 | Lava Tree State Park |
| The Big Island, HI Print Leave a comment |
Description
More impressive than the black stumps of the lava trees is the canopy of lacy branches formed by massive monkeypod trees at Lava Tree State Park. Monkeypod trees are found all over the islands but I didn't know that they can grow so tall! Wow! I wanted to spend the whole walk just looking up in wonder.
The walk around Lava Tree State Park is a short circular walk that takes a little over half an hour. We encountered many individual women meditating intently next to the phallic tree stumps. Just up the road, of course, is Pahoa, home to dreamy seeking-types and aged hippies, which explains the amount of meditating we encountered in the park.
The lava trees were formed when fast flowing lava collided with wet 'ohi'a trees. As the flow drained away, it left a thick coating around the dying trees. Now all that remains are vertical hollow tubes covered in moss.
It poured with rain as we were halfway through the hike- you might want to bring raincoats.
Photo Gallery
Click on photo to see large versionLush forest in Lava Tree State Park. |
Giant Monkeypod trees. |
The ink blot pattern from a ceiling of giant Monkeypod trees. |
Directions
From Hwy 11, take Hwy 130 South. Pass Pahoa. Turn onto Hwy 132 and soon you will find signs for the park.
This is an interactive map, you can zoom and move it.
Visitor Ratings
Overall Visitor Rating: 
carlo 02/10/2010 14:54 | it is a trip here! | |
rain 12/22/2009 13:32 | Really looking forward to seeing these - have only seen them in photos and I know they must be fabulous in person | |
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Joni 10/22/2009 20:32 | now that's an idea! thanks! | |
Debi 10/06/2009 14:34 | parks like this so impress me..... makes me proud to be hawaiian |