END OF ROAD - KALAPANA

So much to explore in our area...

The end of road was once a treasured Hawaiian fishing village called Kalapana.

It was also the site of one of the largest and nicest black sand beaches. But in 1990, Madame Pele changed the landscape of Hawaii dramatically. From April through December of that year, lava flowed relentlessly, burying the town and the Royal Garden Subdivision under 10 meters of molten rock.

When you visit Kalapana today, the devastation of 20 years ago is still obvious, but so is the vision of rebirth.

Uncle Robert’s & The Village Café (for lunch)

Uncle Robert is the patriarch of Hawai'i Island's southeastern village of Kalapana (the area is also called Kaimu).
His family compound is a well-known spot in this area. If you are lucky, you can hear him speak about life in days gone by and about living through Pele's awesome activities that have literally covered hundreds of homes in this region. Uncle Robert’s House, one that was spared the destruction of the lava flow, has photos of the village in pre-disaster times, along with an interesting nature trail. The stop is worth your time.