MacKenzie State Recreation Area is a park in southern Puna , on Hawaii Island in the US state of Hawaii . At only , it is a small park that is only open during the daytime . It provides picnicking facilities and restrooms , but there is no drinking water . Fishing is allowed but swimming is discouraged due to the rocky shore and cliffs and strong currents . A hiking trail follows the old Hawaiian coastal path , " the King 's Highway " , and passes the mouths of lava tubes . The park contains the largest grove of ironwood trees in Hawaii which were planted in the 1930s by ranger Albert J. MacKenzie , who after his death at age 21 became the namesake of the park . The park is considered part of the Malama Ki Forest Reserve . The park was closed to the public in May 2018 due to a flank eruption of Kīlauea when lava flows erupting in lower Puna approached the park and entered the ocean at two locations nearby
a flank eruption of Kīlauea
2018 lower Puna eruption
MacKenzie State Recreation Area