National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Gathering On The Rim

People Build a Park

By Dr. Jadelyn J. Moniz Nakamura

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Occasional Papers

Volume 1, Number 2, Fall 2010

Celebrating Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s Centennial Anniversary | 1916–2016

HAWAI‘I VOLCANOEs

NATIONAL PARK

and biosphere reserve

A World Heritage site
Gathering On The Rim
 National Park Service 1

Image Inside Cover: Copy of 1921 

map depicting Kïlauea Caldera, Hawaii 

National Park.

Photo Right: Kïlauea Volcano eruption in 

the early 20th century. Image courtesy of 

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaii National Park Hawaii National Park (HNP) was established in 1916 as the fifteenth park in the National Park Service 

system. Hawaii National Park was formed by the efforts of ordinary citizens who pushed for and sought the 

recognition of Kīlauea, Mauna Loa and Haleakalā as having national significance. The inclusion of these 

areas into a national park led to the protection of unique natural and cultural resources, and the promotion 

of scientific study of volcanoes. Although the park was established in 1916, it wasn’t until 1921 that the official 

dedication took place. And, it was not until 1922 that the first superintendent was assigned to the park, and 

on-the-ground management began.

Even after active management by the park service 

began, federal funding for projects, programs, and 

facilities were limited. The new park still had to rely 

on the local government, other federal agencies, 

and philanthropic organizations to fund basic park 

operations and infrastructure. This trend of relying 

on outside help was not a new one to Hawaii National 

Park. Even before the park was established, public 

groups and private individuals worked to enhance and 

develop the Kīlauea area for scientific, conservation, 

and recreational purposes.

Pre Park Development

Kīlauea’s popularity with western visitors began 

very early on in the historic period of the Hawaiian 

Islands. The first written reference to the volcano at 

Kīlauea dates to 1794, and is found in the journal of 

Archibald Menzies, the naturalist on board Captain 

George Vancouver’s ship the Discovery. Missionaries 

from the London Mission Society followed Menzies’ 

visit to Kīlauea in 1823. Included in this group were 

the Reverends Asa Thurston and William Ellis. Ellis, 

one of the first Euro-Americans to witness a volcanic 
2 Gathering On The Rim

eruption in Hawai‘i, described Kilauea in detail in 

his journal which was later published. His words and 

descriptions opened the world to this special place.1

Following Ellis, until approximately 1845, there came 

a flood of other missionaries, scientists, and American 

military personnel who came to the volcano either to 

Christianize the local inhabitants, to study the volcano, 

or to explore its natural surroundings. 

After 1845, visitors to Kīlauea were primarily interested 

in pleasure tours to the volcanic landscape. They 

marveled at the breathtaking scenery, and were less 

interested in systematic study than they were in casual 

observation.2

 As a result of the increasing popularity of 

the area, there came a need for places to house these 

visitors as well as roads and trails to facilitate travel. 

Although ancient Hawaiian trails did exist throughout 

the Kīlauea region, the advent of vehicular travel in the 

form of horse and buggy, albeit crude, put additional 

strain and demand on the existing trail systems. It was 

soon apparent that improved roads, trails and lodging 

were much needed to help insure access to the area 

by residents and non-residents. Community leaders 

such as Lorrin A. Thurston, who was a key force in the 

push to create Hawaii National Park, was especially 

concerned with making the area available and open to 

all visitors3

. In a paper written to promote his idea for a 

National Park, Thurston stressed the fact that much of 

the area proposed for a park was on private property, 

that a toll of $1.00 was once charged to access the only 

road to the lava lake, and that many areas of interest 

were either inaccessible or unknown to the public.4

Photo Top: Visitors to Kilauea searing 

postcards in hot lava. Image Courtesy of 

National Park Service, Hawai‘i Volcanoes 

National Park.

Lodging—Power of the People

Kīlauea was, and continues to be, a considerable

distance from the closest population centers (30 miles 

from Hilo to the east and 90 miles from Kona to the

west). In the early historic period, such a long distance 

for traveling required most to stay overnight. Very

early on there was a need for housing at the caldera.

Development of lodging for visitors to Kīlauea, even

prior to the creation of Hawaii National Park, had

been a private effort by local citizens. The very earliest 

travelers to the volcano erected improvised shelters

from available fern fronds, grass and other local

materials.5

 These shelters were temporary—usually 

lasting for only a single visit, and they were not very

comfortable. In 1844, a report in the Polynesian stated 

that a local Hawaiian had constructed a grass hut on

the edge of the crater and was providing food and other 

conveniences to travelers.6

 The first formal lodging to

be built at Kīlauea was a grass house constructed in

1846 by Benjamin Pitman. The hut was built on the

north-east side of the crater and became known as the 

first Volcano House. The building was crude, with a

mat covering the single room, earthen floor. At a dollar 

a head, visitors could purchase fowl for 37.5 cents,

a hen turkey for 62.5 cents and a small calabash of

potatoes for 25 cents.7

Despite having constructed the Volcano House for

visitors to Kīlauea, Pitman apparently did not actively

manage the facility. Charles Hitchcock reported in

1856 that the lodging was there, but there was no

one around—not even a manager. In 1866 a second

formal lodge was built by J.L. Richardson & Co.

Also called the Volcano House, it too was made of

grass, but was apparently much more comfortable
 National Park Service 3

and impressive. Thus began the start of a succession 

of visitor accommodations with various iterations of 

Volcano Houses being built through time (the third 

in 1877, a large addition to that in 1891, and finally a 

new Volcano House in 1941 after the 1891 addition 

burned down). 

Kīlauea was popular amongst military personnel as 

well as the general public. In 1915, lodging specific 

for members of the military was proposed by L.A. 

Thurston. Known as the Kilauea Military Camp 

(KMC), the facility was developed as a recreational 

center for regular Army members serving in the 

territory, and as a maneuvering ground for the Hawaii 

National Guard.8

 Much like the development of hotels 

in the area, KMC also started as a grass roots effort by 

local citizens to develop and fund the facility. Thurston 

was able to raise $24,000 of public subscription for 

the construction of buildings and other improvements 

for KMC. Fifty acres of land was leased from the 

Bishop Estate, and the facility was run by a Board of 

Trustees (comprised of Thurston and four others).9

KMC opened in the fall of 1916 – the same year Hawaii 

National Park was established by Congress. In 1920 

the Bishop Estate deeded the land under KMC to the 

Territory of Hawai‘i. On June 28, 1921 the territory 

deeded the land to the United States Government as 

part of Hawaii National Park.10 It continues to be run 

today as a recreational facility for military members, 

retirees and their families. 

"Having visited Kilauea in the days 

when the old shed with its open door 

and hole in the centre, for a fireplace, 

were all the accomodation for poor 

weary travellers; how great is our 

appreciation and admiration of the 

present delightful dwelling which well 

deserves the name of hotel." 

