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Drive the Volcano Heritage Corridor
A grand opening celebration for the Volcano Heritage Corridor
Drive on the Big Island of Hawaii was held on April 24, 2003.
Imagine yourself standing at the very location where the sun
makes its first strike on Hawaiian land as it rises over the island chain:
Cape Kumukahi. This place, of special significance to Hawaiians, can now
be part of any visitor’s discovery of the Big Island with the help of the
new Volcano Heritage Corridor Drive Guide. Rare black sand beaches,
thermal ponds, tropical rainforests, orchid farms and nurseries are now
easily found with the help of the guide.
On Thursday, April 24, 2003, the Volcano Heritage Corridor Drive Guide
will make its debut. Ceremonies will begin with a blessing at the Keaau
Farmers Market at 1:30 p.m. with entertainment and refreshments. Mayor
Harry Kim and other dignitaries will be on hand to celebrate the
collaborative effort that has resulted in this latest heritage
drive-guide. The Volcano Heritage Drive Guide joins the much-heralded
Hilo-Hamakua Heritage Drive Guide that launched in 1997.
The Volcano Heritage Drive Guide was originally intended as an information
piece for "Harry’s Highway," the cinder road in Kalapana activated by
Mayor Harry Kim and community organizations. The focus changed when
active lava flows returned to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The Heritage Guide starts from either Keaau or Volcano, and links
the Kalapana Road with the better-known Volcano Highway through the
Keaau "hub." There will be distinctive brown-and-white Volcano
Heritage Corridor highway signs vividly marked with an erupting volcano
and "Aloha!" to mark points of interest. Initial Visitor Center stops
and sites were selected because they are immediately adjacent to the
main highway, have safe turnoffs and parking, accessible restrooms
and drinking water, and have volunteered to represent all community
interests for the program start-up phase.
The Volcano Heritage Drive Guide is intended to attract a more
adventurous leisure traveler in rental cars, and not busloads of
visitors. The objective is to "slow-down" visitors who use the
area as a thoroughfare instead of a destination. The goal is to
capture approximately 3% of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park’s
2.2 million annual visitors and have them spend a few hours or
days in the Volcano-Keaau area exploring.
When the Hawaii Island Economic Board-sponsored Hilo-Hamakua
Heritage Drive Guide opened in 1997, it was an instant success.
Busy parking lots and storefronts attest to the simple message of
consultant David Bucey, "Stop ‘em safely, park ‘em, give ‘em
restrooms and food, and THEN provide visitor information on the area."
The project is a monument to sustainable community development and
involvement. "It has been so important for us to identify the
things and places we wanted to share with visitors, and also just
as important to keep some just for ourselves," says Lucille Chung,
one of the original planners.
Follow the new Volcano Heritage Drive Guide’s map just nine miles
from Keaau to Pahoa Village’s wooden sidewalks and Visitors Center.
The guide then interprets the Lower Puna triangle; Kapoho Road sites
such as Lava Tree State Park, "Red Road," or, head to Ahalanui Park’s
fresh water thermal pond. Continue along Highway 137 past MacKenzie
State Recreational Area to where the road ends at Kalapana. A short
stroll will result in a breathtaking view of one of earth’s newest
black sand beaches. Visit Kalapana’s Painted Church on the drive
back to Pahoa. Restock on refreshments and continue the Volcano
Heritage Drive. The guide also provides drive-time options and
cautions against non-paved or potentially hazardous locations.
Between Keaau and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Highway 11 transitions
to tropical rainforest as it climbs to 4,000 feet above sea level.
Along the way, the guide points out possible rest stops in Mountain
View and Glenwood. The section on Volcano Village divulges information
about the lively mix of artists, scientists and active folks of all
ages that frequent the area. One recommended stop among several is at
the enormously successful Volcano Farmers Market at Cooper Center for
island flowers, locally-grown vegetables and herbs.
A companion web site to the Volcano Heritage Drive Guide,
www.hawaii-culture.com, will be updated continuously to supplement
the hard-copy brochures displayed at airports and visitor centers.
No dramatic or immediate visitor number increases are anticipated.
Instead, slow growth of the program insures that travelers can
discover the Hilo-Hamakua Coast, and now the Keaau-Volcano area,
without negatively impacting the areas’ leisurely pace or quality
of life.
This latest Volcano Heritage Drive Guide from Hilo to Volcano will
be monitored during a six-month trial period by community groups for
public input to ensure that signage placement and locations are
appropriate. The dynamic and simple nature of the project makes
it easy to adjust, and for public comment to be an ongoing dialogue
for successful rural community development. Hawaii Volcanoes National
Park, Department of Transportation, and the State Highways Division
with support from County of Hawaii Public Works Traffic Division
are providing technical assistance in safe sign placement.
Volcano Heritage Drive Guides are available at the Hilo and Kona
airports, all visitor information centers and by contacting Hawaii
Economic Development Board.
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Related Links
Hawaii Island - Main Menu
Islands of Hawaii
Hawaii for Visitors
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