The annual Experience Volcano Festival is set to take place this weekend, August 19-20, 2023, in Volcano Village, Hawaii. This two-day celebration offers both locals and visitors a chance to engage in the vibrant community known for its proximity to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The festival will feature a five-mile tour through the town, showcasing local food, vendors, drinks, live music, and various prizes. Organizers anticipate between 4,000 and 5,000 attendees for this year’s event.
Jesse Tunison, president of Experience Volcano Hawaii, explained that the festival began in 2018 as a way to highlight local businesses following the Kilauea eruption. “The community came together to promote our area because we don’t have big corporate businesses up here,” he noted. The festival aims to educate attendees about Volcano Village, a gateway to one of the state’s most popular tourist attractions.
As part of the festival’s tradition, the Ohia Lehua Runs will kick off Saturday morning, with the half marathon starting at 07:00 and the 5K at 07:15. More information regarding registration can be found at www.ohialehuahalf.com.
Festival Activities and Highlights
On Sunday, a farmer’s market will run from 06:00 to 09:00 at the Cooper Center before the main festival, which operates from 10:00 to 16:00 on both days. Attendees can look forward to a packed schedule featuring over 65 opportunities to partake in live music, Hawaiian cultural presentations, art demonstrations, and guided tours.
This year, the festival coincides with the grand opening of Lanikai Brewing’s new taproom in Volcano, one of seven stops along the festival route. Founded by Steve Haumschild, the brewery emphasizes locally sourced food and beers. “He jumped at the chance to offer his popular libations in a town he loves,” Tunison remarked, emphasizing the commitment to maintaining a low-key ambiance in the new venue.
A significant enhancement for this year’s festival is the introduction of a free shuttle service provided by KapohoKine Adventures. Three shuttle vans will offer transportation from the primary parking area at the golf course. Tunison encourages attendees to utilize this service to minimize traffic congestion and enhance the experience. The shuttles will also feature tour guides, offering interesting insights about the town during the ride.
Festival-goers who collect stamps at all seven points on the festival crawl can enter a raffle for a grand prize: a five-night stay in Las Vegas, along with the chance to win over 40 other prizes, including spa packages and local coffee bundles.
Cultural Offerings and Local Performances
Cultural events at the festival include free make-and-take lei workshops, traditional Makahiki sports, and multiple hula performances. Attendees can also participate in crafts such as lauhala weaving and feather flower-making, known as pua hulu.
Live music will be a constant throughout the festival, featuring acts like the Screaming Geckos and Japanese taiko drummers. Tunison expressed particular excitement for the performance of local musical icon Christy Leina‘ala Lassiter, who will perform at the golf course on Saturday from 11:00 to 12:00 and at the Volcano Winery on Sunday from 12:00 to 13:00. “She picked up the award for Best Female Vocalist of the Year at the Nahoku Awards,” Tunison noted, highlighting her significance to the community.
While most festival activities are free, some events require a fee, including the wine tasting and the historic homes tour presented by the Volcano Community Foundation. Tunison shared that this tour sells out every year and has expanded to feature important homes in Volcano Village and insights about the Volcano Golf Course. This year’s featured architect is Boone Morrison, and interested parties are encouraged to secure their spots through the festival’s website.
“We wanted to honestly highlight the different experiences and lifestyles here. It’s not a beach culture; it’s up at 4,000 feet, in the mist,” Tunison said.
For more information about the Experience Volcano Festival, visit www.experiencevolcano.com/experiencevolcanofestival.
