News Release

2020 Cultural Festival Goes Virtual at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

2020 Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Virtual Cultural Festival flyer

NPS Graphic/A.LaValle

News Release Date: June 30, 2020

Contact: Jessica Ferracane, 808-985-6018

Hawaii National Park, HAWAI‘I – Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s annual Cultural Festival, normally scheduled the first Saturday in July for nearly 40 years, will instead be held virtually July 5 through July 11 on social media due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We are excited to share Hawaiian culture by adapting one of our most cherished park events so everyone can participate virtually and safely on our official Facebook page,” said Park Ranger Kekoa Rosehill. 

True to the festival’s legacy, Hawaiian culture will be shared with a wide audience free of charge. But instead of gathering the community and visitors together in person, the park will share short videos and other mana‘o (knowledge) about Hawaiian culture virtually, starting this Sunday, July 5 and culminating on Saturday, July 11. Visit Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hawaiivolcanoesnps/ to participate. 

Please mark your calendar to join us and #FindYourVirtualPark during these events: 
 
Opening Oli Komo. Park staff and ‘ohana blow the pū (conch shell) and chant the Oli Komo together requesting permission to begin the Virtual Cultural Festival. The Oli Komo, which expresses the intent to learn and do good, was gifted to the park by Kepā Maly. Ranger Kekoa Rosehill narrates. 
Date: Sunday, July 5
Time: 8:08 a.m. post time, but the content will be available any time afterwards 

Mo‘olelo & Places. Learn the mo‘olelo (stories) of Pele the volcano goddess, Kamapua‘a the pig demigod and others on the park’s new web page which debuts in the morning. That afternoon, the park will launch the new Places page, which shares mana‘o (knowledge) about the wahi pana (legendary places) protected within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, including Uēkahuna, the sacred bluff near Jaggar Museum. 
Date: Monday, July 6
Time: 8:08 a.m. and 4 p.m. respectively, but the content will be available any time afterwards 

Learn to Make a Tī Leaf Lei with Ranger Leilani. Learn how to select tī leaves, prepare them for lei making and how to twist them into a beautiful and easy-to-make garland. Ranger Leilani Rodrigues of the Kahuku Unit shows you how! 
Date: Tuesday, July 7
Time: 8:08 a.m. post time, but the content will be available any time afterwards 


Facebook Watch Party for the documentary, Saving ‘Ōhi‘a. Grab lunch and join us for a free screening of the Emmy-award winning 28-minute documentary, Saving ‘Ōhi‘a. This 2018 film explains the significance of the ‘ōhi‘a tree to the people of Hawai‘i and environment, and the threat that the new disease called "Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death" poses to these values. Park ecologist David Benitez, park botanist Sierra McDaniel and filmmaker Annie Sullivan will answer questions in real time in the comments. The documentary was filmed partially in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
Date: Wednesday, July 8
Time: Noon

Hawaiian Lua (Martial Arts) with Ranger Michael & Ranger Olivia. Bone-breaking maneuvers and war clubs encircled with tiger shark teeth are probably not the first things that come to mind when you picture the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiian fighting style of lua is a formidable art form that requires skill, specific movement and a host of deadly weapons. Rangers Michael Newman and Olivia Crabtree demonstrate this traditional fighting style. 
Date: Thursday, July 9 
Time: 8:08 a.m. post time, but the content will be available any time afterwards 

Learn to Make a Pūlumi Nī‘au (Hawaiian Broom) with Ranger Dean. Get swept up in gathering plant materials and learn to make a pūlumi nī‘au, or authentic Hawaiian broom, with Ranger Dean Gallagher. 
Date: Friday, July 10 
Time: 8:08 a.m. post time, but the content will be available any time afterwards 

Closing Oli Mahalo. Park staff and ‘ohana blow the pū (conch shell) and chant the Oli Mahalo together requesting departure to close the Virtual Cultural Festival. Gifted to the park by Kepā Maly, the Oli Mahalo expresses gratitude. Ranger Kekoa Rosehill narrates. 
Date: Saturday, July 11
Time: 8:08 a.m. post time, but the content will be available any time afterwards 

Although the videos debut each day at 8:08 a.m. (except the noon watch party for Saving ‘Ōhi‘a on July 8), the Virtual Cultural Festival content will be available on Facebook at any time. 

Many areas in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that provide outdoor experiences like hiking trails, overlooks and roads, are now open to the public, but services are limited. Visit the Current Conditions page on the park website for a complete list of what’s open, and how to prepare for a safe trip to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 
 

-NPS-