Hawaii Volcanoes National Park continues its tradition of sharing Hawaiian culture, After Dark in the Park talks, stewardship programs and opportunities to explore the Kahuku Unit during November.
Visitors are encouraged to check the park’s online calendar of events at www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/calendar.htm and look for program fliers posted after 9:30 a.m. on the bulletin board at Kilauea Visitor Center.
Park programs are free, but entrance fees apply. Here is a look at specific upcoming events:
Free Entrance on Veterans Day
All fee-charging national parks, including HVNP, are waiving entrance fees on this day to honor the men and women who served in the U.S. military and to invite everyone to experience their American heritage by visiting national parks at no charge.
When: Monday, Nov. 11 all day
Sixty Years Later: 1959 eruption of Kilauea Iki and its Impacts on Volcanology
Just after 8 p.m. Nov. 14, 1959, a fissure erupted on the south wall of Kilauea Iki Crater. Within a day, multiple vents along the fissure consolidated into one main vent. During the next five weeks, lava fountains gushed from the vent in 17 separate episodes, flooding the crater with a lava lake about 440 feet deep. Lava fragments falling from the high fountains also formed a cinder-and-spatter cone named Pu‘u Pua‘i (gushing hill) on the rim of Kilauea Iki. Three days before the eruption ended Dec. 20, 1959, lava blasted 1,900 feet above the vent — the highest lava fountain ever measured in Hawaii. Join Don Swanson, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist emeritus, as he talks about this remarkable eruption and how it stands apart from all eruptive activity at Kilauea since then. Part of the After Dark in the Park series.
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12
Where: Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium
Na Pa‘ani Hula
Hawaiians have expressed themselves through hula, oli (chant) and mele (song) since ancient times, reveling in rhythm and music. Hula practitioner Amy Kaawaloa demonstrates the instruments used to provide rhythmic structure to hula, na pa‘ani hula. Part of the ‘Ike Hana No‘eau “Experience the Skillful Work” workshops.
When: 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Nov. 13
Where: Outside Hale Noa o Kilauea, across from the Volcano Art Center Gallery
‘Ulu Maika
Celebrate the annual Hawaiian makahiki season and come ‘ulu maika at the park. ‘Ulu maika resembles American bowling, but uses two stakes and a disc-shaped tone instead of pins and a bowling ball. The stakes are set in the ground a few inches apart and the goal is to roll the stone between the stakes. Join park rangers and staff from Hawaii Pacific Parks Association for this fun event. Part of the ‘Ike Hana No‘eau “Experience the Skillful Work” workshops.
When: 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Nov. 27
Where: Outside Hale Noa o Kilauea, across from the Volcano Art Center Gallery