 —M.A. Chamberlain, 1866

 Volcano House Register

"This is the best hotel in the Kingdom." 

 —J.M. Nelson, 1882

 Volcano House Register

"After travelling over half the civilized 

and uncivilized world I can congratulate Mr. Shipman on having a house of 

accommodation that is not surpassed 

or equalled for its excellence (excepting 

pens) by any other that I have visited at 

such a distance from any town." 

 —Tom Southwick, 1884

 Volcano House Register

Photo Right: Volcano House, 1860. 

HAVO Image 4781, Bernice P. 

Bishop Museum.

Transportation—Local and National 

Government Action 

Unlike the business development of lodging at Kīlauea, 

the earliest mechanized road and trail development in 

Volcano was sponsored by the local government. For 

the Territory of Hawai‘i, roads served as an integral part 

of its infrastructure. They supported the transportation 
4 Gathering On The Rim

needs of the resident population as well as enhanced 

the visitor experience to the islands. Construction of 

a “modern” road at Kīlauea began in 1911, with a road 

from the Volcano House to Halema‘uma‘u. The road 

was built via Kīlauea Iki crater by local prisoners. 

The prisoners were housed in an area called the 

Old Summer Camp built especially to house them.11

Once the Volcano House to Halema‘uma‘u road was 

completed, the same group of prisoners turned their 

efforts to building a trail along the route of what 

is now the Chain of Craters Road. Called Cocketts 

Trail, after the construction supervisor, the trail ended 

at Devils Throat.12 Finally, the prisoners reconstructed 

an existing trail across the floor of Kīlauea. The 

trail provided another link between the Volcano House 

and Halema‘uma‘u. 

The third local government sponsored effort to 

improve the Kīlauea infrastructure occurred in 1915 

with the construction of a road leading from what 

is now known as Nāmakanipaio Campground to 

the town of Ka‘ū. This road was also built by local 

prisoners who camped in tents near Nāmakani in 

an area known as the “Old Prison Camp.”13 Also in 

1915, the Army, local government, and the Hawaiian 

Volcano Research Association (see below) contributed 

funds and personnel to build a trail linking Kīlauea 

and Mauna Loa. The funding also provided for the 

construction of a rest shelter, water tank, and stable 

at the 10,000 foot level at a place called Red Hill.14 The 

trail and shelter ideas were conceived by L.A. Thurston, 

strongly supported by Thomas Jaggar, and built by 

soldiers from the US Army’s twenty-fifth infantry 

division. These men were part of the famous Buffalo 

Soldiers—a group of African American soldiers who 

were stationed at Schofield Barracks on Oahu. 

By 1911, the funding for construction of roads and trails 

provided by the territorial government and the County 

of Hawai‘i had reached $100,000.15 This spending was 

a considerable amount of money for that time period 

(equivalent to $2.2 million in 2010). 

“Work was renewed on the remaining portion of the Volcano Road at Keawaanakaaha in Olaa on August 13, 1891. 

The work is principally to be done by prison labor, with an additional expenditure of about one thousand dollars a 

month. Nine miles of road must be built before a connection is made with the old trail at the cattle pen—from which 

point it is six and a half miles to the Volcano House.”

 —Wm. N. Bruner, Honolulu, 14-16 Aug 1891

Volcano House Register

Photo Top: 19th-20th century image 

of travelers. Image courtesy of Hawai‘i 

Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaiian Volcano Research Association 

(Science and Research)

While most of the visitors to Kīlauea were drawn to its 

scenery and landscape, the geologic forces which were 

the source of this beauty also drew in scientists and 

researchers interested in studying active volcanism. 

Although there was an obvious need for improved 

roads and trails throughout the area, Kīlauea volcano 

was popular with scientists and researchers because 

of the relative ease of accessing the site. Like the 

development of infrastructure, efforts to fund research 

at Kīlauea were largely driven by private citizens. These 

individuals banded together and formed associations 

to fund visiting scientists and paid for equipment and 

research facilities.

Interest in the geology of the area was far reaching. 

Researchers from the mainland United States who 

traveled world-wide, found Kīlauea to be a great place 

to study active volcanoes. The most famous of these 

researchers was Thomas Jaggar. Jaggar, a scientist with 

the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 

traveled to Hawai‘i and visited Kīlauea in 1909 on his 

way to Japan. On this trip, Jaggar suggested that an 

observatory should be built at Kīlauea to continuously 

study the volcano.16
 National Park Service 5

Lorrin A. Thurston took up Jaggar’s suggestion, and 

in 1911 established the Hawaiian Volcano Research 

Association (HVRA). Thurston became its first 

Director. An all volunteer organization, funding for 

HVRA sponsored research projects and facilities, was 

raised through subscription. The HVRA had four 

main goals. The first was to promote systematic and 

continuous observation of volcanoes and earthquakes, 

the second to record and publish those observations, 

the third was to host individuals and organizations 

conducting scientific investigations, and the fourth 

goal was to promote the establishment of like areas 

across the Pacific.17

Within a year, the association established an observatory 

with funding from local citizens and instruments loaned 

from the local college.18 Other projects accomplished 

by the association included assistance to complete 

the trail to Mauna Loa and facilities at Red Hill. 

In 1919, the association also funded a project to measure 

the rise and fall of lava in Halema‘uma‘u every fifteen 

minutes for four consecutive weeks. They paid for two 

trips by Jaggar to Washington to promote the creation 

of Hawaii National Park and enlisted the support 

and participation of the US Government through 

the Weather Bureau to maintain the observatory 

at Kīlauea.19

In its first ten years of existence (1911–1921), the 

Hawaiian Volcano Research Association spent $61,000 

on projects at Kīlauea. The largest percentage of this 

funding was raised through private subscription and 

membership ($55,000), the remaining was provided by 

MIT ($6,000).20

Photo Right: Kïlauea Volcano, 1908. 

Image courtesy of Hawai‘i Volcanoes 

National Park.
6 Gathering On The Rim

Post Park Development

All of the pre-1916 infrastructure development at 

Kīlauea was critically important to the growth of 

Hawaii National Park. Even after it became a park, the 

federal government did not provide substantial funding 

for a number of years. The little funding that was 

provided in the early years went towards the purchase 

of land. After 1921, the meager appropriations provided 

to the park were used for the upkeep of existing roads 

rather than for the development of new facilities. In 

debating the creation of the park, Congress was keen 

on not committing to something that was going to 

be a financial burden on taxpayers. In the records of 

the Hearing before the Committee on Public Lands, 

Congressman Taylor specifically questioned Jaggar as 

to whether it was going to be an 

“...obligation upon the Government to buy, 

at possibly exorbitant prices, these private 

holdings within the proposed park, in order 

to make the park conveniently accessible and 

of the highest use.” 

