Hi'iaka Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hi'iaka Crater is a smallish collapse feature that formed in 1968 and was further modified in 1973 by lava that flowed from both nearby vents and a vent that opened within the lower south wall of the crater. Although the crater itself is uninteresting, there are many fascinating features to be seen by wandering around Hi'iaka and the lava flow, such as tree molds formed where pahoehoe lava backed-up behind trees and formed compression ribbons like poured taffy. By walking about 300 feet southwest from the turnout, one can find the large Koa'e Fault scarp, where it acted as a dam to flows coming out of Hi'iaka Crater in 1973.

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