Volcano: Between Rainforest, Art, and Wine
Accommodation in Volcano
Volcano combines rainforest, art, culture, and wine tastings with attractions such as a Sunday market and a golf course. The destinations and opening hours below offer specific pointers for planning; check current visiting and event dates in advance.
Rainforest and Sculptures in Volcano Village
The Niaulani Rainforest is considered one of the last old-growth Koa and ʻŌhiʻa rainforests on Kīlauea. The Niaulani property covers 7.4 acres, of which 4 acres form a native forest ecosystem. Both the size of the property and the proportion of native forest are therefore noteworthy. The Niaulani Sculpture Garden in Volcano Village has a walking trail where you can view sculptures made of stone, metal, and wood.
Volcano Village is a gateway community to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The Volcano Art Center has a gallery in the park as well as a Niaulani campus in Volcano Village. The main gallery in the park is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; the office and gallery at the Niaulani campus are open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Check opening hours before your visit. Since 1980, the center has held activities and workshops that introduce participants to Hawaiian culture.
Art and Culture
Hula performances take place on the second Saturday of each month at the kahua hula near the Volcano Art Center Gallery on the Niaulani campus. The performances do not use electronic amplification. Programs may be canceled due to eruptive activity, so check the event date if you are planning your visit around it.
Volcano Garden Arts presents contemporary Hawaiian art in a historic 1908 property in Volcano Village. Its offerings include ceramics, masks, paintings, outdoor sculptures, and wearable art necklaces. Okika Studio is located on more than an acre in the tropical mountain rainforest of Volcano Village. Its grounds feature glass art as well as gardens with exotic plants and orchids. The two names represent different art forms: contemporary Hawaiian works at one, and glass art with a connection to gardens and plants at the other.
Wine Tastings and Sunday Market
Volcano Winery is located in Volcano. Its tasting room is open daily from 12:00 to 5:30 p.m.; confirm opening hours when planning your visit. The two tours differ in the stops and tastings described. The Aliʻi Vineyard Tour includes a guided walk through the vineyard and production room, with six classic wine tastings and two tastings of wines made with estate-grown tea. The Wine Maker’s Tour goes through the vineyard and tea garden and includes a wine tasting, a Meli dessert pairing, and estate-grown tea. You can compare the tours by their stops and tasting offerings. Check the latest tour details before planning a visit.
The Sunday Farmers Market takes place weekly on Sunday mornings at the Cooper Center on Wright Rd. Offerings include fresh local produce, freshly baked bread, homemade preserves, grass-fed beef, and locally grown coffee. The selection may vary by vendor. Check the market time before traveling; the wine tours and the market differ in both format and products offered.
Golf at Kīlauea
Volcano Golf Course is an 18-hole course at an elevation of 4,000 feet on the edge of the active Kīlauea volcanic crater. The practice facility may also be useful for planning: it is open to the public and can be used without a reservation. As access and reservation rules may change, check these details before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Pepeekeo, Kalaoa, Fern Forest, Paauilo, Papaikou, Waimea, Hilo, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
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