In an effort to control spending for the new park, 

Congress capped the annual appropriations for Hawaii 

National Park at $10,000 a year. The total amount 

appropriated was not received until 1922 (eight years 

after the park was established). In 1919 and 1920 only 

$750 was provided to the park by the federal government. 

Just slightly more ($1,000) was appropriated in 1921, but 

only a fraction was spent ($62.49). None of the funding 

was used for park management or improvement 

of infrastructure. Instead, the money was used to 

purchase private lands included in the designated park 

boundary. The law establishing Hawaii National Park 

specifically prohibited Congress from appropriating 

funds for the park other than for the acquisition of 

land that would provide easements and rights of ways 

over private lands which would allow for the park to be 

“reasonably accessible in all of its parts.”21

Hawaii National Park was finally able to begin 

significant management of its resources in 1922. Not 

only did Congress appropriate the total fundable 

amount for the park ($10,000), official staffing of

the park also began. From 1916 to 1921, Hawaii National 

Park was overseen by B.G. Rivenburgh, the Territorial 

Land Commissioner who also functioned as the NPS 

representative.22 For the first three months of 1922, 

A.O. Burkland was assigned as the acting 

superintendent. Following Burkland, in April 1922, 

Thomas R. Boles was made superintendent and 

became the first federal official to begin administration 

of Hawaii National Park.23

Private Citizens to the Rescue 

The $10,000 appropriation provided by Congress in 

1922 was used solely for basic services—providing 

visitor access to existing roads and trails, and building 

the first administrative offices for park staff. This 

funding was meant to cover a park that encompassed 

187 square miles (119,679 acres) across two islands. 

The annual reports for 1922–1924 provided by park 

superintendent Thomas Boles repeatedly stressed the 

overwhelming needs of the park, and asked for the 

funding limit to be raised.24 Without an increase in 

federal funds, the park continued to rely on private 

individuals and groups to raise money for basic services 

and amenities for visitors. In 1922, for example, the 

local Honolulu newspaper printed thousands of maps 

for hikers at no cost to the park.25

Between 1921 and 1924 visitation to the park increased 

by 31% from 16,071 in 1921 to 52,210 in 1924.26 Despite 

its popularity, the newly established Hawaii National 

Park was not able to provide any housing facilities 

for its staff, let alone its visitors. Thus, it was left to 

private enterprise to fill this much needed gap. Kīlauea 

Volcano House Company filled the void when they 

began establishment of a Summer Camp in 1924. The 

proposed camp would consist of enough cottages to 

house 40 people, a main building for serving meals, 

and a road to access the site. There was a lot of interest 

in using the Camp. Even before it was built, over 100 

applications to use the facilities had been received. 

Most of these came from teachers and the Girl Scouts.27
 National Park Service 7

Photo Top Left: Photo of the Summer 

Camp in 1959 after Kïlauea Iki eruption 

destroyed the site. Image courtesy of 

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 

Image Top Right: Seal of Hui O Pele. 

Image courtesy of Hawai‘i Volcanoes 

National Park.

Establishment of Hui O Pele

Community members recognized the need, and 

realized the potential, to raise funds for basic services 

and facilities for the new park. In 1922, C.C. Moore who 

was the head of a San Francisco engineering company 

and president of the Pan-Pacific Exposition visited the 

Kīlauea section of the park. He was completely awed 

by the beauty of the area and the interesting features he 

saw. Moore commented on the new park at a luncheon 

of the Honolulu Ad Club on May 3, 1922 in which he 

was the guest of honor. During his remarks to the club 

he proposed the idea of providing visitors to Kīlauea 

Volcano with a certificate, signed by a park official, 

which would be proof of their visit. Moore said:

“Fancy what a membership in such an 

organization would mean in publicity. In 

our party alone there were representatives 

of twenty States. This would get your 

visitors organized where they would do 

the most good. Then when you ask for an 

appropriation from Congress you would 

have support from every State in the 

Union.”28

Moore immediately donated $100 to help defray the 

cost of setting up such a program and asked then 

Governor of Hawai‘i, Wallace R. Farrington to support 

the plan. Farrington assigned George Mellen, editor of 

the Honolulu Ad Club’s weekly newspaper Welakahao, 

to work on the details.29 The group adopted the name 

“Hui O Pele” because they wanted the name to be 

“entirely Hawaiian” and they felt that “Pele, goddess 

of volcanoes, and Hawai‘i, the territory, had enjoyed 

considerable publicity.”30 After some delay in selecting 

an emblem, the chairman of the Hui designed it, and 

the committee unanimously approved it. 

Each new member in the Hui was given a certificate 

that stated that the individual had visited the volcano 

Kīlauea, had made an acceptable offering to Pele, 

and was therefore granted a lifetime membership 

for one dollar ($1). To top it off, the certificate was 

seared, and “sealed with fire by the Goddess Pele.” 

Members were also given a button bearing the newly 

designed black and red emblem. A limited number 

of 200 Charter memberships available for ten dollars 

($10) were offered. Regular lifetime members were 

not required to pay any dues beyond the original one 

dollar fee for joining. 

At the outset of the organization, the committee decided 

that the first ten of the 200 charter memberships would 
8 Gathering On The Rim

go to distinguished persons. To be considered in this 

category, the individual had to have played a key role 

in either furthering the work of the organization or 

they had to be associated with volcanology. To broaden 

membership in the Hui even further, the organizers 

decided to extend membership to those who had 

previously visited Kīlauea. To gain membership all one 

had to do was provide some sort of proof that they had 

been to the volcano. Numerous applicants sent in their 

claims “verified by hotel registers, steamship passenger 

lists or other references.”31

The committee completed their work and turned over 

control to the Honolulu Ad Club which would keep 

the funds and management of the Hui separate from 

its other duties. All funds were solely for operating the 

Hui and for projects that promoted the interest in 

Kīlauea and the “environs within the National Park.”32

Hui O Pele began as an official organization in February 

1923, and a year and a half later membership had 

reached 1,024.

Photo Right: The Sierra Club at 

Halema‘uma‘u in 1927. Image courtesy of 

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Hui Funding Begins—Defining the Goals

Hui O Pele began funding projects in the park in 

1927, when they constructed shelters for visitors at 

Kīlauea. The shelters were located at key, popular 

locations including Thurston Lava Tube, on the east 

side of Pauahi Crater where the Chain of Craters road 

crossed Keauhou Road, and at Halema‘uma‘u Trail.33

The shelters would provide a dry shaded location 

for visitors to rest. The original idea and design was 

submitted by Hui member L.W. de Vis-Norton. The 

final design was developed by Thomas Vint, the 

National Park Service’s Chief Landscape Engineer. 

