ALOHA!
If one of the main reasons you’re going to the Big Island is for volcanoes, then one of the best places you can stay is in an area where you see the result of volcanic activity all around you!
aka a place that is surrounded by lava fields!
Puna is located kind of near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and staying near the coast can give you vast views of lava fields.
This used to be among the top spots to see active lava (the red stuff), but lava has since stopped flowing.
ou can check for active lava updates here.
So while you can’t see active lava, you can still see the old hardened lava, and lots of it!
And there are places to stay on the Big Island where you can see it right from your room, too!
The location of Puna can make it a perfect stop to stay if you’re doing a circle island drive around the Big Island or after the drive from Kona to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
You can make a stop in Puna after you visit the national park, or you can even make it your base when visiting the park.
This airbnb in the Kalapana part of Puna is located a little over an hour from the national park.
And, not only that, if you’ve ever wondered what off-the-grid living would feel like, this airbnb will give you that experience too. (Spoiler alert: as a guest, you won’t really notice how the energy is powered or how your drinking water is provided!)
Where is Kalapana on the Big Island?
End of Chain of Craters Road
So if you visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you’ll come to know Chain of Craters Road.
This is one of the main roads that runs through the national park.
It’s an out-and-back road, and driving to the end of this road in the national park means that you’ll be driving to the Holei Sea Arch.
And, it’s a worthy scenic drive to get to the end.
So going to the end of Chain of Craters Road, you’ll be met with a gate indicating you can’t drive any further.
Well…
If you were able to drive down this road…
In 5-6 miles, you would come to another road block on this road.
And it’s a couple miles from here that this Puna airbnb in located! (Instead you’ll have to loop a long way around since there’s no road access from the national park.)
So basically, you’ll be staying on the other side of the famous national park road!
Now…
First, the official airbnb listing.
Then, some of the top things to do if you’re staying in Puna for a day or 2.
And then, some more photos of the airbnb!
Kalapana Lava Lookout on airbnb
See the listing on airbnb. This is the place I stayed.
This is an eco-friendly sustainable living property, where they use power provided by nature, and they catch rain water.
And if those are booked up for your dates, there are more airbnb stays in Puna too.
And if you’re new to airbnb, use my referral link to get a discount on your first airbnb booking. I’ve seen it say up to $55 off!
🌋
Top things to do in Puna
And if you need a reason to stay in Puna, there are a few activities you can do here during the day before you rest up back at your place with views of lava fields!
It’s reasonable to do all of these things in one day.
1. Kaimu black sand beach trail
There’s a black sand trail that leads to a black sand beach.
This beach isn’t suitable for beach lazing (waves can wash up the entire beach), but it offers amazing ocean views and lava fields you can walk across.
This is a 10-15 minute drive from the airbnb, and a perfect way to start the drive on Red Road (next).
See more about the New Kaimu black sand beach trail.
2. Red Road
This is one of the best scenic drives on the Big Island, and it’s basically a drive along the coast.
You can visit more black sand beaches along this road.
Again you can get to Red Road (aka Highway 137) in about 10-15 minutes from the airbnb.
Point to point with no stops, the drive will be about 30 minutes.
3. Pohoiki Beach
One of the black sand beaches you can visit in Puna is the new Pohoiki black sand beach.
This is at the other end of the Red Road when you’re starting from Kalapana.
4. Leilani Avenue
Leilani Estates was the neighborhood hit by lava flow destruction in 2018.
Not all homes were lost, and you can drive down Leilani Avenue to the end of the road to see where the lava stopped.
Some residents don’t like tourists flocking to their subdivision so also keep this in mind if you decide to visit this area.
5. Lava tree state monument
You can see how lava took the shape of trees as a result of the lava flowing over the trees.
6. Pahoa Lava Zone Museum
This is located in downtown Pahoa, so you can make a slight detour on your way to the Puna coast, or on your way back.
One of the spots that was made inaccessible within the national park in the 2018 volcano eruption was the Jaggar Museum.
It seems there have been items moved from that museum to this lava museum in Pahoa.
And, if you’re staying in Puna, it could be interesting to learn about the volcano and lava history of where you currently are!
This is a volunteer-run organization. While they are open most days, it’s best to call ahead to confirm opening days.
PLUS…
With homes few and far between, the Kalapana area is also a perfect place to look at stars at night for some star gazing (with the chance of seeing the Milky Way!) right from your airbnb!
There’s a staircase at the airbnb for better photo opportunities too. (Good for night photography of the sky!)
Under construction but you can still climb up carefully!
And again, if you don’t mind a bit more driving, you can use Kalapana and Puna as a base for more activities with a trip to the national park too.
More photos from this airbnb on the Big Island!
Views of lava fields from the balcony
There’s a sliding door in your room to lead out to the balcony for vast views of lava fields!
You can sit and relax with views of lava in a chair or from a hammock!
The path to (and from) the room
The room
Bathroom
The common area with kitchen
There’s a well-equipped kitchen and dining area here too.
Head to the grocery store before you arrive, and you can save money on food!
Well, you will want to either eat before you arrive or go to the grocery store because there’s really nowhere to eat nearby. Consider it a rural Hawaii experience!
Watch a rainbow form in Hawaii!
On both mornings I was here, I saw a rainbow in the same area!
Both times it was after a short burst of rain.
So if there’s a short downpour when you’re there, get outside after the rain has stopped to see if you can spot a rainbow!
HAPPY AIRBNB STAY IN PUNA!
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