HVNP Celebrates Centennial with Special Programs

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park will celebrate its centennial in 2016.

The 100-year celebration will last throughout the year and give honor to the past century of connecting people to, and caring for, the landscape, native plants and animals, and Hawaiian culture linked to both Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes.

As part of the celebration, HVNP will host a series of centennial-themed After Dark in the Park programs on a monthly basis, beginning in January.

Each program, offered on a Tuesday, will highlight the natural and cultural resources of the park and be followed by a hike or excursion the following Saturday to connect people with the “resource of the month” and the park itself.

“We want to share stories our visitors and local residents may not be aware of through the After Dark in the Park program, then take them out into the field to experience their park in person and on foot,” said HVNP Superintendent Cindy Orlando.

The centennial series will also highlight Hawaiian culture.

To celebrate the official century mark, HVNP will celebrate with park archaeologist Dr. Jadelyn Moniz-Nakamura, who will present “The Establishment of Hawai’i National Park,” a look at the individuals in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries who played key roles in creating the national park that then included the summits of Kilauea and Haleakala on Maui.

“Each of these 12 monthly programs will enlighten participants about the park’s fascinating history and evolution, but will also emphasize the role we all play in shaping our next 100 years,” Orlando said.

The HVNP Centennial After Dark in the Park and Hike Series will be free, and no advance registration will be required. Park entrance fees apply.

The series is co-sponsored by the Friends of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

January’s After Dark in the Park event will feature Dr. Don Swanson, a research geologist at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, who will discuss lethal eruptions at Kilauea.

The event program will be hosted on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at the Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium, beginning at 7 p.m.

Following the Tuesday program, a hike “Into the Volcano” led by Park Ranger Dean Gallagher will take place on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. Hikers will witness the explosive evidence of Kilauea volcano’s not-so-distant past on a 2.7 mile round-trip hike on the floor of Kilauea caldera. Those interested in attending should meet at the Kilauea Visitor Center.