Volcano brings together rainforest, art, Hawaiian culture, and wine tastings as distinct travel interests. Volcano Village is a gateway community to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. If you are looking for accommodation in Volcano, your own priorities and the dates of activities can help with planning.
Niaulani: Rainforest and Sculptures
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. This gives a concrete sense of the size of the forest area described without equating it with the entire property.
The Niaulani Sculpture Garden in Volcano Village has a loop trail for viewing the sculptures. The garden features works in stone, metal, and wood; individual exhibitions may change. Those interested in designed forms and materials will find a different focus here than on a walk centered on the rainforest.
The Volcano Art Center offers free walks through the Niaulani Rainforest in Volcano Village on Monday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Before your trip, check whether the walk is currently taking place.
Art and Hawaiian Culture
The Volcano Art Center has two visitor locations: a gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and the 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. As these are current opening hours, check them before your trip.
Since 1980, the Volcano Art Center has held activities and workshops that introduce participants to Hawaiian culture. Hula performances take place on the second Saturday of each month without electronic amplification at the kahua hula near the Volcano Art Center Gallery. Programs may be canceled due to eruptive activity.
Volcano Garden Arts is located in a historic estate dating from 1908 in Volcano Village and showcases contemporary Hawaiian art. This includes ceramics, masks, paintings, outdoor sculptures, and wearable art necklaces; individual works may change. Okika Studio is set on more than an acre in the tropical mountain rainforest of Volcano Village. Its grounds include glass art as well as gardens with exotic plants and orchids. Individual artworks and plant displays may also change.
Wine and Local Produce
Volcano Winery is located in Volcano. Its tasting room is open daily from 12:00 to 5:30 p.m.; check the opening hours before your visit. Two tours offer different highlights: the Ali'i Vineyard Tour takes visitors through the vineyard and production room and includes six classic wine tastings and two tastings of wines made from the winery's own tea. The Wine Maker's Tour takes visitors through the vineyard and tea garden and includes a wine tasting, a Meli dessert pairing, and tea grown on the property. Tour booking details may change, so it is advisable to check them before booking.
The Sunday Farmer's 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 of vendors may change; check the market day before making plans.
Golf at KÄ«lauea
Volcano Golf Course is an 18-hole course at an elevation of 4,000 feet on the edge of the active KÄ«lauea volcanic crater. The course's practice facilities are open to the public and can be used without a reservation. As access and reservation rules may change, check them before your visit. Forest, cultural activities, wine, and golf thus offer different thematic points of reference for choosing your accommodation and planning your stay.
Discover more destinations: Kealakekua, Keaau, Puako, Pahoa, Honokaa, Hilo, Kawaihae, Orchidlands Estates.
For the broader travel overview: Hawaii.
