Events & What’s Happening
Monthly evening lecture series hosted by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park featuring scientists, artists, and cultural practitioners sharing stories about the park's geology, ecology, and Hawaiian heritage.
💡Best for children 8 and older who can sit through a 45-minute presentation; arrive early for good seating at Kilauea Visitor Center auditorium.
Monthly hula performances and educational programs presented by the Volcano Art Center inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, honoring the spiritual relationship between hula and the volcano goddess Pele.
💡Free with park admission; performances are short and engaging enough for younger children, typically held near Kilauea Visitor Center.
Iconic annual trail run through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with 5-mile, 10-mile, and 26.2-mile options traversing lava fields, rainforest, and volcanic craters.
💡The 5-mile fun run is suitable for older kids and teens; spectating along Crater Rim Drive is free and exciting for the whole family.
Annual celebration of Native Hawaiian culture held within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, featuring hula performances, traditional crafts, live music, and educational exhibits honoring the connection between the Hawaiian people and Pele.
💡Children love the hands-on craft demonstrations; come in the morning when it is cooler and less crowded.
Part of the statewide Aloha Festivals celebration, this event brings Hawaiian music, hula, floral parades, and cultural demonstrations to communities across the Big Island including the volcano area.
💡Parades and outdoor performances are free and great for all ages; check local schedules for Volcano Village events.
Small-town holiday parade and festive gathering in Volcano Village featuring local businesses, community groups, and festive cheer in the cool upcountry air near the national park.
💡Dress in layers as Volcano Village sits at 3,700 feet elevation and December evenings can be chilly; kids enjoy the intimate community atmosphere.
Festive holiday fun run held near the Volcano area encouraging participants to wear their silliest holiday sweaters while enjoying the cool upcountry climate.
💡A lighthearted event suitable for kids of all running abilities; wear your most ridiculous sweater for extra fun.
Beloved weekly farmers market in Volcano Village featuring locally grown tropical fruits, vegetables, baked goods, flowers, and handmade crafts from Big Island vendors.
💡Arrive right at 8am for the best selection of fresh produce and pastries; kids enjoy the tropical fruit sampling and the friendly village atmosphere.
Free guided walks led by National Park Service rangers along Crater Rim Drive and Kilauea Iki Trail, offering expert interpretation of volcanic geology, native plants, and Hawaiian cultural history.
💡Included with park entry fee; walks are moderate and suitable for children 6 and older — bring water and closed-toe shoes.
The historic Volcano Art Center gallery inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is open daily, showcasing rotating works by local Hawaiian artists in a charming 1877 building near Kilauea Visitor Center.
💡Free with park admission; older kids appreciate the volcanic-inspired artwork and the historic building itself is fascinating to explore.
Self-guided and ranger-assisted Junior Ranger activities available at Kilauea Visitor Center, allowing children to complete activity booklets, earn badges, and learn about volcanology and Hawaiian ecology.
💡Pick up the free Junior Ranger booklet at the visitor center upon arrival; kids earn an official badge upon completion — a highlight for most children.
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡Check the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website (volcanoes.usgs.gov) the night before your visit — it posts real-time Kīlauea lava lake activity updates that tell you exactly whether the crater is glowing, which determines whether the summit night viewing is worth attempting.
- 💡Ranger-led 'After Dark in the Park' programs happen most Tuesday evenings at the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium and are free with park admission — they feature Big Island volcanologists and cultural practitioners and are surprisingly engaging for kids ages 7 and up.
- 💡The Volcano Farmers Market runs every Sunday morning from about 6–10am in Cooper Center in Volcano Village — it's the best place to pick up local Big Island liliko'i butter, warm malasadas from local vendors, and cheap tropical fruit for trail snacks.
- 💡If you're visiting during a Kīlauea summit eruption phase, the absolute best lava glow viewing is from the Kīlauea Overlook parking area after 8pm — bring layers because temperatures at 4,000 feet drop fast, and the glow reflects off steam clouds in ways that daytime visits completely miss.
- 💡The Jaggar Museum building is currently closed for seismic damage repairs, but the outdoor overlook platform adjacent to it remains the widest, least-obstructed view of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater and is almost always less crowded than the main visitor center overlook 10 minutes down the road.
- 💡Nāmakanipaio Campground, just 3 miles from the Kīlauea Visitor Center, allows families to camp inside the national park for $15/night — reserve through Recreation.gov at least 3 months ahead in summer, but sites are often available 2–4 weeks out in spring and fall.
- 💡The Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs trail on Chain of Craters Road is best visited in the first two hours after sunrise — the low-angle morning light makes the ancient carvings dramatically more visible in the rock surface, and the trail is typically empty compared to midday visits.
- 💡Stop at Hilo's Two Ladies Kitchen on Kilauea Avenue before heading to the park — their handmade mochi and manju are a local institution and make perfect, culturally meaningful snacks for the drive up Highway 11 to the park entrance.