The shelters were all lava masonry structures with 

double benches and iron roofs. The iron roofs were 

necessary to catch rain water which drained into three 

barrels that were attached to the buildings. The water 

would be used for drinking by visitors to the area.34

The park service provided the man power to construct 

the donated shelters. A total of 55 man-days were 

expended by the National Park Service to erect these 
 National Park Service 9

shelters—more days than was spent on improving the 

parks roads for that year.35

Following the successful construction of the first three 

shelters, HNP Superintendent Evans requested an 

additional $800 from the Hui to build two lava benches 

and a larger shelter in May 1928.36 Soon after Evans 

made his request, he was replaced by Thomas J. Allen 

Jr. The park’s 1928 request sparked a period of conflict 

between the Hui and the new park superintendent. Hui 

Chairman de Vis-Norton supported the construction 

of additional shelters in the park, but he strongly 

discouraged anything being built on the rim of 

Halemaumau. He felt that if shelters were built on the 

rim, there was potential for “hoodlums” to break apart 

the seats during eruptive periods just to throw them into 

the lava lake. He was also concerned with the tendency 

for rim collapse along Halema‘uma‘u when it was not 

erupting.37 Instead, he encouraged the park to develop 

ways to raise more funds for the Hui. He suggested an 

“initiation ceremony into Hui o Pele” or “some sort 

of Hawaiian Pageant, such as (a re-enactment of the 

1824) defiance of Pele by Princess Kapiolani.”38 He also 

suggested that the steamship companies add a dollar 

to their fare which could go towards a membership in 

the Hui. He wanted the additional monies made from 

the steamship companies to pay for a brass sundial that 

Kamehameha Schools wanted to erect on the terrace 

in front of the Uwēkahuna Museum.39

Allen supported the idea of a “pageant” at the rim, 

but did not support the selling of memberships on 

the steamships and stated that the sundial design 

needed the approval of the park service’s landscape 

department.40 De Vis-Norton stated that the Museum 

had been built by “public subscription” and he did not 

think the donors had meant to donate the building 

to the United States Government.41 He also took the 

opportunity to school the new superintendent in the 

culturally appropriate position of the park service 

at Hawaii National Park. He was reacting to the reestablishment of the “19th hole” along the rim of the 

crater. Hitting golf balls into the crater was a popular 

stunt for park visitors. After the first tee collapsed 

into the Caldera, de Vis Norton strongly opposed the 

re-establishment of a new site. He pointed out the 

sacredness of the area to the Native Hawaiian people 

when he wrote:

“Most of the Hawaiians have a sincere 

reverence for Halemaumau. To them the 

place is sacred – and they regard the stunt 

of pluggin golf balls into Pele’s abode 

much as you would view a game of craps 

played on the grave of the Unknown 

Soldier at Arlington. To me, it is sacrilege 

of the worst kind and I sympathize 

sincerely with their inner feeling that 

white men should at least respect their 

age-old beliefs. 

You can do a lot of good by saying a 

good word for the Hawaiians now and 

again. After all, it was their country until 

we grabbed it, and while they parforce, 

must accept the situation – they are very 

ready to appreciate a friendly feeling 

among those who now rule over them, 

and respond with real affection to any 

evidence of love for their race.”42

Future correspondence between Superintendent Allen 

and the Hui continued to show a disagreement over 

projects the organization was established to support. 

Photo Right: Visitors at the ‘‘19th Hole’’ 

on the edge of Halema‘uma‘u in 1927. 

Image courtesy of Hawai‘i Volcanoes 

National Park.
10 Gathering On The Rim

Like his predecessors, Allen held a very Kīlauea-centric 

focus, and requested funding for projects within that 

region. Influential members of the Hui, however, 

were pushing to construct rest shelters at Mauna Loa 

and Haleakalā. Allen felt these shelters would be too 

expensive to build, and he pushed for and got a new 

shelter built in 1930 at the end of Hilina Pali Road.

The correspondence between the park and the Hui 

throughout 1930 focused primarily on discussions 

over the construction of a lecture hall addition to 

the Uwēkahuna Observatory. There was much 

disagreement on the cost of the facility. The Hui feared 

going into debt by committing to a project they did not 

have the funds for.43 The superintendent assured the 

Hui that the cost would be covered by additional 

memberships as well as by his own personal involvement 

in constructing the facility.44 By the end of 1930, the 

facility was built for $3,736.98 ($663.02 less than the 

$4,400 estimate).45

Photo Right: Hilina Pali Shelter built by 

funds from Hui O Pele. Image courtesy of 

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

The 1930’s—Troubled Times

Despite the early donation of funds for the lecture hall 

and shelter at Hilina Pali, the 1930’s were lean years for 

the Hui. The Great Depression and a lack of activity 

at Kīlauea Caldera struck a one-two punch on park 

visitation. The decline in visitors led to a decrease in 

the sale of Hui certificates. While the Hui could do 

nothing about inducing Kīlauea to continue erupting, 

others tried. In February 1931, an old Hawaiian woman 

(her age is given as 100) along with eight members 

of her family were at Halema‘uma‘u daily “trying to 

induce Madame Pele to return to the Halema‘uma‘u 

fire pit.”46

Because of the funding challenges faced by the Hui, 

two issues emerged in the 1930’s that would continue 

to come up throughout the life of the organization. 

The first was a question of how to increase and expand 

membership sales, and the second issue was what the 

appropriate venues for selling certificates were. Two 

ideas were suggested. One was to sell them at the 

Volcano House, and the second was to have drivers sell 

them to the visitors they brought to the park. The first 

idea went over well, but the second was considered 

too tacky and after a trial run was abandoned for lack 

of vigorous sales.47 Lamenting the nature of tourism in 

the islands, Hui Chairman de Vis-Norton continued 

to push the park to look for creative ways to sell 

memberships. He was reminded, however, by the new 

superintendent, Ernest P. Leavitt, of the park’s policy 

of not making active solicitations.48

Trouble for the Hui extended beyond the issue of raising 

funds. During this period, the Hui was embroiled in a 

scandal involving accusations of inappropriate use of 

Hui funds by then President P.L. Murphy. The conflict 

led Superintendent Leavitt to suggest, for the first 

time, that a Natural History Association (called the 

Hawai‘i Natural History Association [HNHA]) take 

over the remaining funds and tasks of the Hui. If none 

of these ideas worked, Leavitt was ready to have the 

organization barred by executive order from collecting 

funds in the park. All of the ideas for disassociating 

the park with Hui O Pele, however, were ultimately 

put aside with the resignation of Murphy and the vote 

in 1934 by the Outdoor Circle of Honolulu (OCH) to 

accept the custodianship of Hui O Pele. 
 National Park Service 11

The Hui Under New Leadership

By-laws proposed by the Outdoor Circle in November 

1934 stated that the Hui funds would go towards 

“projects involving improvements made within the 

national parks of Hawai‘i, for the benefit of visitors.”49

Edward Wingate, who had become Hawaii National 

Park Superintendent in 1933, proposed that Hui funds 

be expanded to include “museum collections, (and) 

rare books of historical or scientific nature.”50 Wingate 

felt that at some point, all of the necessary buildings 

in the park would be erected and that the park 

service would no longer allow any more to be built.51

This proposal would result in the Hui supporting 

similar projects as the newly formed HNHA (see 

discussion below). 

