So valued are the unique species and natural phenomena of this park, that it has been declared both a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve. With more than half the park designated as wilderness, hikers, bikers and other sightseers have innumerable opportunities to view landscapes and life forms found only on this island. In the midst of a rain forest, my husband, Buck, and I pull our mountain bikes out of the van. The parking lot is empty, but in a few hours cars and buses filled with tourists will crowd the area. All around us, the forest crackles with life.
Bird song fills the air.
With whirring wings, an early rising apapane darts through the trees. We hear the buzzy call of the amakihi, but cannot spot the yellow-green bird. While common in Volcanoes Park, both species of honeycreeper are found nowhere else in the world. After donning sweat shirts and helmets, we head clockwise down Crater Rim Drive. The rush of cool air splashing our faces is more exhilarating than a cold shower.