Hawaii Volcanoes National Park continues its tradition of sharing Hawaiian culture and After Dark in the Park programs with the community and visitors in July.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park continues its tradition of sharing Hawaiian culture and After Dark in the Park programs with the community and visitors in July.
Most programs are free, but park entrance fees apply. Programs are cosponsored by the Hawaii Pacific Parks Association. Mark your calendar for these upcoming events:
• 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday: Ulana lauhala at the Kilauea Visitor Center lanai. Learn to weave a decorative star from leaves of the pandanus tree. Lau hala are used to create a wide array of attractive, useful, and traditional Hawaiian arts and crafts. Part of Hawaii Volcanoes’ ‘Ike Hana No‘eau “Experience the Skillful Work” workshops. Free.
• 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, July 12: Cultural festival in Kahuku at the Kahuku unit. The 34th annual Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Cultural Festival will be hosted in Kahuku this year. Enjoy hula kahiko and music, watch skilled practitioners demonstrate their art and try your hand at Hawaiian crafts. Taste traditional, ono Hawaiian foods. Bring water, rain jacket and ground mat or chair, plus sunscreen and a hat. No pets. Lunch and beverages will be available for sale. This is a family friendly, drug- and alcohol-free event. The Kahuku unit is the southernmost section of the national park, and is located on the mauka side of Highway 11 at mile marker 70.5. Free entry and free parking. Sponsors include Hawaii Pacific Parks Association, Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Ka‘u Hawaiian Civic Club, Kilauea Military Camp and sister parks in West Hawaii. Call 985-6011 or email havo_interpretation@nps.gov.
• 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 15: Hula performance at Kilauea Visitor Center. Visiting from Honolulu, the ladies of Halau Hula Kamamolikolehua, under the direction of kumu hula Pohai Souza, share hula ‘auana with several other halau and music by Kualoa, featuring Kula Abiva and Poki‘i Vaughan. Part of Hawaii Volcanoes’ ongoing After Dark in the Park series. $2 admission.
• 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 29: “The Untold Story: Internment of Japanese Americans in Hawaii”at Kilauea Visitor Center. While the story of the 1942 mass round-up, eviction and imprisonment of Japanese Americans in California, Oregon and Washington has been well documented, very little is known about the Hawaii internees and their unique experience during World War II. This is the first full-length documentary to chronicle this untold story in Hawaii’s history. $2 admission.