Despite the turmoil and economic challenges 

endured by the Hui in the first half of the 1930’s, some 

significant progress in park development was made. 

The group was able to raise $700 to purchase 120 chairs 

for the new Lecture Hall at the Uwēkahuna Observatory 

in 1931, and a few years later they donated $2,500 for 

the construction of a rest house at the summit of 

Mauna Loa. 52

As of January 1936, all seemed to be running smoothly 

under the Outdoor Circle’s care. With funds well over 

$1,000, Wingate was asked what new projects were 

needed for the park. While he had a long list (shelters 

at the picnic grounds, trailside museum at Bird Park, 

shelters at Makaopuhi and Napau craters, drinking 

water along trails, a new rest house at Red Hill), he 

cautioned against spending any more money for the 

time being, because he had heard rumors that there 

would be cutbacks in Federal appropriations in the 

coming years. 

It is not clear if any projects were approved between 

1937 and September 1939 because the park records for 

Hui O Pele are empty. The records from 1939 to 1941 

are also very sparse, but it is known that several of the 

original members re-wrote and adopted new by-laws. 

The by-laws reflected Superintendent Wingate’s desire 

to expand the purpose of the group and to use Hui 

O Pele funds to equip park buildings with “furniture, 

instruments, books, [and] museum displays.53” 

There are no correspondence records for Hui O Pele 

between 1941 and November 1947. During World War 

II, the park was nearly taken over by the military, and 

hysteria over possible enemy invasion abounded. A few 

letters of correspondence were found for December 

1947, and a single letter was found for 1948. The former 

discussed a $100 purchase of rare 16mm black and white 

film footage of Kīlauea lake activity during 1918-1919, 

the steam explosions of 1924, and the Halemaumau 

1931 eruption. This was the first time Hui funds were 

used to purchase eruption films. 

Image Top Right: 1931 Hui O Pele 

Certificate. Image courtesy of Hawai‘i 

Volcanoes National Park.

Park Partners Build A Museum

The correspondence records pick up again in January 

1949, when members discuss using a substantial amount 
12 Gathering On The Rim

($7,000) of Hui funds towards the development of a 

museum for the park. The National Park envisioned the 

museum as an outdoor representation of the natural 

environment. Its purpose was to explain to the public 

what there was to see and do in the park; it was 

not to simply be a display of static specimens. The 

museum would highlight the volcanology, geology, 

ethnology, and history of the park. The Hui purchased 

a Selectoslide in 1949 for use in the new museum. The 

machine would automatically project slides of scenes 

and places of interest in the park. This purchase was 

clearly a departure from past expenditures approved 

by the Hui, but also recognition that park needs were 

evolving from an emphasis on infrastructure to one that 

required more interpretive tools to reach the public. 

To afford such a large-scale project as the new museum, 

the Hui felt they needed to more widely promote 

the group to gain additional memberships. The Hui 

purchased framed certificates as advertisements, and 

also expanded its reach by allowing the Hawaii Visitors’ 

Bureau to sell Hui memberships. These fundraising 

efforts helped Hui O Pele pass a landmark point in 

1949, when it recorded its 30,000th member after little 

over a quarter century of existence.

Thanks to the Hui, work on the new museum in what 

is now the park headquarters building and visitor 

center finally began in 1950, with the arrival of Paul 

Rockwood, National Park Service Museum Technician. 

Unfortunately, just as the project seemed to be getting 

off the ground, there was some concern as to whether 

or not the government was going to be able to fund the 

remaining portion. Because of the on-going Korean 

War, all non-defense agency activities were being cut 

in 1950 and 1951.54 Superintendent Oberhansley wanted 

every dollar in the Hui account to be reserved for the 

museum project. The Hui, however, found it difficult 

to raise additional funds through new memberships, 

because of the on-going Korean conflict.55 KMC was 

nearly closed, and no certificates were being sold 

at their desk. Also, a long shipping strike in 1950 

Photo Right: Museum Dedication. 

May 28, 1953. Image courtesy of 

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 
 National Park Service 13

resulted in reduced travel to Hawaii National Park.

Hui members again began to push more aggressively 

for new members. They decided to extend their reach 

by approving the sale of Hui O Pele certificates at the 

Moana Camera and Gift Shop, and to replace the Hui 

O Pele pins with membership cards, which were more 

cost effective to produce. 

Photo Right: Late 19th–early 20th 

century photo of visitors. Image courtesy 

of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 

HNHA Steps Up—Slowly

Just as Hui O Pele struggled to increase its membership,

the organization received its biggest boost when the

Hawai‘i Natural History Association (HNHA) became

an active partner in 1950 by selling and managing the

revenue from Hui O Pele certificates. The Natural

History Association was established on March 25, 1931.

By 1933 a “small informal association” was already

functioning in Hawaii National Park.56 HNHA’s first

president, Mr. John E. Doerr, Jr., was elected on

November 13, 1933. In its early years, the majority of

HNHA funds came from extension course fees taught

by Mr. Doerr, who donated the money to HNHA.

Doerr preffered this method of raising funds because

he strongly believed HNHA should not compete with

other existing organizations.57 

Unlike Hui O Pele, HNHA took several decades to

raise enough funds for donation to the park. In the first

few years of its existence, the little money HNHA spent

went towards paying for phone bills, and purchasing

office supplies and equipment. In 1936, HNHA voted

to start a park library, and thus began the long tradition

of purchasing books to stock the library shelves.58 In

1940, because of its relative inactivity, HNHA was

reorganized as a nonprofit scientific and historical

society cooperating in educational work in the park.

The reorganization, spearheaded by Superintendent

Edward Wingate, was done as an attempt to stimulate

the group. Although several meetings were held over

the next year, little was done outside of expanding the

park library through book purchase and donations,

completing the new constitution, and discussing

strategies and possible templates for publications. 

