Volcano House

Perched on the rim of Kīlauea caldera with a fantastic view toward Halema‘uma‘u crater, the historic Volcano House Hotel is set within the iconic Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The hotel benefits from a prime location opposite the Visitors' Center and within an easy drive of the viewing points for the crater and the Chain of Craters Road.

Built in 1846, the hotel has two restaurants serving locally sourced meat and seafood, tropical cocktails and light appetizers. Communal areas also include a dining room, snack bar, lounge with TV and a gift shop, and the hotel regularly holds cultural events and demonstrations to ensure guests gain an insight into the traditional Hawaiian lifestyle. In addition, guests can enjoy access to a lending library, board and card games, free bicycle rentals and daily guided walks around the park.

The 33 guest rooms each overlook Kīlauea caldera, offering stunning views of the glowing Halema‘uma‘u crater beyond ohia trees and lehua flowers, which are part of the park's natural ecosystem. While there are no TVs in order to maintain the tranquility of the area, rooms do benefit from complimentary Wi-Fi access and iPads, with the modern amenities contrasting with the rustic island decor. Due to the property's elevation of 1,219 meters, air conditioning is not necessary and heaters are provided, although a fan can be found in each room should guests require some cooling.

Volcano House Hotel also manages ten rustic cabins in the nearby Namakanipaio Campground, which also has space for regular tents for those looking for a more traditional camping experience.

OUR RATING: Simple