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Crater Rim Drive in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

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Crater Rim Drive is a 10.6-mile loop roadway of the Kilauea Caldera found within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  The original portions of the drive were complete by 1910, and the entire loop corridor was functionally opened to traffic by 1934.  The originally alignment of Hawaii Route 11 was carried by the northern portion of Crater Rim Drive until being relocated onto the Mamalahoa Highway Bypass in 1961.  A significant portion of southwestern Crater Rim Drive was destroyed by eruptions between 2008-2018 and now lie in a state of abandonment.  


This page is part of the Gribblenation Hawaii Roads series.  A compellation of all Hawaii-related media from both Gribblenation and RoadwayWiz can be found by clicking here. 




Part 1; the history of Crater Rim Drive

Crater Rim Drive of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as currently comprised is a semi-circle of the Kilauea Caldera.  The roadway is open to traffic from the Uekahuna viewpoint clockwise to Chain of Craters Road. Much of the history of Crater Rim Drive can be found in the detailed National Park Service report from 2006 titled "Crater Rim Historic District Hawaii Volcanoes National Park."  The Crater Rim Drive Historic District comprises the entire 10.6-mile loop the now partially destroyed roadway once occupied. 

In 1846 the original Volcano House was completed on the northeast rim of the Kilauea Caldera.  Shortly after being constructed a trail was plotted for access to Kilauea itself.  In 1860 a 28-mile horse worthy road (Mamalahoa Highway) was constructed from the Volcano House to Hilo.  In 1888 the Peter Lee Road (again Mamalahoa Highway) was constructed from Punaluu to the Volcano House.  The 1860-era road from Volcano House to Hilo was modernized in 1894.  

Between 1908-1910 the Halemaumau Road was constructed along the eastern rim Kilauea Caldera to the namesake Halemaumau Crater.  At the time Halemaumau Crater was frequently active and this was the first portion constructed of what would become Crater Rim Drive.  A shortcut to the Halemaumau Road was built by Peter Lee in 1911 and the corridor would be rebuilt to automotive standards by 1912.  On August 1, 1916, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park would be established.  

The Halemaumau Road can be seen below as it was in 1916 upon the establishment of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  


In 1922 the National Park Service began modernization of Crater Rim Drive.  The roadway was widened to a width of 16-18 feet via 1925 era improvements.  Crater Rim Drive from Halemaumau to Uwekahuna Bluff was constructed circa 1930-1931.  The roadway was completed around Kilauea Caldera following the construction of a segment from Uwekahuna to the Bird Park by 1934. 

Crater Rim Drive can be seen below as how it was configured in 1941. Mamalahoa Highway can be seen using the northern portions of Crater Rim Drive as a thru-road. 


In 1955 the Hawaii Route System was expanded to the Big Island.  The northern portion of Crater Rim Drive carrying Mamalahoa Highway was assigned as Hawaii Route 11.  Hawaii Route 11 can be seen using northern Crater Rim Drive and what is now Old Volcano Road on the 1959 Gousha Highway map of Hawaii.  


By 1961 Hawaii Route 11 was relocated north of Crater Rim Drive onto the current Mamalahoa Highway Bypass.  Crater Rim Drive was rebuilt via a new connecting road to Uwekahuna Bluff and a new Park entrance was constructed.  The Bird Park segment was decommissioned and a new grade bypassing the 1959-1960 eruption zone near Kilauea Iki was constructed.  

Crater Rim Drive was realigned from Waldron Ledge onto the 1961 era bypass following a large earthquake in 1981.  In 1982 the portion of the roadway between Halemaumau and Keanakakoi was damaged significantly by an eruption from Kilauea Iki.  The original Waldron Ledge segment was destroyed by volcanic activity and repurposed into the Crater Rim Trail in 1983.  

The National Park Service closed much of the southwest segment of Crater Rim Drive due to eruptions from Halemaumau beginning in March 2008.  The roadway was significantly damaged by the eruptions and in 2018 much of it collapsed into the Kilauea Caldera.  The destroyed portions of Crater Rim Drive have been abandoned and are now accessible as a trail beyond Keanakakoi. 



Part 2; a trip on Crater Rim Drive

From the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park entrance traffic reaches the junction of eastern and western Crater Rim Drive.  The park visitor center is located on the western segment.  






Crater Rim Drive west of the park visitor center passes the Kukamahuakea Steam Vents.  










Westbound Crater Rim Drive passes the Kilauea Military Camp and the Kilauea Overlook.  The camp opened in 1916 and currently used as Morale, Welfare and Recreation facility.  





From the Kilauea Overlook much of the larger caldera can be seen.  Kilauea is thought to be between 210,000-280,000 years old and likely rose out of the Pacific Ocean approximately 100,000 years ago.  The volcano is the second youngest hot spot in the Hawaiian Islands.  From January 1983 through April 2018 the volcano was in a state of constant eruption.  These eruptions destroyed the towns of Kalapana and Kaimu in 1990.  





Western Crater Rim Drive currently ends at the Uekahuna Overlook.  The abandoned roadway to the west is easily observed beyond a closure gate.  













Eastern Crater Rim Drive begins with a pullout at the Kilauea Iki Overlook.  The damage from the 1959 era eruption is easily observed from the vista.  













Crater Rim Drive passes the busy trailhead for Thurston Lava Tube.  The trail is one of the most visited in the park and was acquired by the National Park Service 1933.  The trail within the lava tube is thought to have been constructed circa 1933-1934.  


























I'm not sure why a "road work ahead" sign was on a trail? 


Eastern Crater Rim Drive continues to Chain of Craters Road.  The abandoned roadway can be seen behind a rest area at the Chain of Craters Road intersection. 




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