Just as the newly re-organized group was getting 

underway, World War II broke out. Like Hui O Pele, 

the onset of the war impacted the membership and 

activities of the organization. The last meeting of 

HNHA prior to the war was held on October, 1941 with 

no other meetings occurring until January 6, 1945. By 

January 1946, the Association was beginning to make 

some money through book sales, one dollar annual 

membership dues, and eruption film sales.59

By 1948, book and movie sales were going so well, 

that the Association members voted to do away with 

the annual $1 dues. The initial membership fee of 

$1 was maintained, however, and the association 

expanded its sales items to include a park map. By 

the following year, HNHA’s account had exceeded 

$2,000. Not only was HNHA raising funds for park 

projects, but Superintendent Oberhansley also believed 

that the Association could solve many of the parks 

publication problems. Prior to the creation of natural 

history associations, parks had to obtain sale literature 

through the Government Printing Office. All of the 

funds made from these sales went directly into the 

federal treasury and not to the individual parks. With 

the association, however, the parks could keep the 

profits and use it for projects that were not part of the 

general appropriations. Oberhansley felt strongly that 

the funds derived through the HNHA only be used for 

those projects that would not, or could not, be funded 

by the government.60
14 Gathering On The Rim

Image Top Right: Hawai‘i Natural History 

Association seal. Image courtesy of 

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

A Time of Challenge and Triumph

By 1950 HNHA was beginning to hit its stride. It was 

great timing, as the Hui was struggling to increase its 

membership and to keep up with the parks increasing 

requests for funding, especially for its large museum 

project. By assisting the Hui with certificate sales, the 

HNHA leadership felt they were helping to promote 

tourism and thus their sales would benefit as well. By 

1950, the association was responsible for selling more 

than half of the Hui memberships for that year, and 

they provided much needed advertisement for the Hui 

on the back of their Trailside Plants pamphlet.61

With KMC nearly closed during the Korean War, and 

the federal government backing out on its commitment 

to fund the new museum, the help from HNHA was 

needed. In 1951, HNHA partnered with the Park and 

Hui O Pele to finish building the museum at Kīlauea. 

The association felt that since one of their primary 

objectives was to “further museum development” they 

should lend as much financial support for the new 

project as possible.62 Working together, the Hui was 

able to focus on raising additional funds through 

new memberships, while HNHA assisted with

advertisement and managing sales. 

To further expand membership, the Hui began to sell 

certificates to those who either flew over an active 

flow, or who had seen an eruption even if it was 

flowing outside of the park (Mauna Loa was erupting 

and moving towards Kona in 1950). Adoption of this 

policy was a drastic change from the original intent 

of the Hui, which was to encourage members to have 

physically visited the park. 

HNHA was also entering new areas of sales to raise 

the funds needed for the new museum. After seventeen 

years in existence, the Association finally printed its 

first publication—the “Self-Guided Map to Hawaii 

National Park.”63 The publication was the first in a 

long list of publications that HNHA would become 

involved in. 

Although it was a challenging year for fundraising, 

1951 saw the completion and installation of three 

museum exhibits, which remained the top priority 

for the park. After the initial exhibits were completed, 

the Superintendent wanted to keep Paul Rockwood 

at the park to continue work, but he needed funds 

to pay Rockwood’s salary. He asked the Hui to make 

another $2,500 immediately available for the project 

with an addition $4,000 donated by the end of the 

year. The additional funding was approved by the 

Hui, but it came with an important stipulation. The 

Hui leadership requested that the federal government 

appropriate at least an equal amount to the museum 

project as they had. This was not to be, because in 1952 

the superintendent received a letter from the regional 

director stating that the park should not “count 

too definitely on additional funds from the regional 

allotment for museum exhibit construction” and that 

there was “no assurance that such funds” would be 

“made available.” The superintendent was reminded 

that the annual allotment for museum exhibits for each 

region was less than $10,000 and that several parks in 

the region had yet to benefit from the funding.64

The letter from the regional director must have been 

a disappointment to the park. However, it appears 

from the correspondence that the superintendent never 

passed on the contents of the director’s letter to the 

leadership of Hui O Pele. Oberhansley continued to 

request additional funding from the Hui, and a month 

after receiving the regional director’s bad news, the Hui 
 National Park Service 15

transferred an additional $2,000 to the Hawaii National 

Park Museum to complete four more museum units. By 

the middle of 1952, a total of $12,000 had been committed 

by Hui O Pele to the museum. This amounted to nearly 

half of the projected total cost for the new facility. 

More funding was still needed to complete the 

Museum, and the park continued to rely on the Hui 

and HNHA to cover the expenses. An opportunity 

to greatly increase Hui O Pele membership arose at 

midnight June 27th, 1952, when an eruption of Kīlauea 

Caldera began. Within two weeks, 125,000 visitors 

flocked to the park to see the show. Unfortunately, the 

realities of an active lava flow within the park got in the 

way of signing up new members. The park interpretive 

staff was stretched thin dealing with the large influx of 

visitors, and they did not have the time or resources to 

devote to selling more than 20–40 new memberships 

per day. In addition, after the first few weeks the park 

noted a decrease in the daytime visitations, and an 

increase in visitors who wanted to view the eruption in 

darkness. The night conditions made it difficult for park 

staff to contact visitors and write out certificates. The 

Volcano House, the perfect place to sell certificates, 

was also overwhelmed with a large influx and overload 

of guests.65 Ideas of putting out a booth closer to the 

eruption site was dismissed by the superintendent, 

who felt that such structures would be obtrusive and 

that people would feel too pressured to sign up.66

Regardless of these challenges, 1952 was a record year 

for Hui membership sales, in large part thanks to the 

eruption and HNHA, which took charge of organizing 

and managing it.67 The following years saw even greater 

improvement when HNHA expanded its sales reach by 

issuing certificates at the Kona Inn.68 That year, with a 

final influx of $1,828.23 of Hui O Pele funds, $3,500 from 

the Hawai‘i Natural History Association, and $1,750 of 

appropriated funds, all of the museum exhibits were 

completed. One void remained to be filled—a diorama 

depicting a “typical Hawaiian Village.” The diorama 

was estimated to cost $10,000. The park naturalist felt 

that at least half of that could be covered easily by the 

Hawai‘i Natural History Association, and it was hoped 

the other half would be paid for by Hui O Pele.69

With the exhibits for the new museum at Hawaii 

National Park completed, the park planned a live 

dedication ceremony over the Hawaii Calls radio 

program to celebrate70. The program would include 

Hawaiian music (“ancient songs”), and legends of 

the volcano. To cap off the event, Hui O Pele would 

award an honorary lifetime membership to “Uncle 

George” Lycurgus, the host of the Volcano House. 

The program aired on May 23, 1953 and was broadcast 

over 700 stations of the Mutual Broadcasting System. 

It was believed that the broadcast reached an audience 

of between 40 and 50 million people. The show was 

an excellent advertisement for the park, and the Hui, 

which celebrated its 30th anniversary that year. After 

thirty years of dedicated service to Hawaii National 

Park, the Hui counted 40,000 lifetime members—

the 40,000th membership went to Harry S. Truman, 

President of the United States.71

Photo Top: Visitors at Thurston Lava 

Tube in 1928. Image courtesy of Hawai‘i 

Volcanoes National Park.

