through a succession of volcanic features toward the coast. The Thurston Lava Tube offers another fascinating glimpse into the subterranean processes through which flowing lava once carved passages beneath the surface.
Beyond the volcanic wonders, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is home to a rich and diverse ecosystem teeming with unique flora and fauna. The park boasts several distinct habitats, ranging from rainforests of giant ferns to arid desert landscapes. These varied environments support a wide array of native species, many of which are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Among the notable residents are the ʻapapane, a bright red Hawaiian honeycreeper, and the nēnē, the state bird of Hawaiʻi and a species endemic to the Hawaiian Islands that was once brought close to extinction.
The park also plays a crucial role in preserving the cultural heritage of the Hawaiian people. Kīlauea and its surrounding landscape hold profound spiritual significance, particularly through the traditions associated with Pele, the powerful deity connected with volcanoes and fire. Native Hawaiians developed extensive knowledge of the volcanic environment and its plants, landscapes, and resources, while cultural practices and stories continue to shape the way the land is understood today. Sites throughout the park, including the Puʻuloa Petroglyphs, preserve evidence of this long relationship between people and the volcanic landscape.
The park's international significance extends beyond its UNESCO World Heritage designation. In 1980, the area was incorporated into the Hawaiian Islands Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme, recognizing the importance of its active volcanic landscapes and exceptional ecosystems. Centered in part on Mauna Loa and Kīlauea, the reserve highlights the close relationship between geological processes, biodiversity, scientific research, and the conservation of Hawaiʻi's distinctive natural environments.
Today, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park offers a breathtaking glimpse into the raw power and beauty of volcanic activity, while also providing valuable insights into the geology, ecology, and cultural heritage of the Hawaiian Islands. Its designation as a World Heritage Site reflects the global importance of its volcanic landscapes and the geological processes they reveal. Whether you're an avid hiker, a curious geologist, a nature enthusiast, or simply seeking a unique and unforgettable travel experience, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park offers an extraordinary opportunity to witness a landscape that is still being created by the forces of nature.
UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
This site contains two of the most active volcanoes in the world, Mauna Loa (4,170 m high) and Kilauea (1,250 m high), both of which tower over the Pacific Ocean. Volcanic eruptions have created a constantly changing landscape, and the lava flows reveal surprising geological formations. Rare birds and endemic species can be found there, as well as forests of giant ferns.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (viii): This property is a unique example of significant island building through ongoing volcanic processes. It represents the most recent activity in the continuing process of the geologic origin and change of the Hawaiian Archipelago. The park contains significant parts of two of the world's most active and best understood volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. The volcano Mauna Loa, measured from the ocean floor, is the greatest volcanic mass on earth.
Encyclopedia Record: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is a national park of the United States located in Hawaii on the island of Hawaii. The park encompasses two active volcanoes: Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world's largest shield volcano. The park provides scientists with insight into the development of the Hawaiian Islands and access for studies of volcanism. For visitors, the park offers dramatic volcanic landscapes, glimpses of rare flora and fauna, and a view into the traditional Hawaiian culture connected to these landscapes.Additional Site Details
Area: 87,940 hectares
Number of Components: 2
Coordinates: 19.40083333 , -155.1236111
IUCN World Heritage Outlook
The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Hawaii Volcanoes National Park reports the following assessment:
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment
Image
© Jos-uit-boston at Dutch Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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Scale, Nature, and Timing of Agricultural Adaptations in Upland Kaʻū
Research reveals that the Kaʻū Field System, located within the Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, exhibited significant autonomy and adaptive agricultural practices. Unlike other regions such as the Kona Field System or the Leeward Kohala Field System, this area maintained local-scale management, persistent habitation, and continued access to forest resources even after formal agricultural infrastructure replaced traditional agroforestry systems. The study suggests that outlying areas with diverse environments were less influenced by centralized political changes compared to more densely populated regions, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of upland Kaʻū's agricultural practices.
Quintus, S., Filimoehala, D., Walker, C., Murakami, G., & Roper Todd, S. (2026). Scale, Nature, and Timing of Agricultural Adaptations in Upland Kaʻū. Journal of Pacific Archaeology, 16(2), 1. https://doi.org/10.70460/jpa.v16i2.394
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2024 Socioeconomic Research of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: Report on 2024 Data Collection
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's 2024 socioeconomic research reveals critical insights into visitor demographics, trip characteristics, and experience evaluations, providing a comprehensive understanding of park utilization and perception. The study employed a two-step survey methodology: an onsite intercept survey using tablets to capture real-time data, followed by a post-trip survey (mail-back or online) for in-depth analysis. This approach enabled the collection of representative visitor data during peak seasons, aiding park managers in assessing operations, identifying potential issues, and facilitating decision-making processes. The findings contribute to broader national-level research, offering actionable intelligence for both Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and its stakeholders.
