Lava Trees State Park
Surreal Hollow Lava Tree Molds From a 1790 Eruption — Paved 0.7-Mile Loop Trail Through Moss-Covered Rainforest, Hollow Cylindrical Lava Pillars Formed When Molten Lava Encased Living ʻŌhiʻa Trees, Bark Imprints Visible Inside Lava Shells, Free Admission, No Camping, Restrooms and Picnic Area, Near Pāhoa Puna District Hawaiʻi Island
Lava Tree State Monument (commonly called Lava Trees State Park) is a state monument near Pāhoa in the Puna District of Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island), managed by Hawai’i DLNR Division of State Parks. The monument features surreal hollow cylindrical lava pillars — “lava trees” — formed during a 1790 eruption when molten lava surged through a rainforest and encased living ʻōhiʻa trees, a paved 0.7-mile loop trail through a lush moss-covered rainforest canopy, detailed bark imprints visible on the interior walls of the hollow lava shells, free admission and parking, vault restrooms and a picnic area, and a unique geological phenomenon found in very few places on Earth.
The lava trees are haunting and beautiful — when the 1790 lava flow moved through the ʻōhiʻa forest, molten rock surged around the tree trunks. The moisture in the bark cooled the lava against the trees, forming hardened cylindrical shells. When the main flow receded, the organic wood burned away, leaving hollow lava pillars standing 10–15 feet tall with the original bark texture imprinted on the inside walls.
The 0.7-mile paved loop is flat and accessible, winding through dense tropical rainforest with ferns, moss, and orchids growing on and around the lava formations.
What to See
- Lava trees — hollow cylindrical pillars from 1790
- Bark imprints — visible inside lava shells
- Rainforest trail — 0.7-mi paved loop
- Tropical flora — ferns, moss, orchids
Site Information
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Pāhoa, Puna District, Big Island, HI |
| Type | State Monument — geological site |
| Trail | 0.7-mi paved loop — flat, accessible |
| Formation | 1790 eruption lava tree molds |
| Admission | Free |
| Camping | ❌ Not available |
| Facilities | Restrooms, picnic area — no water |
| Managed By | Hawai’i DLNR |
| Coordinates | 19.4833° N, 154.8917° W |
Frequently Asked Questions
Wildlife & Nature
Lava Trees SP — preserves lava tree molds from a 1790 Kilauea eruption — hollow pillars where trees once stood. The tropical forest has regrown around the lava formations.
Nearby Attractions
Pahoa — adjacent. Hawaii Volcanoes NP — 25 miles south.
What are lava trees in Hawaii?
Lava trees are hollow cylindrical lava pillars formed when a 1790 eruption sent molten lava through an ʻōhiʻa rainforest near Pāhoa on Hawaii’s Big Island. The lava encased living trees, cooled against the moisture in the bark forming hardened shells, then receded — leaving hollow lava pillars with bark imprints on the inside walls. Visit them at Lava Tree State Monument via a flat, paved 0.7-mile loop trail through lush tropical rainforest. Free admission, restrooms, and picnic area. No camping. Managed by Hawai’i DLNR.
Last updated: May 2026
