Kulanaokuaiki Campground Trail

The Kulanaokuaiki Campground Trail explores the surreal summit plateau landscape of the Kau Desert within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, offering an easy loop through terrain that feels more reminiscent of an arid continental desert than a tropical island. The trail winds across a broad lava bench dotted with cinder cones and expansive fields of both pahoehoe and aa lava flows of varying ages, each telling part of the ongoing volcanic story of Kilauea. Despite the harsh appearance, native plant communities have established footholds in lava cracks and sheltered depressions, and native Hawaiian birds including the nene goose may be spotted foraging in the area. The Kau Desert receives only modest rainfall due to trade wind patterns, making this plateau feel genuinely arid compared to the lush rainforests just a few miles away on the eastern flanks of the volcano. The campground at the trailhead is one of the more remote auto-accessible camping spots in the park, lending the area a quieter atmosphere than the main visitor corridor. Views across the lava bench and toward the distant Hilina Pali escarpment provide geographic context for the vast volcanic landscape. The flat to gently rolling terrain makes this loop accessible to most visitors, including families with older children. Bring water and sun protection, as shade is entirely absent. The trail offers an atmospheric and meditative walk through active volcanic terrain.