Volcano is an amazing place place. A quiet town on the slopes of Kilauea Volcano and a soaring place of thousands of acres of lava fields and remnant forest, it's lovely, quiet, and eerily spiritual. Sandwiched between a smoking volcano and a timeless green belt that houses some of Hawaii’s rarest endemic flora and fauna. The Volcano Art Center is a model of what a small, local gallery should be. VAC is stocked with cool works by local artists and the themes in their works echo Hawaiian culture and traditions and do a great job of highlighting indigenous materials. The Center also runs a host of killer classes and workshops. On April 2, 2007, the Center kicked off free, one-hour forest tours. They happen every Monday morning at the Niaulani Campus. This is a one-mile, family friendly, easily walkable loop trail that winds through a native rainforest dripping with prehistoric ferns and blazing with red ohi’a blossoms.

The word Niaulani translates to “brushed by heaven” and, according to this item posted by the Center, it refers to how clouds silently sail through the rain forest. No reservations are required. Dress warmly as this hike, at the 4,000 foot level, is often chilly willy. The tour starts one-mile inside the entrance to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The whole shebang was made possible by a grant from the Hawaii Tourism Authority so when you see TAT (that stands for transient accommodations tax) on your hotel bill, that’s where your money is going (truthfully, in small part but better than in no part).

Map of Tour Location / Volcano Art Center - 808-967-8222

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Image via Volcano Art Center

—Alex, 05/14/07