Photo Right: 1952 Eruption, small 

fountaining beginning. Image courtesy of 

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 

Cooperative Efforts Continue on 

Projects Large and Small

With the park depending on their philanthropic

organizations to support projects both large and small, 

it was obvious that additional funding efforts would be 

needed. The Hui and the park superintendent felt that to 

reach their funding goals, they had to look for a stronger 

more active organization to sponsor their group.
16 Gathering On The Rim

They repeatedly pushed to sign up new local 

members, as Hui President Charles Frazier felt that 

“every man, woman and child in Hilo and the island 

of Hawai‘i should hold a card of membership in the 

hui.”72 They hoped that the Hilo Junior Chamber 

of Commerce, their new sponsor, would be able to 

provide that local support they had long sought. 73

Perhaps the Hui was looking too far beyond the 

park boundaries, as their greatest financial support 

during this period came from HNHA. Both groups 

continued to cooperate, and were a mutual benefit 

to each other. In 1954, HNHA adopted a new 

constitution and their financial affairs were sound. 

The group continued to purchase books for the 

library, and to stock their sales shelves with guides, 

books, and volcano movies for sale to the public. 

They also expanded into service operations, selling 

flashlights to the public for Thurston Lava Tube 

trips. They also paid to fund (not to exceed $100) a 

project to assist the Volcano Observatory to purchase 

foreign periodicals as well as to reprint the Volcano 

Letter for “exchange purposes.”74

Spearheaded by HNHA, Hui sales were brisk, and 

their coffers grew. Superintendent Wosky felt that it 

was a good time to request funds for a new project. 

On April 27, 1955 Wosky requested $1,500 to build 

signs made out of 2" redwood stock and erected 

on 4x4 redwood posts. A total of 24 signs would be 

routed with letters painted bright yellow. The signs 

would be used as interpretive features on highways 

in the park to explain the “significance of most 

outstanding attractions in a manner comparable 

to that of a label in a museum exhibit.”75 By June 

30, 1956 Park Ranger Robert Jacobsen reported 

that the Hui O Pele Interpretive Sign Program 

had been successfully completed. A total of 27 

large interpretive signs, five information and public 

safety signs, 16 elevation signs, and two residence 

signs had been constructed and 12 old signs had 

been partially rehabilitated.76

Two months later, Wosky again requested another 

$1,500 for funds to continue and expand the sign 

program. Wosky touted the success of the previous

use of Hui funds and stated that although regular park 

funds were available for these kinds of project, that the 

funding provided by the government was not enough. 

Wosky’s request was approved and a check for the 

funds was mailed to the park on January 30, 1957. 77

This was also a positive time for the parks other 

philanthropic group, HNHA. By 1956, the association 

account was flush, and they needed to divest their 

account. The group took several actions to achieve 

this. They streamlined their operations and decreased 

the number of items available for sale, invested 

association money in government bonds, transferred 

(via donation) ownership of non-sales equipment 

from HNHA to the park, and waived all dues in 1956 

for employees of Hawaii National Park, the Volcano 

Observatory, and active local residents of Hawai‘i 

Island that were in good standing.78 In 1960, HNHA 

had its most profitable year to date ($10,216.95). The 

activities of the association and the level of funding 

prompted members to discuss hiring someone to 

handle the routine affairs of the organization. They also 

discussed paying for park interpretive staff, because 

the park appropriations were not enough to cover staff 

salaries.79 The director of the National Park Service also 

requested that HNHA contribute to a “special fund.” 

The nature and purpose of which was not outlined. In 

1961, a letter from the special assistant to the director, 

he indicated that HNHA should contribute 2% of their 

net profit for 1960 ($200) to this fund.

Photo Top: Newly completed KalapanaChain of Craters Road in 1964. 

Image courtesy of Hawai‘i Volcanoes 

National Park.

Photo Bottom: Kalapana Ranger Station 

in 1965. Image courtesy of Hawai‘i 

Volcanoes National Park.

Kalapana Extension

Throughout 1957 and 1958 HNHA continued to be 

the biggest sellers of Hui O Pele memberships. They 

also managed and transferred Hui money collected 

from the Volcano House. By mid-1958, Hui O Pele had 

$3,000 in the bank and they were looking for additional 

projects to fund. The timing could not have been any 

better, because the park was in the midst of discussions 

regarding the purchase of the Kalapana Extension and 

the extension of the Chain of Craters road. There were 

numerous land issues that needed to be worked out 
 National Park Service 17

before the park service could obtain title. Until these 

issues were resolved, the federal government could 

not expend any funds on the extension.80 This was 

an unfortunate situation, because many projects were 

needed before the acquisition could take place. Before 

the Chain of Craters Road was extended, and Kalapana 

lands purchased, the park wanted a scientific survey 

of the area so that an appropriate route for the road 

could be chosen. It was widely known that rare and 

endemic vegetation and unique cultural ruins existed 

in the proposed parcel and the park wanted to preserve 

these. The park tried unsuccessfully for two years 

to get federal funds to pay for the inventories which 

they wanted the Bishop Museum to complete. The 

superintendent finally turned to Hui O Pele and HNHA 

to pay for the studies. HNHA committed $4,000, and 

Hui O Pele was asked to provide an additional $3,000 

for the project. This would cover the $7,000 that Dr. 

Kenneth Emory of the Bishop Museum estimated 

would cost for the arche0logical survey.81 This was the 

first effort by the park to inventory and preserve its vast 

cultural resources. 

There was some resistance from the Hui members to 

funding the inventory survey. Members felt that Hui 

funds should only be used for facilities that would 

directly benefit the visitor. Superintendent Fred 

Johnson wrote an impassioned letter to the Hui O Pele 

president explaining that the Mission 66 program had 

filled the need for public facilities, which had long been 

the focus of Hui funds. The superintendent pointed 

out that the need now lay with the scientific study, the 

timing was critical, and he felt that the work to be done 

was in keeping with the mission of the Hui.82 Following 

the receipt of Superintendent Johnson’s letter, the Hui 

approved the funding, and a Hui check was turned 

over to HNHA which became the vehicle for paying 

the Bishop Museum. 

Photo Top Left: Archeolological Site 

identified during Bishop Museum survey. 

Image courtesy of Hawai‘i Volcanoes 

National Park.

Photo Top Right: Kalapana black 

sand beach. Image courtesy of Hawai‘i 

Volcanoes National Park.

The Hui Comes Home

By 1961 Hui board members were aging, and there was 

a sense of a “neglect of the affairs.”83 Many felt that 

the headquarters of the organization should move to 

Hilo where, perhaps, “new life” would be injected 

into it. Following a vote on Marcy 17, 1961 to move 

the headquarters, Superintendent Johnson quickly saw 

to the reorganization and election of a new board.84

Much had changed since Hui O Pele had first been 

organized. Hawaii National Park had recently been 

split into two parks (Hawai‘i Volcanoes and Haleakalā), 

and increased funding was now available from the 

federal government and HNHA for park projects. 

