USGS
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

Celebrating 20 Years of Scientific Exploration on an Erupting Volcano

Free Open House of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park

Saturday January 4, 2003

For nearly 20 years, lava flows from Kilauea Volcano have awed visitors, residents, and scientists, covered rainforests and communities, and added new land to Hawai`i. To commemorate the longest eruption on Kïlauea's rift zone in the past 600 years, the public is invited to an open house at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, including the National Park Service (NPS), the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Kilauea Field Station, Volcano Art Center, Volcano House, and Kilauea Military Camp.

Lunch will be available for purchase at Kilauea Military Camp's Cafe (11:00 AM to 1:00 PM) and at the Volcano House (11:00 AM to 2:00 PM). Hot dogs, chips, juice, and water can also be purchased near the NPS's Jaggar Museum entrance (11:00 AM to 3:00 PM).

For hikes, be prepared: bring water and raingear and wear sturdy shoes, hat, and sunscreen.

Maps of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park

Schedule of Activities

TIME

EVENT

MEETING AREA

DESCRIPTION
7:30 & 8:30 AM; 2:30 & 3:30 PM Bird walks at Kipuka Puaulu; led by USGS Kilauea Field Station Kipuka Puaulu (Bird Park) parking lot A walk to visit the native and not-so-native birds that call this Kipuka home and explore plant life. Wear good walking shoes and bring raingear and binoculars. Two-hour, one-mile hike.
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, presentations on demand Kilauea's active lava flow field, led by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) End of Chain of Craters Road Learn about active lava tubes, pahoehoe flows, and lava deltas along the south coast of Kilauea Volcano since 1986, including demonstration of instruments used to measure active flows. Wear hiking shoes and sunscreen, and bring water and a hat.
On the hour, 9 AM to 3 PM Kilauea caldera over-view, led by HVO Jaggar Museum Overlook A 30-minute discussion by HVO scientists about the eruptive activity of Kilauea's summit area, including the volcano's plumbing system and its shields, fissures, cinder cones, craters, and calderas.
9 AM to 4 PM Film Festival Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium Full schedule of films and videos on the geology and biology of the park (complete schedule posted in Visitor Center.)
9:45 AM How it All Started, led by National Park Service (NPS) Kilauea Visitor Center A 20-minute talk at the relief map in front of the Visitor Center. Explore the history of Hawai`i Island's five volcanoes and the submarine Lo`ihi volcano.
10:00 AM Broomsedge Fire: recovery and restoration, NPS Kipuka Puaulu Trail A 45-minute walk near the road to examine the impact of the 2000 Broomsedge Fire on park vegetation and restoration of the burn by park resource managers.
10:00 AM & 2:00 PM Historical tour of Kilauea Military Camp Kilauea Military Camp flagpole A historical walking tour of the camp where you'll discover an old prisoner of war camp, time capsule, and more. KMC is a Joint Services Recreation Center, established in 1916.
10:30 AM & 2:30 PM Walk on the Wild Side, USGS–HVO Halemaumau parking lot (southeast end) A half-mile, one-hour walk to examine evidence of explosive eruptions from Kilauea Volcano.
10:45 AM Kilauea Summit Walk, led by NPS Kilauea Visitor Center An easy 45-minute walk through Hawaiian rain forest, with a spectacular view of Kilauea 's caldera. Learn about unique plants, Hawaiian culture, and eruptions at Kilauea.
11:00 AM Archeology in the Broomsedge Fire,led by NPS Kipuka Puaulu Parking Lot A 30-minute walk to see special rock quarries used by Hawaiians, revealed by the Boomsedge Fire in 2000. An integrated view of the past.
11:00 AM Rare Plants in Kipuka Puaulu and Kipuka Ki led by NPS Kipuka Puaulu Parking Lot A 30-minute look at the rich variety of threatened, endangered, and rare plants, including recent plantings from the park's nursery.
1:00 PM Pu`u Loa Petroglyphs Walk, led by NPS Pu`u Loa Parking Lot (17 miles down Chain of Craters Road) See hundreds of ancient symbols carved into lava over countless generations and make connections to the Hawaiian people who created these beautiful and mysterious drawings. Wear hiking shoes and sunscreen, and bring water. Two-hour, two-mile walk.
1:00 PM Hike along Puna coastline at Kaheka, led by NPS End of Chain of Craters Road A 45-minute walk along the coast to view historic features, such as trails, salt drying areas, excavated pits, and walled shelters. Wear hiking shoes and sunscreen, and bring water and a hat.
