Panorama showing a view over the Ka'u Desert from Hilina Pali road in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It is a bleak scene with sparce scrubland.

Hilina Pali Road and Ka'u Desert - Hawaii Island visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Hilina Pali Road and Ka'u Desert' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Hawaii.

Ka'u Desert covers part of the Southwest rift zone of Kialuea Volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It is not a true desert as rainfall exceeds 1000mm per year. However the land remains barren due to acid rain, extremely permeable tephra soil and quick water evaporation. At times the pH of the rain can drop to 3.4.

The ash and lava in the desert date back to the 1790 eruption, the most violent in recorded history on Hawai'i Island. Ash from the eruption suffocated over 80 Hawaiian warriors walking through the area. Within the ash are some preserved footprints which some say belong to these men.

Hilina Pali Road strikes southwest for 4 miles across the desert from Chain of Craters Road. It terminates at the Hilina Pali Lookout and picnic area. About half way down the road is the Kulanaokuaiki Campsite (which has toilets but no water) and the trailhead for the Mauna Iki Trail.

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
P.O. Box 52
Hawai'i National Park,
Hawaii Island
HI 96718-0052

Car: The junction for Hilina Pali Road is about 2 miles from Kilauea Caldera down Chain of Craters Road, between Ko'oko'olau Crater and Pauahi Crater.