Where are the best locations on the Big Island to see lava flows, eruptions? Would a guide be useful in exploring the volcano park? Is there an organization that provides great guides? Are there other "not to miss" places to explore on the Big Island?

My favorite guides for the Hawaiian Islands are the Frommers Guides and, for the Big Island, "Big Island Revealed" by Doughty and Friedman. Also, an excellent website to gather all kinds of info is alternativehawaii.com. They have maps, etc. that you can print out. The Big Island is an amazing place, with so much diversity, and I highly recommend that you get one of the above guides to educate yourself. It's a wonderful vacation spot!

thanks. is there some guide that we can hire that's recommended?

I haven't used this company (Hawaii Forest & Trail), but have seen many recommendations of them on other travel boards. Here is their website: http://www.hawaii-forest.com/adv-volcano.html

There is only one place that you can view the lava flow. That is at the end of Chain of Craters Road. The road stops where the lava came across it several years ago.

From where the road stops, it is about a 2 mile hike to the lava flow. It's best to do this at night.

Depending on the flow, you may or may not actually see the lava flow.

If you go at night, you can at least see the glow for the lava flow.

You can take helicopter tours and I believe they get close enough to see the lava flow.

There was a thread earlier where it was mentioned that you can see the lava flow from cruise ships, and that perhaps there were smaller boats that went out close to the lava flow area.

Website for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:

http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm

Here are some other websites that may help.

www.bigisland.org

www.gohawaii.com (this is the official Hawaii Visitor's Bureau. They will send you a free brochure)

www.spotlighthawaii.com

www.thisweek.com

www.101thingstodo.com

www.alternative-hawaii.com

www.hawaiiweb.com

For a few dollars, This Week, Spotlight (Big Island Gold), and 101 Things will send you a hard copy of their brochures. You can also pick up hard copies of these for free at the airport baggage area and other places throughout the islands.

I don't know anything about a personal guide.

Sorry, elr! DUH....... you said "guide" and I immediately thought guide books! I would never think of having a guide take me around on the Big Island, but, of course, you could, depending on your 'druthers! It is very easy to navigate yourself, though, and the guide books for that area are great!

The "not to miss location" I would say is the Black Sand Beach..we saw so many turtles and the beauty of the black sand against the blue water is something so rare to see. Overall, I was not thrilled with the Big Island..its very desolate. It was neat to climb on the old lava flows too...

thank you, thank you, everyone! this is great info. and bonniebroad, your suggestions for guidebooks were great; and, of course, my OP could have been phrased a bit better!

happy trails!

We had very good experiences with Hawaii Forest and Trail, although we only used them for one trip - up to the summit of Mauna Kea. Would definitely recommend them. Have a great trip!!