Forest Fair At Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus

Situated in the restored native rain forest, known today as the Niaulani Forest, The Volcano Art Center (VAC) provides an intimate experience for people to engage with Hawaiʻi’s rain forest, plants, and native birds through its annual Forest Fair. The day long celebration  occurs this Saturday, Oct 14th at the Niaulani Campus (19-4074 Old Volcano Rd.) in Volcano Village, from 10am – 4pm. This one-day event, highlights the Niaulani Trail Program which includes displays, vendors, free forest tours, hula performance, lei making, and native plant and book sales. This family friendly event engages with activities that shares Hawaiʻi’s unique natural heritage, deepening the understanding of the forest and its natural systems, highlighting how to be stewards of Hawaiʻi’s most precious environmental resources supporting healthy Hawaiian forests for generations to come.

VAC’s Forest Fair activities begin at 9:30am with a Hawaiian blessing by Kumu hula Moses Kahoʻokele Crabb and an acknowledgment to Volcano resident Tim Tunison for his many years of service and dedication to the Niaulani Nature Trail and Forest Conservation efforts.

The native plant sale features two Big Island growers, Allie Adkins of Lehua Lena Nursery and Volcano resident Ed Clapp begins. The plant sale takes place in VAC’s outdoor Sculpture Garden at Niaulani Campus, at 10am.

Free events occur throughout the day including lei making with master lei makers Kaipo Ah Chong and Zenny Sawyer , free guided forest tours at 11am, 1 and 3pm., and a hula performance by Christy Lassiter and guest dancer Alya Kanehailua beginning at 1pm.

Saturday, Oct. 14^th is also the Second Saturday of October!  This once-a-month event includes the free monthly hula performance and a Jazz Concert!   This month’s hula kahiko performance which begins at 10:30am in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park features Kumu Hula Iwalani Kalima with Hula Hālau O Kou Lima Nani Ē.  The Jazz Concert featuring JP Thoma and the Jazztones honoring Louis Armstrong.  The show begins at 5:30pm at VACʻs Niaulani Campus.