Before we tell you about Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, the most important thing you need to know when planning your trip is to be prepared for buckets of rain, sun, fog, sun, cold mountain air, light rain, sun, fog, and more rain. At Java On The Rock we often serve people their coffee to go as they tell us with excitement that they are on their way to Volcano. They often look very fashionable in their little tank tops, shorts, and slippers. But we know they are in for some misery if they encounter a typical cold and rainy Volcano day. Either that or they will be seeing the sights from inside their car. Our advice is to bring plenty of layers including extra pants, extra socks, closed walking shoes, and rain gear. If you don't have rain gear K-mart, located just north of Palani Road, has inexpensive ponchos and raincoats. To really experience volcano is to walk through the lava tube, to hike through forests and desolate lava, and to pick your way across the crater floor and marvel at steam vents. If you do happen to get a sunny day please remember to thank Pele with gratitude-- it is your lucky day!

The most important fact about the area of Volcano is that within the park is Halema`uma`u, the home of the volcano goddess Pele. Pele traveled with several of her brothers and sisters across the ocean from Tahiti to these islands in search of a home. She was in search of a place with a pit deep enough to protect the sacred fires that she carried with her. First she landed on the tiny island of Ni`ihau and dug a pit. But her angry older sister Namakaokaha`i had followed her from home and she flooded Pele's pit with water. Pele traveled to Kaua`i next, and again her sister flooded her pits and then pursued Pele as she traveled south throughout the islands. The two sisters finally confronted one another in battle near Hana on Maui. Pele was destroyed in the battle with Namakaokaha`i. When she died her spirit was freed and she transformed into a goddess. Pele came to the island of Hawai`i and found her permanent home in the crater Halema`uma`u located on Kilauea Volcano.

Pele is a creator and destroyer. In a flash she can kill all life in her path, and yet this very act often creates new land that eventually supports life again. Pele takes the form of a young woman or an old crone and has been known to visit people in this area on many occasions.