News Release

July 2019 Events at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

A USGS geologist monitors volcanic gas during Kīlauea's 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption

USGS Photo

News Release Date: June 13, 2019

Contact: Jessica Ferracane, 808-985-6018

Note to editors: High-resolution public domain photos are available in the park’s Flickr album: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmEdHrfV.  

Hawaii National Park, Hawai‘i – Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park continues to share Hawaiian tradition with the return of the annual Cultural Festival and ongoing ‘Ike Hana No‘eau demonstrations, plus the park offers After Dark in the Park talks, volunteer programs and opportunities to explore the Kahuku Unit throughout July 2019. 

Visitors are encouraged to check the park’s online calendar of events, and look for program flyers posted after 9:30 a.m. on the bulletin board at Kīlauea Visitor Center: https://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/calendar.htm.  

Park programs are free, but entrance fees apply. Some programs are co-sponsored by Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. Mark your calendar for these upcoming events: 

Celebrate Hawaiian culture at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s Cultural Festival, held at the beautiful Kahuku Unit on Saturday, July 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come learn about the Hawaiian culture and enjoy the music of these islands. Experience traditional ‘oli (chant) and hula (dance) while learning a traditional craft.  It will be a fun-filled, family-friendly day that shares the connection of Hawaiian people to this storied place on Mauna Loa volcano. Kahuku is on the mauka (inland) side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5, a 50-minute drive south of the park’s main entrance. Water, raingear, and sun protection are recommended. FREE!  

Stewardship of Kīpukapuaulu. Help remove troublesome plants at Kīpukapuaulu, home to diverse native forest and understory plants. Bring clippers or pruners, sturdy gloves, a hat, and water. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothing that you don’t mind getting permanently stained from morning glory sap. Be prepared for cool and wet or hot and sunny weather. New volunteer? Contact Marilyn Nicholson for more info: [e-mail]. 
When: Every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. except July 4 (July 5, 11, 18 & 25)
Where: Meet at the Kīpukapuaulu parking lot, Mauna Loa Road, off Highway 11 in the park. 

Stewardship at the Summit. Volunteer to help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, a World Heritage Site. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, raingear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Under 18? Parental or guardian accompaniment or written consent is required. Visit the park website for additional planning details: https://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/summit_stewardship.htm. 
When: July 6, 12, 20 & 26. Meet at 8:45 a.m. 
Where: Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center on any of the above dates.

A Walk into the Past with Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar. Walk back to 1912, and meet the founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar, at the edge of Kīlauea Volcano. Dressed in period costume, Ka‘ū actor-director Dick Hershberger brings the renowned geologist to life. Dr. Jaggar will take you on a tour of his tiny lab located below the Volcano House to see original seismograph equipment and other early instruments. You’ll learn what motivated Dr. Jaggar to dedicate his life to the study of Hawaiian volcanoes, and how his work helps save lives today. Space is limited; pick up your free ticket at the Kīlauea Visitor Center’s front desk the day of the program. Program includes climbing stairs and entering a confined space. Supported by the Kīlauea Drama Entertainment Network (KDEN). Free (park entrance fees apply). 
When: July 2, 9, 16 & 23 at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Each performance is about an hour. 
Where: Meet at Kīlauea Visitor Center

Explore Kahuku. The Kahuku Unit is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free! Take a self-guided hike, or join rangers on Sundays for a two-hour guided trek at 9:30 a.m. (The trail will vary depending on visitor interest). Enter the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on the mauka (inland) side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5. Kahuku is located in Ka‘ū, and is about a 50-minute drive south of the park’s main entrance. Sturdy footwear, water, raingear, sun protection and a snack are recommended for all hikes. 

