News Release

January 2023 Events at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

January is Volcano Awareness Month!

Mauna Loa volcano's Northeast Rift Zone erupting on November 30, 2022

USGS Photo

News Release Date: December 19, 2022

Contact: Jessica Ferracane, 808-985-6018

HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaiʻi – Want to guarantee a very hauʻoli (happy) 2023? Put the January events happening from Kaʻū to Kīlauea at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on your new calendar! January is also Volcano Awareness Month and your park is excited to host three programs by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists after dark and in broad daylight. 

All events are free, but entrance fees may apply. Some programs are co-sponsored by Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. Programs are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Check the park website calendar for more information.

ʻIke Hana Noʻeau Hawaiian Cultural Demonstrations are Back! Learn to create beautiful designs with traditional patterns using ‘ohe kāpala (bamboo stamps). Originally used to decorate clothing with deep symbolic meanings, we now use the designs on ‘ohe kāpala to tell stories on a variety of modern materials. Bring your own bag or t-shirt and stamp away. Part of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park’s ongoing ‘Ike Hana Noʻeau (Experience the Skillful Work) Hawaiian cultural programs.
When: Wednesday, January 11 from 10 a.m. to noon
Where: ʻŌhiʻa Wing (across Crater Rim Drive from Kīlauea Visitor Center)  
 
Fee-Free Day on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. All fee-charging national parks including Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park are free in honor of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
When: Monday, January 16
Where: All fee-charging national parks in the U.S.  
 
Liliʻuokalani at Washington Place. January 17 marks the anniversary of the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893. The park presents an amazing one-woman show written and performed by Jackie Pualani Johnson who reenacts the Queen’s remembrance and the solace she found in family after the overthrow of her kingdom. Jackie Pualani Johnson developed her portrayal from the writings of Queen Liliʻuokalani, the Queen’s family and other historical sources. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ongoing After Dark in the Park programs.
When: Tuesday, January 17 at 7 p.m.  
Where: Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium   
 
Kahuku Coffee Talk: Waʻa Lashing & Cordage. James Akau, lifelong Kaʻū community member, sailor and ʻāina enthusiast shares his knowledge of Hawaiian cordage and how it was used for lashing on Hawaiian waʻa (outrigger canoes). James has been a ship engineer and scientific diver. Part of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes’ ongoing Kahuku Coffee Talk programs.
When: Saturday, January 21 at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station  

Volcano Awareness Month began on the Island of Hawai‘i in 2010. During the month of January, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, in cooperation with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and other partners, promotes the importance of understanding and respecting the volcanoes on which we live through community talks and guided walks. You are invited to the following programs in your park: 

Hike Back in Time to the 1969-74 Maunaulu Eruption. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Geologist Dr. Carolyn Parcheta leads a two-hour guided walk along the fissure that stared the Maunaulu eruption on May 24, 1969. Lava continued to erupt over the next five years, making it the longest observed effusive rift eruption of the time. The eruption ultimately built a lava shield, Maunaulu (growing mountain), a prominent landmark on Kilauea volcano’s East Rift Zone. It also sent lava flows to the coast and allowed for detailed observations of eruption processes. During the walk, Carolyn will describe how fissures form, how lava fountains erupt, how these eruptions create the environments you see and why some lava drained back into the ground. Bring sun protection, rain gear, day pack, snacks and water. Part of the USGS Volcano Awareness Month programs. 
When: Sunday, January 22 at 10 am. or 2 p.m. 
Where: Meet at the Maunaulu parking lot prior to the hike start time

Insights from the First Mauna Loa Eruption in Nearly 40 Years. After 38 years of quiesence, Mauna Loa erupted from November 27 through December 10, 2022. The eruption began in the summit caldera and within a day had migrated to the Northeast Rift Zone. Lava flows moved downslope on the northeast flank but eventually stalled before impacting a major highway. Join Matt Patrick and Mike Zoeller, geologists with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, as they describe this historic eruption and what we’ve learned from it. Part of the USGS Volcano Awareness Month and After Dark in the Park series.
When: Tuesday, January 24 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. 
Where: Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium 

Changes at the Summit of Kīlauea After 2018. In 2018, the lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu crater drained and the caldera floor dropped by more than 1,600 feet (500 m). There has been a variety of activity within Halemaʻumaʻu since then. The first-ever documented water lake filled the bottom of the crater starting in summer 2019. It reached approximately 160 feet (50 m) deep before Kīlauea started erupting again in December 2020. This eruption continued until May 2021. Kilauea was again quiet for about three months before it burst to life in September 2021. That eruption continued until December 2022. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Geologist Drew Downs recounts these events and how the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor activity at this extraordinary volcano. Part of the USGS Volcano Awareness Month and After Dark in the Park series.
When: Tuesday, January 31 from 7 pm. to 8 p.m. 
Where: Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium

ONGOING PROGRAMS

Explore Kahuku. The Kahuku Unit, one of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s best-kept secrets, is open Thursday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it’s free! Guided ranger programs and talks are offered on the weekends, check the park calendar for more info. Sturdy footwear, water, rain gear, sun protection and a snack are recommended for all hikes. 
When: Thursday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Note: Kahuku is closed New Year’s Day. 
Where: Kahuku is located in Ka‘ū, and is about a 50-minute drive south of the park’s main entrance. Enter Kahuku on the mauka (inland) side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5.

A Walk into the Past with Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar. Walk back to 1939 and talk with the founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar, at the edge of Kīlauea volcano. Dressed in period costume, actor Dick Hershberger brings the renowned geologist to life. You’ll learn what motivated Dr. Jaggar to dedicate his life to the study of Hawaiian volcanoes, and how his work helps save lives today. Space is limited; pick up a free ticket at the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai the day of the program. Supported by Kīlauea Drama Entertainment Network.
When: Fridays, January 6, 13, 20 & 27 at 10 a.m. and noon. Each performance is about an hour.  
Where: Meet at Kīlauea Visitor Center 

Stewardship at the Summit Rainforest Restoration. Volunteer to help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Under 18? Parental or guardian accompaniment with written consent is required. Visit the park website for details.
When: January 7, 13, 21 & 27. Meet at 8:45 a.m. 
Where: Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center on any of the above dates. 

Explore the Summit and Other Ranger-Led Walks. Discover Kīlauea volcano on an easy one-hour, ranger-led walk offered daily. Other ranger-led programs may be offered; check with rangers at Kīlauea Visitor Center for additional programs.  
When: Explore the Summit is offered daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.  
Where: Meet at Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai 
 

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