Lava Tree State Park

Lava Tree State Park offered a surreal experience where visitors could walk among lava-formed molds of trees that were engulfed by a flow in 1790. Though the park was sadly destroyed by a 2018 lava eruption, its eerie beauty and geological uniqueness made it a memorable stop near Pahoa in the Puna District.

Lava Tree State Park, Big Island

Editor's Note: Due to a recent lava flow that occured on June 5, 2018, this beautiful destination was unfortunately destroyed. We are leaving this page up for all of us who have made memories here and would like to remember it as it used to be.

Located near Pahoa in the Big Island's Puna District, the Lava Tree State Park makes for an interesting stop. Because when else do you get a chance to see lava trees? Here on the Big Island, lava trees can be seen in places where in the past, fast-flowing pahoehoe lava streams hit wet ohi'a trees. This is what happened here in 1790, when a lava flow surged through this once lush rainforest.

The lava covered the trees from bottom to top. As the lava drained away and the moisture inside the trees cooled the lava, a hard exterior shell was formed. The wood inside burned away and only the outside lava shell remained. Each tree has a different shape, and it takes little imagination to see craggy faces staring back at you.

Many of the trees are covered in moss; others have fallen to the ground, exposing their interior pipe-like structure. It is a truly otherworldly sight. Also, there are some large monkeypod trees here with huge roots, which are equally amazing.

Key Features of Lava Tree State Park

• Lava-molded tree formations: Created when fast-moving lava encased ohi'a trees and cooled around them
• Historic lava flow from 1790: Resulted in a forest of vertical lava tubes with hollow interiors
• Located in Puna District: Situated near Pahoa, this was a rare and accessible lava forest park
• Unique geology and moss-covered forms: Features mossy, craggy lava molds that appear almost sculptural
• Destroyed in 2018 eruption: Page remains as a tribute to its natural beauty and visitor memories