Day 11
The wild south, from Kahuku to Volcano
Morning
Kahuku Unit, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Former ranch attached to the national park, on the slopes of Mauna Loa, near mile marker 70.5 on Hwy 11. A stop on the way, open Thursday to Sunday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM: this day 11 is a Sunday. The Puʻu o Lokuana trail (2 mi / 3.2 km loop, 131 ft / 40 m of elevation gain, about 45 min) climbs a cinder cone with views down to the ocean. The Kahuku trails are reopening one by one since Hurricane Nolo: follow the signs and check nps.gov/havo before going.
Ka Lae (South Point)
Southernmost point of the United States, battered by wind. It is said to be one of the first landing places of the Polynesian navigators; you can still see mooring holes cut in the rock.
Papakōlea Green Sand Beach
One of the very few green sand beaches in the world, colored by olivine from an ancient volcanic cone. You earn it with a coastal walk: 5 miles (8 km) round trip on foot from the parking lot, on an unshaded coastal track, about 1 hr 40. The descent to the beach is steep and swimming is not advised (currents).
Afternoon
Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach
Black sand beach formed by lava cooled on contact with the ocean, where green turtles and sometimes hawksbill turtles come to rest: watch them from a distance. Only go if the official entrance and parking are confirmed open. The county has provided no service there since August 29, 2026 (end of the lease), the toilets are locked, the lifeguard station too, and no access or parking rules are published. Otherwise, drive straight to Volcano.
Evening
Kīlauea glow from Uēkahuna
Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. If the eruption is active, the orange glow sometimes lights the Halemaʻumaʻu crater at night, from the Uēkahuna lookout or from Kīlauea Overlook, 2,130 feet (650 m) on foot from Uēkahuna on the same Crater Rim Drive West. These two lookouts generally have more parking spaces than the other viewpoints.
Good to know
Only if the eruption is active, and the glow is never guaranteed. The eruption was continuing at the summit on September 29, 2026 (USGS), but during and after fountaining episodes, the park closes lookouts, sometimes the whole summit. Check the daily USGS HVO update and the nps.gov/havo alerts before leaving. At Uēkahuna, the permanent toilets are closed.