Kilauea: should I or not?
 

Greetings to the travel experts: Leaving the 1st of May for Hawaii. I have done some research on seeing the Kilauea lava flow. It looks like the best way is by helicopter, probably Blue Hawaiian helicopters. I will be flying from Oahu to Hilo for approx. $250.00. The 50 minute helicopter tour is approx. $250.00. I'm trying to decide if it is worth it. I know you can't really see it at present on foot.
Thanks!

How much do you love volcanoes? :) I would do it especially at this time because as of a few hours ago as the lava has overflowed and the sights are especially amazing right now based on the news footage I've seen. I know I may never get a chance to see any lava so if I were there I would probably spring for it.

Many people are visiting the Calderon viewing area right now, especially when it is dark (early am or night time) and you can see the red lava. We did Blue Hawaiian helicopters a few years ago and they are fantastic.

If you do it, plan to spend the night in Volcano and visit the Jagger Museum to see the caldera at night. Allegedly, it is putting on an amazing show. The challenge is, EVERYONE wants to go see it now so the lines of cars are astronomical. VNP is suggesting visitors show up after midnight and before 4am to be able to see the lake sputter and explode with the fewest number of visitors.

The first time we went to the Big Island (1978 I think), we could walk up to and on the active lava flow (but then the first time we went to the Louvre, we could touch the Mona Lisa LOL).

I'm too cheap to do a day-trip to VNP. I want to spend a week-plus and see both sides of Big Island. I want to overnight and see 'the red glow' at the volcano.

Many people do a day trip for VNP. I would do at least an overnight, given that the level in the sub-sub crater is up and visible, especially at night.

We flew from Texas to the Big Island last weekend just to see the volcano and it was definitely worth it. I would not spend $250 to take a helicopter flight since the lava is currently visible from the Jagger Museum.

We visited the volcano in the morning and the crowds were small. We returned later that afternoon and were greeted with a massive and vivid rainbow over the erupting crater.

The rangers told us that the crowds were astronomical from sunset until after 10:00 PM and to avoid coming then because parking was difficult and viewing the crater was not easy. We stayed at a B&B in Volcano just a few miles from the park. We left our room at 3:00 AM (8:00 AM Texas time) and encountered no crowds or parking problems at that time in the morning. It was still quite dark even with a full moon. The crater was much more vivid in the darkness. There were people present and the restrooms at the museum were open. By the time we left around 6:15 AM, the sun was up and the parking lot was full. The crater was still spectacular.

I am here now... We visited the volcano day before yesterday and it is very visible during the day and the crowds were not bad... We easily found parking and had no problem walking right up to each of the viewing areas. We felt very fortunate to see the flow ... It's amazing.

Some current views from overlooks:

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/cams/panorama.php?cam=K2cam
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/cams/panorama.php?cam=HWcam