Lava Tree State Park - The Destruction of a Living Forest

When molten lave flows through an area, nothing mother nature has created can resist the fiery devastation that occurs in it's path. About 3 miles outheast of Pahoa in the southern part of the Big Island of Hawaii in the Nanawale Forest Reserve, you can walk around in Lava Tree State Monument and see the remnants of a Hawaiian forest stand of wet O'hia trees that stood in the path of a lava flow which swept through the area in 1790. As the lava passed through the area, it covered the trees leaving behind tall vertical, hollow, lava tubes where each of the great trees once stood. If you look down inside the hollow tubes, you can see the impressions of the bark the tree that once stood in this area. You can also see huge rifts in some areas where the ground was lifted from the underground pressure of the lava flow which occurred here. There is a lovely path to walk around the park, picnic tables and restroom facilities. The terrain in this area can be somewhat uneven so be sure to wear sturdy walking shoes. You may also want to bring insect repellent since this side of the island is very tropical and mosquitoes are also frequent visitors to the area.