August 2026 Events at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

Contact: HAVO Public Affairs

HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaiʻi - It's our birthday month! Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park announces park programs for August 2026:

Celebrate the 110th Birthday of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Come celebrate with free entry all day on Saturday, August 1 and participate in special birthday programs offered all month.

For 110 years, your park has perpetuated native ecosystems and the Hawaiian culture connected to these landscapes while providing safe access to Kīlauea and Mauna Loa - two of earth's most active volcanoes. We wish our sister park, Haleakalā National Park, a happy birthday too! Both parks were originally one park when Hawaii National Park was established in 1916. Haleakalā became its own park in 1961.
When: Saturday, August 1 all day. Entrance fees are waived for US citizens and residents
Where: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Kahuku Memories. Come learn about paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys) and the Kahuku Unit. Kahuku has a fascinating ranching history and long before the cowboys of the American wild west became popularized, paniolo were wrangling longhorn cattle on Hawaiʻi Island. Uncle John Replogle regales us with his memories and stories of Kaʻū and working on Kahuku Ranch.
When: Saturday, August 1 at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station. Turn into Kahuku near the 70.5-mile marker on Hwy 11 in Kaʻū.

Dr. Thomas Jaggar Returns to Uēkahuna for the 110th Park Birthday. Kaʻū actor Dick Hershberger returns for a rare interpretive performance as the founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar. Step back in time to the day when Hawaiʻi National Park was established and learn what Kīlauea and Mauna Loa were teaching scientists and visitors back then. This special performance is sponsored by the Kīlauea Drama Entertainment Network (KDEN).
When: Saturday, August 1 from 10 a.m. to noon
Where: Uēkahuna observation deck

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: August 1, 15, 22 and 29. Meet at 8:45 a.m.
Where: Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center parking lot on the dates above. (The meeting place is open during the visitor center renovation.)

Taiko. Taiko instructor Paul Sakamoto and his students will perform and discuss the art of taiko drumming. Learn about the posture and movement (kata) associated with a taiko performance, the different types of drums (taiko), the sticks (bachi) used to strike the drum, the traditional clothing, and the different rhythms and strikes. Maybe you'll even get a chance to try taiko drumming yourself!
When: Saturday, August 8 at 11 a.m.
Where: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station. Turn into Kahuku near the 70.5-mile marker on Hwy 11 in Kaʻū.

ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Hike. Learn about the vital role of 'ōhi'a lehua in Hawaiian forests, the many forms of the 'ōhi'a tree, and the threat of Rapid 'Ōhi'a Death disease. Visitors will be able to identify the many differences of the most prominent native tree in Kahuku on this program, an easy, one-mile, one-hour walk.
When: Saturday, August 15 at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Meet at the Kahuku Visitor Contact Station. Turn into Kahuku near the 70.5-mile marker on Hwy 11 in Kaʻū.

Chegamos: We Arrived. Learn about Portuguese immigration and contributions to Hawaiʻi through this interpretive living history performance. Almost 16,000 Portuguese immigrants sailed to Hawaiʻi in the late 1800s to work the sugar cane fields, with the settlers described as "sober, honest, industrious and peaceable." Jackie Pualani Johnson directs the performance that shares the immigration story of those who arrived primarily from the Azores and Madeira. The performance is produced by Kāhealani Martins Curammeng and features Steve DʻAssis, Salome Lagman, Randal McEndree, Catherine McPherson-Tampos and Evette Ewalani Tampos.
When: Saturday, August 22 at 11 a.m.
Where: Kahuku Visitor Contact Station. Turn into Kahuku near the 70.5-mile marker on Hwy 11 in Kaʻū.

National Park Week is August 22 through 30. This year's National Park Week theme is "Celebrate America's Story" in honor of the nation's 250th anniversary. Make your own stories exploring stunning natural landscapes, reflecting on our nation's inspiring history and rich culture, and enjoying the great outdoors. Entrance fees are waived for US citizens and residents on August 25 for our 110th birthday.
When: Saturday, August 22 through Sunday, August 30
Where: All national parks in the US.

CCC: A Walk Through History. Celebrate National Park Service history on its 110th anniversary and fee-free day! Join Cultural Resource Associate Anekelea Hübner of the Hawaiʻi Cooperative Studies Unit for a free guided walk that explores the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Much of the eye-catching infrastructure in the park was built by the young men of the CCC when the nation was starting to recover from the devastating effects of the Great Depression. Come learn more about the history of the CCC, their contributions to the national park, and how their legacy lives on today. Wear comfortable walking shoes, bring sun and rain protection and water. This easy, one-mile walk highlights the CCC achievements in the Kīlauea Administration and Employee Housing Historic District, which is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
When: Tuesday, August 25 at 10 a.m. (about 90 minutes)
Where: Meet Anekelea in front of the Volcano Art Center Gallery

Ranger-Guided Programs at Kīlauea Summit. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park offers free guided programs nearly every day. Experience Life on the Edge at Uēkahuna, Explore the Summit and other ranger programs by checking the park calendar for dates, times and descriptions or drop by the Welcome Center to read the program board.
When: Almost daily
Where: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Kīlauea summit

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

Kīlauea Volcano Eruption. Kīlauea continues to erupt intermittently from Halemaʻumaʻu crater which could cause some programs to be canceled. All eruptive activity remains within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and does not threaten homes or park infrastructure. Visit the eruption page on the park website for safety tips, viewing areas and more.

Before your visit, check the park website Current Conditions web page for alerts, and the construction web page for updates on park projects.

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