Kīlauea 2018 Volcanic Pollution: from Source to Exposed Communities. Gas and aerosol-rich volcanic plumes can have serious impact on human health and the environment. While impacts from major components like sulfur dioxide have been the subject of multiple studies, the trace components such as lead, arsenic and cadmium, are poorly understood. Kīlauea volcano’s lower East Rift Zone eruption of 2018 provided an unprecedented opportunity for volcanologist Dr. Evgenia Ilyinskaya and her team from the Universities of Leeds, Cambridge and Oxford, U.K., to collaborate with U.S. Geological Survey and the State Dept. of Health to deploy ground-based and aerial monitoring equipment for analysis. Join us for a fascinating look at what volcanic pollution really contains and its potential implications for environmental impacts.  Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ongoing After Dark in the Park series. Free (park entrance fees apply).
When: Tuesday, July 2 at 7 p.m. 
Where: Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium 

Postcards from the Edge – Painting Workshop with Artist-in-Residence Alice Leese. Artists of all abilities will love this rare opportunity to meet and paint with the park’s resident artist for July, Alice Leese, on the edge of Kīlauea Volcano. Leese, a Texas cattle rancher whose dramatic oil paintings and other mediums capture the colorful west, will provide one workshop during her residency. Limited to 12 people, attendees will receive a postcard-sized blank canvas but must bring their own paints and a small travel easel. Cost is $75, and includes lunch at Volcano House. Register with the Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Co-sponsored by the Volcano House and National Parks Arts Foundation. Park entrance fees apply. 
When: Sunday, July 7 from 10 a.m. to noon. 
Where: The edge of Kīlauea behind Volcano House  

New Insights from Kīlauea Volcano’s 2018 Lower East Rift Zone Eruption. The May to August 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption resulted in numerous new insights into how Kīlauea Volcano works, and provided scientists new opportunities to improve their understanding of volcano hazards. Matt Patrick, a geologist with USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, describes the expected and unexpected aspects of this eruption and discusses how the activity might be used to improve his and other scientists’ ability to forecast future hazards on Kīlauea. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ongoing After Dark in the Park series. Free (park entrance fees apply).
When: Tuesday, July 9 at 7 p.m. 
Where: Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium 

Kui Kalo Demonstration. Make poi, the staple food of the Hawaiian diet. The root of the kalo plant is cooked and ku‘i (pounded) to create this classic Hawaiian dish. Join Ranger Keoni Kaholo‘a‘ā as he shares his knowledge of kale for this authentic cultural experience. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ‘Ike Hana No‘eau “Experience the Skillful Work” workshops. Free (park entrance fees apply).
When: Wednesday, July 10 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
Where: Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai

Texas Rancher & Painter Alice Leese – July’s Artist in Residence. Come see how Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park will inspire Texan Alice Leese, who was chosen as July’s artist in residence. Leese is renowned for her evocative and vibrant oil paintings of western landscapes (including wildfire), nature, and ranch life that she says don’t necessarily capture a specific area, but instead, what it feels like to be there. While in the park, Leese – who works her family’s 100-year-old ranch – will feel the volcanic panoramas, plants and animals, then share her artistic interpretations with the public. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ongoing After Dark in the Park series, and co-sponsored by the National Park Arts Foundation and Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Free (park entrance fees apply).
When: Tuesday, July 16, at 7 p.m. 
Where: Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium 

A Rock in the Park: Tale of the Wanderer. A rediscovered rock near an overgrown hiking trail within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park reveals mysterious letters and words carved into it: Wanderer. What unfolds next are the amazing voyages of Benjamin Boyd and his yacht, Wanderer. Storms at sea, a daring rescue, pitched battles in the South Pacific! Join historian Hugh Montgomery and actor Dick Hershberger in a two-man play that brings this epic tale to life. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ongoing After Dark in the Park series. Free (park entrance fees apply).
When: Tuesday, July 23 at 7 p.m. 
Where: Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium 

Kāhili Demonstration. Create your own small kāhili pa‘a lima, a handheld feather standard. Kāhili are a form of Hawaiian feather work that traditionally acknowledged a person’s status and genealogy and offered spiritual protection. They are beautiful examples of Hawaiian art.  Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ‘Ike Hana No‘eau “Experience the Skillful Work” workshops. Free (park entrance fees apply).
When: Wednesday, July 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
Where: Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai
 

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