Kipuka Puaulu

One of many fascinating features of Volcanoes National Park, Kipuka Puaulu, located on Mauna Loa, is a reminder of how lava flowing from the mountain is at once creator and destroyer. A "kipuka," loosely translated, is an island of native, old-growth flora that's been isolated from the rest of the forest by lava flows. Today, the trail that loops around Kipuka Puaulu is popular with hikers because it provides the opportunity to see rare plants and native birds. Information about Kipuka Puaulu is available at the Kilauea Visitor Center.