MacKenzie State Park
MacKenzie State Park
4
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4.0
43 reviews
Excellent
19
Very good
18
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
1
DejaK
Las Vegas, NV63 contributions
Feb 2021 • Family
This place has a lot of history of my ancestors this place is said to be haunted..However this place will forever have my heart. Big island is my home, but I’m here visiting from Las Vegas. My honey proposed and I said yes..
Be mindful of our land and respect all the spirits when you come here. Beautiful view 🌊
Be mindful of our land and respect all the spirits when you come here. Beautiful view 🌊
Written 23 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nicfromperth
Perth, Australia22 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
We came to MacKenzie a couple of days after it reopened on Sept 8. Google gets a bit confused with directions due to the recent damage to infrastructure and homes caused by the eruption.
There are new black sand beaches, ridges and cliffs and it's amazing and really worth the drive down.
To get there:
1. Take 130 south all the way to the end (Kaimu Beach Park) and turn left onto 137. You'll drive over a section of road being repaired- the clouds rising either side of the road are sulfur, which is pretty interesting.
2. Drive all the way down 137 along the coast- you will see a couple of signs that say the road ahead is closed and for local residents only- keep going.
3. When you approach the road closure barrier on 137, the entrance to the park is on your right.
4. To get to the lava fields, face the ocean and walk to your left for about 10-15 mins. You cannot miss them.
Cautions:
1. It's really hot- bring water, sunscreen and a hat
2. Wear really solid shoes- the lava scree is very sharp and loose
3. Some bits of the field appear to be a bit unstable, but we didnt have issues- jusy exercise caution. Because they are so new, there arent any trails marked yet beyond the first little beach, although someone has marked some of the way with white coral 'breadcrumbs'
There are new black sand beaches, ridges and cliffs and it's amazing and really worth the drive down.
To get there:
1. Take 130 south all the way to the end (Kaimu Beach Park) and turn left onto 137. You'll drive over a section of road being repaired- the clouds rising either side of the road are sulfur, which is pretty interesting.
2. Drive all the way down 137 along the coast- you will see a couple of signs that say the road ahead is closed and for local residents only- keep going.
3. When you approach the road closure barrier on 137, the entrance to the park is on your right.
4. To get to the lava fields, face the ocean and walk to your left for about 10-15 mins. You cannot miss them.
Cautions:
1. It's really hot- bring water, sunscreen and a hat
2. Wear really solid shoes- the lava scree is very sharp and loose
3. Some bits of the field appear to be a bit unstable, but we didnt have issues- jusy exercise caution. Because they are so new, there arent any trails marked yet beyond the first little beach, although someone has marked some of the way with white coral 'breadcrumbs'
Written 13 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kalamakid
Kailua, HI1,102 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
We followed Nicfromperth's TripAdvisor review and the instructions were right on. (Thumb up Nic) They were clearing trees just before the entrance when we visited so needed to wait several minutes coming and going but that's ok. We took a different route but wound up on 137 and went past all the residents only signs. Checked out our beloved cliffs which amazingly are still there, for now at least, and some have new black sand beaches as well. Walked over to the new flow on the left and followed the palm and white coral markers, checked out a few more brand new black sand beaches and didn't go as far as Pohoiki but at least could see it. Super exposed and hot out there, rough crumbly a'a which is sharp or sharper than glass so whatever you do, wear a hat, bring water, and wear decent shoes, not slippers or light canvas shoes (the a'a can cut through that like a razor). We passed a local lady who had leather hiking boots on and her soles were coming off and the leather was all slashed. Yikes. Anyway, totally worth it, super beautiful, and for those of us born and raised in the islands, it just feels good to know that MacKenzie is still there (again, for now) and all is well. Except for everyone who lost their homes. That still sucks.
Written 3 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
karen1monger
Norwich, CT, USA196 contributions
Dec 2012 • Family
There are some current improvements being made here, hopefully it involves bathrooms, because the existing ones are scary. This seems almost like a forgotten park, with a poor sign, a poorly paved road, and bad restrooms, but we recommend it anyway.
No beach, and the surf will sometimes crash pretty hard on the cliffs. A friend told us about a colleague of his that died picking opihi in the rough surf, no swimming! There are some lava tubes here to peek into. While they may appear to be large enough to explore, we also heard rumors of transients living within them, and did see evidence of long-term tube occupation. Some folks appear to be living in their cars here, or camping off in the woods. Mostly they will leave you alone.
