| By Roy Witman | | | | to the surface, forming a river of lava." This sight |
| Volcano eruptions are becoming increasingly rare. | | | | can be seen firsthand during numerous tours |
| That's because very few active volcanoes still | | | | available each day at the park. |
| exist. In fact, according to the Global Volcanism | | | | The Crater Rim Drive is a one- to three-hour tour |
| Program, only 50 to 70 volcanoes erupt | | | | taken by car with intermittent short walks |
| worldwide every year. That means being able to | | | | throughout. Stretching 11 miles, you'll travel a |
| witness an active volcano - especially one that | | | | well-marked route with scenic stops along the |
| frequently erupts - can be a once-in-a-lifetime | | | | way. If you have more time, you may want to |
| experience. For those lucky enough to visit the | | | | take the four- to five-hour tour and explore the |
| Big Island of Hawaii, you may become one of the | | | | coastal areas. This 20-mile route descends 3,700 |
| privileged few who get to view this amazing site. | | | | feet. For those who prefer to walk, an abundance |
| On the Big Island, inside Hawaii Volcanoes National | | | | of trails lend themselves to day hikes and |
| Park, you'll find Kilauea, proclaimed to be the most | | | | wilderness hikes where visitors can often view |
| active volcano in the world. Although documented | | | | active lava flows. |
| through chants and songs in ancient Hawaiian | | | | Cruise ships sailing between the Hawaiian Islands, |
| history, the first record of Kilauea is that of | | | | including those from Norwegian Cruise Lines, make |
| missionary Rev. William Ellis who saw the summit | | | | a point to conduct night tours, so passengers can |
| in 1823. At almost 4,200 feet above sea level, | | | | get front-row seats for the spectacular show. |
| Kilauea has erupted over 60 times in its recorded | | | | The brilliant colors of orange, red and yellow churn |
| history with its most recent eruption to date on | | | | as billowing smoke rises each time lava pours into |
| July 21, 2007. | | | | the ocean below. Much more visible at night, |
| While most people are conditioned to think of | | | | Kilauea is quite a spectacle and always a highlight |
| volcanic eruptions as a violent, erratic explosion | | | | of any cruise. |
| that projects gallons of liquid lava wildly into the | | | | Whether you choose to tour Hawaii's most active |
| air, this is rarely the case. While nonetheless | | | | volcano by land, sea or both, you're sure to find it |
| intriguing, eruptions at Kilauea are more of a slow | | | | a thrilling experience you won't soon forget. |
| spewing of thick, red-hot lava that mixes and | | | | Considering most people won't have the |
| melds with dried, black lava rock as it persistently | | | | opportunity to visit a live volcano, you can |
| carves out a new path. | | | | consider yourself an honored guest of the Islands |
| According to the National Park Service, "Activity | | | | who has witnessed a positively astonishing act of |
| on Kilauea continues as magma vigorously pushes | | | | nature. |