Picturesque Volcano Village: Food, gasoline and accommodations, just outside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

by Donald B. MacGowan

Volcano Village Lava Rock Cafe Sign, Ka'u Hawaii: Graphic from Photo by Donald B MacGowan

There are many wondrous, enigmatic and fascinating attractions on the Big Island of Hawaii, some better known than others, many out of the way and generally off the beaten track. Tour Guide Hawaii has produced an encyclopedic collection of the most up-to-date information, presented as short GPS-cued videos, in an app downloadable to iPhone and iPod Touch that covers the entire Big Island, highlighting the popular and the uncrowded, the famous and the secluded, the adventurous and the relaxing.

Volcano Village

Volcano General Store, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B MacGowan

Nestled picturesquely, though precariously, in the narrow saddle between the summits of two highly active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, Volcano Village dozes gently. The town is a green oasis of vineyards, homes, shops, restaurants, even a golf course to play and a winery to tour. Of course, there are a host of inns and bed and breakfast establishments here as well.

Eric Carr gases up The Rav at Volcano Village, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B MacGowan

Although its position seems perilous, Volcano Village’s setting is actually fairly serene and protected from all but the most explosive of eruptions from Kilauea and Mauna Loa, and the prevailing trade winds keeps the town swept fairly free of vog, volcano smog. Lying amid at least four mini-climatic zones in Hawai’i’s peculiar compressed geography, half the Village is shaded by primeval fern trees unfurling in mountain mist in the 2-tiered, cloud jungle. The other half is guarded by scraggly ohi’a trees rising from the dry savannah grassland of the Ka’u Desert. The enchantment of discovery is what makes Volcano Village a magical and surreal place to visit.

The jungle on the wet side of Volcano Village, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B MacGowan

Although purchases in Volcano Village tend to be spendy, the Village represents the only opportunity to buy gas, food and water on the 42-mile stretch between Pahala and Mountain View during the day. Be sure to top off your tank of gas and load up on food and water before venturing into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Many people become quite entranced with the Park, spending a great deal more time and gasoline there than they had planned, and forgetting that there is little of anything available after dark on the south side of the island between Hilo and Kona.

Volcano Village's Thriving Downtown Shopping District, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B MacGowan

To see the new iPhone/iPod Touch App, please visit http://www.tourguidehawaii.com/iphone.html.

The best of Tour Guide Hawaii’s free content about traveling to, and exploring, the Big island, can be found here.

Volcano Village Coffee Bar, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B MacGowan

For more information on traveling to Hawaii in general and on touring the Big Island in particular, please also visit www.tourguidehawaii.com and www.tourguidehawaii.blogspot.com.

All media copyright 2010 by Donald B. MacGowan. All rights reserved.

Wildflowers at Volcano Village, Ka'u Hawaii: Graphic from Photo by Donald B MacGowan