Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is an island within an island. It is a shelter for what remains of the once-rich tapestry of Hawaiian life -- a tapestry rapidly being unraveled by alien species.

In some areas of the park, natural habitats are damaged beyond recovery. The park concentrates its energies on the most biologically diverse habitats and those that offer the best chance for successful restoration. The immediate strategy is to control or eliminate the most disruptive alien plant and animal invaders.

Park crews erect fences to keep out feral animals; hunt feral pigs; and pull out or cut down firetree, banana poka, guava, and ginger. As native plant communities reestablish themselves, populations of Hawaiian honeycreepers, nene Hawaiian goose, Kamehameha butterflies, and happyface spiders once again flourish.

In recognition of its outstanding natural values, Hawaii Volcanoes has been honored as an International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. The park continues to mend the fabric and promote the lasting vitality of this remnant of pristine Hawai'i.

Links to Other Resources
(These will open a new browser window.)

A Teacher's Guide to the Geology of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Photos and Geologic Description of Mauna Loa Volcano.

Photos of Kilauea Erupting.

USGS Checklist of the Birds of Hawaii.

Photo and Soundclip of the Hawaiian Goose or Nene, State Bird of Hawaii.

Closeup Photos of the Nene.

World Conservation Monitoring Centre Datasheet.
Excellent resource on the geology, vegetation, wildlife species, and management of Hawaii Volcanoes. Slow to load.

Topo Map of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, from Topozone. You can scroll to other areas of the park, or across the rest of the Big Island.

Official NPS Map of Hawaii Volcanoes NP, Adobe PDF Format, 310kb. May be slow to load.


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