2:00 PM Above and Below Walk, led by NPS Kilauea Iki Overlook Parking Lot Hike one mile through a Hawaiian rain forest and explore Thurston Lava Tube. Learn how active Hawaiian volcanoes provide habitat for one-of-a-kind species.
2:00 to 4:00 PM Art Reception "Alongside the Trail" Volcano Art Center Gallery Opening reception for Jim Kelly's nature photographs taken along the trails of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
2:45 PM Pu`u Huluhulu hike, led by NPS Mauna Ulu Parking Lot Hike along the active east rift zone of Kilauea to a cinder cone next to Mauna Ulu. See lava trees and Pu`u `O`o on a clear day. Bring a light jacket and water. Two hour, three mile walk.
Several performances TBA Writings of Isabella Bird Volcano House Lobby in front of fireplace Listen to Ms. Jackie Pualani Johnson, Professor of Drama, Performing Arts Department, University of Hawai`i-Hilo, read from the writings of Isabella Bird in period costume.
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM OPEN HOUSE-USGS Kilauea Field Station (KFS) Kilauea Field Station building 216 Visit KFS to learn about Hawaiian ecosystems, flora, and wildlife, why these plant and animals are endangered, and what is being done to save this living heritage. KFS staff will be on hand to explain displays and give brief tours of facilities.
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Mosquitoes as disease transmitters, USGS Kilauea Field Station Kilauea Field Station building 216 Learn about mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit to humans and wildlife, including dengue and the West Nile Virus that threatens to invade Hawaiÿi. Displays and demonstrations.
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM OPEN HOUSE-USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Meet the staff and learn about the eruptive activity of Hawaiian volcanoes, the status of Kilauea and Mauna Loa, and how scientists monitor restless volcanoes. Demonstrations, presentations, displays, and a kid's drawing contest are scheduled.
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Earthquake lab USGS–HVO Hawaiian Volcano Observatory parking lot Hands-on displays and demonstrations of instrumentation used to record earthquakes. Learn why earthquakes occur (the brick trick) and about earthquake activity on the Island of Hawai`i.
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Lava lab for kids, USGS–HVO University of Hawai`i-Hilo Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Rock Lab Get hands-on experience with microscopes and rocks, featuring a variety of lava samples, including Pele's hair and tears, limu-o-Pele, reticulite, `a`a, pahoehoe, black and green sand, and different types of minerals.
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Gas lab USGS–HVO Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Geochemical Lab See gas chromatograph in action, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide gas experiment, and rainwater analysis. Have the pH of your drinking water tested, experience gas tasting, and learn about vog-what it is and when and where it occurs.
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Measuring a volcano's changing shape USGS–HVO Hawaiian Volcano Observatory at Uwekahuna Bluff See demonstrations of instruments used to monitor the deformation of volcanoes due to the movement of magma and faults.
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Kids Drawing Contest USGS–HVO Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Draw your impression of Hawaiian volcanoes and the long-lived eruption of Kilauea Volcano.
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Erupting volcano–where's the lava going to go? University of Hawai`i (UH Hilo) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory See demonstration by Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes (CSAV), University of Hawai`i showing lava flow pathways for different parts of the Island of Hawai`i.
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Window into the history of Hawai`i's volcanoes, UH Hilo Hawaiian Volcano Observatory See display by Hawai`i Scientific Drilling Project to learn what's been discovered by drilling more than 10,000 feet into Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes!

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The URL of this page is: http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/openhouse.html
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Updated: 14 December 2002 (SRB)