Take a walk to the right, and eventually come to a sandy "road" lined with mature coconut trees and tidepools in the black lava rocks. The isolation is wonderful. Rain squalls will sneak up on you, but don't worry, the sun will be back out in 10 minutes. Relax here, poke around in the tidepool, search for whole coconuts, and dream about living on a beach forever. The casaurina trees drop lots of needs to make a deep. soft duff to rest on, bring a chair and a book, but don't forget the bug lotion, there are some mozzies.
No beach, and the surf will sometimes crash pretty hard on the cliffs. A friend told us about a colleague of his that died picking opihi in the rough surf, no swimming! There are some lava tubes here to peek into. While they may appear to be large enough to explore, we also heard rumors of transients living within them, and did see evidence of long-term tube occupation. Some folks appear to be living in their cars here, or camping off in the woods. Mostly they will leave you alone.
Take a walk to the right, and eventually come to a sandy "road" lined with mature coconut trees and tidepools in the black lava rocks. The isolation is wonderful. Rain squalls will sneak up on you, but don't worry, the sun will be back out in 10 minutes. Relax here, poke around in the tidepool, search for whole coconuts, and dream about living on a beach forever. The casaurina trees drop lots of needs to make a deep. soft duff to rest on, bring a chair and a book, but don't forget the bug lotion, there are some mozzies.
Written 13 January 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cindy H
Alameda, CA1,518 contributions
Feb 2020
This was just one more in a great find driving around the area. We spent the next day after touring the Volcanoes National Park seeing this area. It's amazing to see the destruction all the way to the sea from the lava. So barren and brutal in its path. But along the way you have some really cool drives through some tree-lined roads that you never know what you will come across around the next curve.
Written 29 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NZP0PPY
New Zealand28,190 contributions
Nov 2018 • Family
VNP staff advised us to come here to see where the lava had flowed into the sea. We were able to walk across the lava fields with the ocean crashing onto the newly formed cliffs.
the lava had some steam vents and was still warm in places,
Very rugged so good closed in shoes needed to walk on lava.
the lava had some steam vents and was still warm in places,
Very rugged so good closed in shoes needed to walk on lava.
Written 29 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark C
Sheboygan Falls, WI231 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
I wish I'd known about this park and read the reviews here before we visited, we didn't know about hiking over to the new flows. We stopped here on a whim as we went by coming back from Isaac Hale park, it looked pretty and it sure is. Right near the park entrance there are spectacular cliffs along the sea, and it's forested and shady, very nice. This would be a great place to hang out for a picnic and listen to the waves crashing in. Definitely worth a stop and a few photos, and if you're adventurous, read the other reviews here about hiking to the new lava. Pay attention to the advice about footwear, while we didn't hike here, we do have experience hiking a'a and it can be brutal.
Written 14 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cosmopolitan9643
San Francisco, CA2 contributions
Jan 2019 • Friends
Drove here from volcano after visiting the national park. Worth it for the drive alone. But once there it’s both breathtaking and haunting. The waves break directly onto the cliffs and the spray washes over the top depending on where you stand. Locals believe the place is haunted and I can see how you may feel that.
Written 8 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pat M
Florida48 contributions
Dec 2017
This unadvertised stop is a gem. Easy access, peaceful and beautiful. You can easily walk the cliffs and see how the lava flows have done their magic. Combine the ocean doing its work to make a views right out of a geologist’s notebook.
Written 12 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gldnpupper27
Knoxville, TN1,597 contributions
July 2017 • Couples
We were just about all by ourselves the day we found Mackenzie State Park. It is a small park, but strangely beautiful. I could have stayed there and just sat for hours. It is located on a high cliff, with no way down that you would even WANT to consider taking. If you do, you won't be coming back up. I would be afraid to bring small children here, as it is really too dangerous if they were to get close to the edge. The views are incredible and you definitely feel the strength of the pounding waves. There were pine needles all over the ground, which gave you more of the feeling that you were in the Pacific Northwest...not Hawaii. This is a great place for a picnic or to just sit and read. In fact, they have a couple of tables and stools that are actually made out of lava rock that are very unique...but not comfortable! :O Very worth a stop and really should not be missed.
Written 31 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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