The Volcano Art Center (VAC) was founded in 1974 with the intent of establishing an eventual rain forest hub for creative people of all ages and from all walks of life to gather and make powerful works of art inspired by the dynamic, unique, and volcanic environment of Kīlauea Volcano.
Initially, the organization was based out of the 1877 Volcano House Hotel, located within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Today, the historic hotel building houses VAC’s gallery, which showcases over 300 artists.
With the growth of the organization over the proceeding decades, VAC sought locations for various programs and activities suited for construction of an arts and environmental education campus. In 2003, a 50 year lease from the State of Hawaii secured the 7.4 acre Ni‘aulani site. Included was a rare four acre old growth fern, ‘ohi‘a, and koa rain forest. Part the contractual agreement was VAC’s continual responsibility of protecting, restoring, and educating the public about the rare rain forest resource. Prior to any building planning, staff and members of the Volcano Village community organized activities which carried on the three-generational legacy of stewardship set forth by residing state foresters—-most notably invasive species removal.
The Ni‘aulani Campus and the protected rain forest which surrounds it are nurtured to further our mission to “promote, develop, and perpetuate the artistic and cultural heritage of Hawai‘i’s people and environment through activities in the visual, literary, and performing arts.”
We currently share this mission with a broad range of individuals, groups, and communities with common interests and goals, and intend on expanding on further collaboration with both local and off-island organizations and individuals seeking to gain an experience unique to Hawai’i and to the rain forests of Kīlauea Volcano in particular.
Hawaiian Rain Forest 