. (2026). 2024 Socioeconomic Research of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: Report on 2024 Data Collection (, Ed.). National Park Service. https://doi.org/10.36967/2317561
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Status of Forest Birds in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: Mixed Results for Native and Non-Native Species
A recent survey of landbirds and their habitats in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (HAVO) reveals mixed population trends for both native and non-native species. While some native birds, such as the ʻApapane and Hawaiʻi ʻAmakihi, showed significant increases in certain tracts, others like the federally threatened ʻIʻiwi faced severe declines or local extinctions, particularly in areas where it was previously abundant. Non-native species exhibited varied patterns, with the Warbling White-eye declining while the Japanese Bush Warbler and Northern Cardinal expanded their presence. Conducted using point-transect distance sampling across seven tracts over two years (2020–2021), this study highlights the ongoing challenges for native landbirds due to habitat degradation, invasive species, predators, disease, and wildfire.
Judge, S., Paxton, K., Beck, A., & Camp, R. (2026). Status of Forest Birds in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: Mixed Results for Native and Non-Native Species (, Ed.). National Park Service. https://doi.org/10.36967/2318341
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Seeing is believing: livestream video monitoring of Hawaiian eruptions
Livestream video monitoring has revolutionized volcanic eruption observation, offering real-time, accessible views that surpass traditional snapshot methods. In Hawaii, this approach became pivotal during the 2024–present Kīlauea summit eruption, where three continuous livestream feeds provided unprecedented public engagement and scientific insight. The study details the methodology—including camera equipment and deployment—and highlights both its benefits (e.g., enhanced observatory monitoring, global accessibility) and challenges (e.g., technical limitations). Unlike static imagery, livestreams deliver dynamic, up-close observations previously restricted to field staff, transforming public awareness and volcanic hazard communication.
Patrick, M. R., Hon, K., Tollett, W., Hoomanawanui, T.-J., Mulliken, K., Orr, T. R., Poland, M. P., Kamibayashi, K., Warren, S. M., Swaney, S., Younger, E. F., Kamakeʻeaina, A., Fuke, S., Lee, R. C., Zoeller, M., & Horvath, S. (2026). Seeing is believing: livestream video monitoring of Hawaiian eruptions. Journal of Applied Volcanology, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13617-026-00170-x
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Parks as Practice Fields
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has served as a critical analog site for NASA's Mars exploration efforts, providing extreme environments to test landers, rovers, and drones. Since the 1960s, astronauts have conducted lunar simulation field trips in multiple national parks, including Hawaii Volcanoes, while recent decades have seen the park used extensively for testing advanced robotic systems designed for Mars missions. These include a wall-scaling robot and a lava tube-probing quadcopter, with the goal of preparing for future human and robotic exploration of celestial bodies.
Lull, R. B. (2026). Parks as Practice Fields. Our Natural Lab, 145–163. https://doi.org/10.1093/9780197824450.003.0008
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The Transition From Jointing to Faulting Observed at the Koa'e Fault Zone, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
A study at the Koa'e Fault Zone in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park reveals that faults form through the downward propagation of joints, transitioning to faulting at depth and creating monoclinal flexures. This challenges previous assumptions about fracture evolution. Researchers analyzed displacement-to-length (Dmax/L) scaling relationships for mixed-mode fractures—combining opening and shearing—using field measurements. Unlike widely observed square root scaling for opening-mode fractures, joint apertures here scale linearly with length, indicating a distinct mechanical behavior in this volcanic setting.
Cheng, H. C. J., Mrazek, J., & Klimczak, C. (2025). The Transition From Jointing to Faulting Observed at the Koa’e Fault Zone, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 130(4). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024jb030416
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Ten More Years of the Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) on Maui, Hawaiian Islands1
Research confirms that the Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) has established a self-sustaining population on Maui, Hawaiian Islands, expanding its range from Waikamoi Preserve to Haleakalā National Park over the past decade. The study leveraged multiple data sources—including forest bird surveys, eBird reports, autonomous recording units, and trail cameras—to document increased detection frequencies and seasonal activity patterns, particularly in spring. Observations also revealed two color morphs (wild-type and dark-throated) and evidence of juvenile survival, suggesting successful reproduction. The pheasant's expansion is attributed to minimal predator influence and the absence of competing gallinaceous birds in its preferred subalpine cloud forest habitat.
Pratt, T. K., Warren, C. C., Kekiwi, E. K., Fay, K., & Camp, R. J. (2025). Ten More Years of the Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) on Maui, Hawaiian Islands1. Pacific Science, 78(4). https://doi.org/10.2984/78.4.1
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