HVNP Celebrates National Park Week: April 16 to April 24
![Visitors gather every night at the Jaggar Museum observation deck to witness the summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano from Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day. NPS Photo/Michael Szoenyi.](http://bigislandnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Visitors-gather-to-watch-Halema‘uma‘u_Michael-Szoenyi-1-300x200.jpg)
Visitors gather every night at the Jaggar Museum observation deck to witness the summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano from Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day. NPS Photo/Michael Szoenyi.
National Park Week, which runs from April 16 to April 24, will be celebrated at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and across the nation with free admission to park grounds.
During the nine day celebration, entrance fees will be waived and several events will take place, including National Park Rx Day on Sunday, April 24.
“There’s no better way to celebrate the centennial anniversaries of both Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the National Park Service than by inviting our community and visitors to enjoy the park at no charge,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “Your park ‘ohana welcomes you to join us for a special program, reconnect with your favorite trail, or stay after dark to admire the splendor of glowing lava within Halema‘uma‘u Crater.”
On Saturday, April 16, HVNP will celebrate Junior Ranger Day. Children under the age of 17 are invited to join park rangers in the Kahuku Unit from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants in the program will hike the lower Palm Trail and learn how to make traditional string figures, called hei.
Interested participants must register by calling 985-6019, as the activity is limited to 25 participants.
On Wednesday, April 20, kupuna hula group Haunani’s Aloha Expressions will perform for free at the Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Ending National Park Week on Sunday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the park will host a “National Park Rx Day,” a community health initiative to “prescribe” time in parks to promote wellness.
Park rangers and Dr. Craig Kadooka will take interested participants on an easy one-mile roundtrip hike of upper ‘Iliahi Trail. Meet at Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai at 10 a.m.
The first 200 walkers will receive a reusable water bottle and fresh fruit. Hawaiian practitioners Edna and Sam Baldado will demonstrate the health benefits of kalo, and Ka‘ohu Monfort will share how Hawaiians use plants to heal and cure. HMSA will also be at a table with health information.