History & Culture

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

A living landscape of fire and creation, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes is where Native Hawaiian culture, volcanic power, and ongoing creation of land are inseparably bound.

History of the Park

For more than a thousand years, the lands now protected as Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park have been home to Native Hawaiians, particularly communities of Kanaka Maoli living within the traditional districts of Kaʻū and Puna. These volcanic landscapes were deeply woven into daily life and spirituality, with trails, villages, and ceremonial sites reflecting generations of stewardship and reverence—especially in relation to Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

Western contact in the late 18th century brought explorers, missionaries, and scientists who were drawn to the region’s volcanic activity. As scientific interest grew, so did efforts to preserve the area’s unique geological and cultural significance. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson designated Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, protecting one of the world’s most active volcanic systems and formally recognizing its global importance.

National Park Sign

Park Culture

Learn about the local culture surrounding this park.

Culture at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes is shaped by the understanding that the land is alive. Native Hawaiian beliefs view volcanic activity as a process of continual creation, tied closely to ancestral stories and responsibilities to care for the land. Respect for sacred spaces remains central, and cultural practices continue alongside conservation and scientific research.

Today, the park reflects a balance between Indigenous tradition, modern volcanology, and preservation. Visitors are encouraged to approach the landscape with humility—recognizing that every lava field, crater, and forest is part of an ongoing story where culture and nature are inseparably connected.

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