Turquoise waters, coconut trees, sunny climate, flower necklaces... These are the first images that appear when you think of Hawaii. However, the Hawaiian archipelago is also a land rich in active and dormant volcanoes, true natural wonders. Maui and Big Island are the most famous and fascinating volcanoes on Hawaii's eight inhabited islands. Immediate boarding to discover the volcanoes of these two islands but not only..

Maui, the island of Haleakala

"Maui no ka oi! "are used to say the inhabitants of Maui. This expression which means "Maui is the best! "is not so far from reality, when you know the countless riches of this island. With an area of 1,887 km², Maui is the second largest island in the archipelago. Less developed than its neighbour Oahu, and with landscapes as sumptuous as those of the island of Kauai, it is a living island where one never gets bored, but it is also a relaxing island thanks to its wonderful and peaceful nature

Maui is nicknamed the "Valley Island" because of its amazing geology. It was born from two volcanoes that came out of the water 2 million years ago.... Now asleep, West Maui in the west and Haleakala in the east are connected by a large valley, which has given the island its nickname

If West Maui is now reduced to a very beautiful mountain range, the situation is quite different with regard to Haleakala, one of the island's treasures. Haleakala, "house of the sun" in Hawaiian, is a dormant volcano that occupies two thirds of Maui. From its base to its 3,055-metre peak, the climate is very changing: from tropical heat to polar cold! Nowhere in the world can you go from sea level to 3,000 m asl in just 61 km... The steep and winding ascent by car may seem long, but it is marked by various stages that are very well indicated by signs

Each time, you can explore marked trails where the volcanic landscapes, with their lunar appearance, are absolutely sublime

The Hosmer Grove Trail, located at the entrance to the park and at an altitude of 2,072 m, is the ideal place to discover the volcanic flora and appreciate the surprising colour gradients of the soil. At 3,055 m, at Puu Ulaula Overlook, at the top of the volcano, you can have a 360° view of Haleakala in a circular, closed and glazed room, protected from the icy wind. Accessible 24 hours a day, this room is the ideal place to watch the sunrise or sunset on the volcano, a must! Finally, to better appreciate the sublime relief and shimmering colours of Haleakala, there is nothing better than a short helicopter flight that will also allow you to admire the other wonders of Maui. And indeed the island is not only about its volcano, it also contains many more natural treasures..

The Hana road, located in the east of the island, is one of Maui's most popular routes. This long winding road is punctuated by grandiose natural spectacles, majestic waterfalls, secret beaches, fragrant exotic forests and superb panoramas. It will then be time to travel to the west of Maui, richer culturally and historically thanks to its beautiful city of Lahaina. This former capital of the kingdom of Hawaii and of the whaling epic in the 19th century, is full of museums and fascinating sites. It is also the port from which most boat trips for diving or whale-watching leave, as many whales frequent the calm waters of this part of the island. Finally, Lahaina is also a lively city with many bars and shops. The ideal place to do a shopping-memory session before leaving!

Big Island, the most volcanic of the Hawaiian islands

This island has been nicknamed "Big Island" because of its large area (10,500 km²) which makes it the largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago. It concentrates the main characteristics of the other islands: dense tropical forests, pretty waterfalls, magnificent botanical gardens and white sandy beaches with turquoise waters... However, it also has its own specificities and not the least! Indeed, the Hawaiian archipelago's only two active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, are located on Big Island in the 133,200 hectare Volcanoes National Park. From these two volcanoes Big Island was born 400,000 years ago. Mauna Loa has not erupted since 1984, but it remains active according to volcanologists because it can wake up at any time. This has nothing to do with Kilauea, which is younger and in permanent eruption today. On the east side of Kilauea, lava flows, slow, thick and at over 1000°C, are constantly flowing into the ocean, constantly changing the local geography

Due to the hardening of lava in contact with the ocean, no less than 201 hectares of new land has been formed on Big Island since 1983.

The main sites of the Volcanoes National Park can be reached by car and various hikes to discover the volcanoes can be made along the developed trails. For example, it is possible to approach the lava flow in the ocean by using the marked paths on the hardened lava. But to better distinguish the lava that flows, it is recommended to do a guided hike at sunrise or at nightfall. For an even more complete observation of the volcano and its impressive lava flow, a helicopter flight is essential: a sublime spectacle guaranteed from the air!

The other natural wonder of Big Island is Mauna Kea, whose summit, at an altitude of 4,205 m, offers the clearest sky on the planet for stargazing. The world's largest astronomy observatory has therefore naturally settled here. It includes 13 state-of-the-art telescopes, including the CFHT (Canada-France-Hawaii), which are valuable working tools for researchers from the eleven countries that work there. It is from this observatory that they discovered the existence of satellites around Jupiter and Saturn and asteroids around Neptune. Visitors cannot enter the observatories of these professionals, but astronomical binoculars are available to the general public and guides are there to give all the keys to the starry sky

Astronomy enthusiasts will enjoy themselves because it is really where the stars and the different constellations are best observed. Finally, do not miss the major tourist attraction at this altitude, namely the sublime spectacle of the sunset on Mauna Kea. The sky suspended above the sea of clouds then takes on an unforgettable intense pink colour

But a trip to Big Island would not be complete without a discovery of Kealakekua Bay. This visit is essential for historical reasons first of all because it is here that the monument dedicated to Captain Cook (1728-1779), a beautiful white obelisk erected by the English in 1878 to honour their compatriot, is located. The famous explorer who discovered Hawaii was indeed killed by the locals in 1779 when they realized that it was not a god who landed on their shores but a simple mortal... Kealakekua Bay is also one of the most beautiful snorkeling sites in Hawaii. The turquoise waters of this bay are rich in coral and multicoloured fish. Not far away, the small beach of Napoopoo Beach allows you to make a last stop in Hawaii's paradise

Smart info

When? When? Like the beauty of its islands, Hawaii's climate is heavenly. The weather is fine and good all year round with temperatures between 25°C and 30°C

Getting there. Price of a return flight from Paris to Honolulu (Oahu Island): from 900 €. Duration: 17 hours with one stopover. To continue your journey to the islands of Maui and Big Island, you should ideally start with Maui because it is the nearest island. Different airlines operate inter-island flights but there are no boat services. A flight from Honolulu to Kahului (Maui) lasts 40 minutes for about 80 €. To get to Big Island, you have to take a 40-minute flight from Kahului (Maui)/Hilo (Big Island) for an average of €100.

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