News Release

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park April 2020 Events

Date: March 10, 2020
Contact: Kekoa Rosehill, Supervisory Park Ranger, 808-985-6013

Hawaii National Park, HAWAI‘I – Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park invites visitors to “Envision Your 2020 Park Experience” during April, especially during National Park Week, April 18 through 26. The park also continues its tradition of sharing Hawaiian culture, history and stewardship programs throughout April 2020.  

National Park Week! National Park Week is an annual national celebration for people to discover and enjoy our country’s remarkable network of natural, cultural, and recreational sites. It kicks off Saturday, April 18 with a fee-free day (also Junior Ranger Day). This year’s theme, “Envisioning Your 2020 Park Experience” is perfectly suited to Hawai‘i Volcanoes, which continues to repair and reopen trails and popular park features like Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) that were damaged during Kīlauea volcano’s 2018 eruption and summit collapse. Visit the National Park Week website for more information.
When: April 18 – 26. Saturday, April 18 is a fee-free day for all fee-charging national parks.
Where: All national parks in the U.S. 

As a reminder, the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium will be closed from April 2 to June 19 for renovation, but the visitor center will remain open. Park films, including Born of Fire, Born of the Sea, will not be shown. A popular seven-and-a-half minute 2018 eruption video will continue to be shown in the exhibits area, and is available online for free download. 

The following events are free, but entrance fees may apply. Some programs are co-sponsored by Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. 

Huewai Demonstration. Water-carrying gourds were used by most ancient civilizations. Hawaiians decorated their ipu (gourds) with elaborate designs. Join Momi Greene as she shares her knowledge of cultivating, carving then dyeing ipu using endemic, indigenous or Hawaiian-introduced plants.
When: Wednesday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to noon
Where: Outside the Kīlauea Visitor Center

Special Merrie Monarch Festival Activities. Join us during the week of Merrie Monarch for an afternoon of activities and music. Learn to weave lau hala, make leis, and enjoy local music. Learn to weave lau hala with leaves (lau) from the ‘Aha Pūhala o Puna. Hawaiians have used the hala (pandanus) tree to create many useful and beautiful items for centuries. Come create, and take home your own small piece of lau hala art. Join Lehua Hauanio as she shares the art of lei making techniques including haku (to braid), kui (stringing), hīpu‘u (to fasten with knots), and hilo (twist). Hawaiians use lei for blessings, adornments for hula dancers, in ritual and healing, to honor guests, as peace offerings, celebration, and as an expression of love.
When: Thursday, April 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: On the Kīlauea Visitor Center lanai

Kahuku Coffee Talk: The Recovery of the Kaʻū Silverswords. Hawaiʻi’s native silversword is a spectacular example of a single ancestor giving rise to a stunning diversity of descendants. Unfortunately, the silverswords of Kahuku almost became extinct due to introduced sheep and cattle. Over the past two decades park managers have partnered with public and private organizations to bring these species back from the brink of extinction through large scale plant reintroduction efforts. Sierra McDaniel, botanist at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, will discuss rare plant management at the park, recent discoveries and new projects to re-establish this species at Kahuku. Free.
When: Friday, April 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Where: Meet at the Visitor Contact Station at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Enter the Kahuku Unit of the park on the mauka (inland) side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5. Kahuku is located in Ka‘ū, and is about a 1-hour drive south of the park’s main entrance.

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. (April 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30)
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, rain gear, 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: April 4, 11, 18 & 24. 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: Every Tuesday, April 7, 14, 21 & 28 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 free, and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Take a self-guided hike, or join rangers on weekends for a two-hour guided trek at 9:30 a.m. 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, rain gear, sun protection and a snack are recommended for all hikes.