Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Partners with French ‘Sister Park’

What does a French island in the middle of the Indian Ocean have in common with the Big Island?  How about a national park with an active volcano.

Réunion National Park is home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes, Piton de la Fournaise (“Peak of the Furnace”), which shares similarities to Kīlauea.

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has partnered with the ‘sister park’ by signing an agreement to exchange mutually beneficial information.

The two parks share numerous traits, including designations as World Heritage Sites and geological, cultural and biological attributes.

“La Réunion is a wonderful ambassador on behalf of the precious world heritage of France. Our resources join us together – shield volcanoes and endemic and endangered species. We are proud to share with the community the joining of two of the wonders of the world,” said Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando.

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is also partnered with Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes in South Korea, as well as Wudalianchi National Park in China.

NPS Photo of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Cindy
Orlando (right) and Daniel Gonthier, President of La Reunion National
Park, signing the sister park agreement at the Kīlauea Visitor Center
headquarters, May 20, 2015.