The Hawaii parks segment also touches on American author and satirist Mark Twain’s lauded writings from his 1866 visit to Kilauea volcano—where he became one of the first guests to stay at the Volcano House, on the edge of Kilauea caldera. Twain also spent some time on Haleakala, engaging in visitor activities still very popular—waking up early to watch the sunrise from 10,000 feet—and now punishable by law—pushing boulders off the edge of the summit caldera, just for fun.

Burns, producer Dayton Duncan and their crew spent more than six years working on National Parks, taking their cameras everywhere from the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska to Florida's Everglades, and from Maine's Acadia National Park to Kilauea and Haleakala.

Nightly episodes of The National Parks will air at 8 p.m., repeating at 10 p.m. (Eastern/Pacific times). Hawaii PBS affiliate KHET TV will air episode one at 7 p.m., repeating at 9 p.m., Sept. 27; and episodes three through six at 8 p.m., repeating at 10 p.m., Sept. 28 - Oct. 2.

Click the frame below for a video excerpt from the Hawaii Volcanoes and Haleakala National Parks segment of The National Parks: America's Best Idea:






Check out these related HawaiiMagazine.com posts:
Hawaii National Parks waiving entrance fees for nine days beginning April 17
Check out natural wonders in Hawaii's national parks for free this weekend
SLIDESHOW: The Big Island of Hawaii’s 5 National Parks