Board members felt that it was time for the role of the 

Hui to change, and they discussed expanding the reach 

of the Hui beyond the borders of the park. Specifically, 
18 Gathering On The Rim

they discussed providing funds to assist the Hawaii 

Visitors Bureau (HVB) projects, and research at HVO, 

as well as providing University scholarships, lectures 

and publications for children.85 

Despite these discussions, a few months after the June 

meeting the superintendent of Hawai‘i Volcanoes 

National Park was again approaching the Hui for funds 

to provide signage for the park—a familiar project 

that was commonly supported by the Hui in the past. 

The signs proposed for construction included one for 

Devastation Trail, exhibits for Kīlauea Iki, Halemaumau 

and HVO, and 15 replacement signs for those that were 

vandalized. A total of $1,000 was requested and approved 

to supplement federal funds which the superintendent 

said did not adequately cover the expense.86

In 1960 there was an outbreak and eruption of lava in 

Kapoho, an area located completely outside of the park 

boundary. To capitalize on this new event, the Hui once 

again modified their sales policies to fit the situation. 

They approved of the sale of certificates to visitors 

at the site, and they agreed to fund the construction 

of interpretive displays there as well.87 The regional 

director approved these actions, saying that as long as 

the funds were used for interpretation of the volcano 

and its associated environment, the scope of the Hui 

could be expanded.

Photo Top Left: 1877 Volcano House 

circa 1889. Image courtesy of Hawai‘i 

Volcanoes National Park.

Photo Top Right: Modern view of 1877 

Volcano House. Image courtesy of Hawai'i 

Volcanoes National Park.

Following the exciting eruptive events of 1959–1960, 

the Hui was fairly inactive between 1962 and 1964. 

At a board meeting on February 20, 1964, the board 

voted to register the Hui as a non-profit organization 

with the State of Hawai‘i.88 New by-laws and a new 

Constitution were finally re-worked, and the purpose 

of the organization was altered to reflect the changes 

made during the Kapoho eruption. The Board officially 

voted to provide financial support for educational 

and other suitable activities that related to Kīlauea 

Volcano. Membership was also extended to those 

who had viewed a volcanic eruption on the Island of 

Hawai‘i (not just at Kīlauea or within the boundary of 

the park).

Immediately drawing on their new by-laws, the Board 

voted in 1964 to develop a film of an “authentic” 

Hawaiian luau for the interpretive program at Kalapana, 

and they voted to rehabilitate the 1877 Volcano House 

as an historic exhibit. The building had been turned 

over to the National Park Service by Nick Lycurgus, 

and the board felt that the structure was worthy of 

rehabilitation. The Hui also agreed to contribute $1,000 

towards the June 19, 1965 dedication of the Chain of 

Craters Road. The Hui had been instrumental in paying 

for the cultural and natural resources inventories so 

that the road could be constructed. Thus, supporting 

the grand opening would mean the Hui came full circle 
 National Park Service 19

on the project. One final vote during that meeting saw 

the Hui agreeing to purchase new lanterns and stoves 

for the Red Hill and summit cabins because the park 

service could not afford to replace the inoperative and 

dangerous ones that were up there.89 Four months 

later the board voted to purchase more cabin supplies 

including dishes, pots, and containers at a cost of up to 

$50, and the board authorized up to $600 to be spent 

on the restoration and framing of the 1898 A. Howard 

Hitchcock painting of Halema‘uma‘u with Pele that 

had been donated to the park by the artist’s son, 

Harvey Hitchcock.90

The following October, the Hui donated $1,200 for 

the purchase of two-way radio communication for the 

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Dr. Powers 

of HVO requested the funding because of the need 

for the radios during eruptions and because he felt it 

would be years before an appropriation for the radios 

would be included in its regular budget.91 A radio was 

installed in two vehicles and a base station was placed 

in the observatory. It was the first time in the history 

of Hui O Pele that funding was provided for an agency 

other than the National Park Service.

By 1968, the Hui was still adding a considerable number 

of new members to their group. With these additional 

fees, they were able to purchase a new double case 

museum exhibit to display a working seismograph. 

In January 1970, they allotted an additional $4,000 

to assist in museum rehabilitation. This project 

would include painting, new light fixtures, new floor 

coverings, exhibit cases and an information center. 

Photo Top and Bottom: Views of the 

1960 Kapoho eruption. Images courtesy 

of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 

HNHA Expands Beyond Kilauea

Like the Hui, the 1960’s proved to be a time for HNHA

to expand beyond the borders of Hawaii National

Park. The first task came with the split, in 1961 of

Hawaii National Park into two—Hawai‘i Volcanoes

National Park (HAVO) and Haleakalā National Park

(HALE). This prompted the Board of Directors of

HNHA to add an additional two seats to the Board

of Directors—one which would be for a Haleakala 

member and the other for a non-service member 

to balance out the National Park Service (NPS) presence 

on the board. The involvement of HNHA in Hawai‘i 

parks was growing. Not only would the organization 

represent the two parks as separate entities, but 

they also financially supported programs at the City 

of Refuge.92

HNHA also started to get more directly involved 

in financing park projects. The association voted to 

donate $500 to the park on a revolving basis should 

Hui O Pele be unable to support park projects. The 

members also explored the idea of paying for research 

that was important to the park, but for which the park 

service was unable to fund.93 The first of such projects 

was an ecological study of the Devastation Area. HNHA 

donated $5,000 to the NPS to pay the University 

of Hawai‘i for a contract to conduct a bioecological 

survey, and an additional $200 to purchase equipment 

for the Devastation Area Plant Recovery Study.94

By 1969, HNHA had supported the Ed Ladd 

stabilization project at Waha‘ula and was considering 

a number of vegetation management projects at both 

HAVO and HALE.

By 1964, the size and complexity of HNHA was 

growing, prompting the Board to change the by-laws 

to incorporate language allowing for the hiring of a 

business manager. Both the treasurer and business 

manager were now going to be paid positions. In 1965, the 

association took on an even bigger role, voting to 

donate money to purchase Land Parcel 13 to the NPS. 

Land Parcel 13 was located between Waha‘ula Heiau 

and the Inaba Subdivision of Kalapana. The land 

area was within the designated boundary of Hawai‘i 

Volcanoes National Park, but neither the state nor the 

park service had the funds to acquire the piece. The 

following year, HNHA contracted with Frances Jackson 

to write and publish a park history in celebration of the 

park 50th anniversary in August. HNHA also paid for 

the travel expenses of park staff because NPS general 

funds were not available. 
20 Gathering On The Rim

i

Image Right: Cartoon of Hui O Pele 

found in the Volcano House Register. No 

Date. Image courtesy of Hawai‘i Volcanoes 

National Park.

Parks Expand, Budgets Contract

The 1950’s and ‘60’s saw flush years for Hui O Pele and 

HNHA. This was a great benefit to the federal agencies 

because by 1972, both the NPS and USGS were coming 

upon difficult fiscal times. Both groups requested

financial assistance from HNHA. The association

members decided that since the agency benefited

the park visitors and island residents, they would

support the request. A total of $4,000 was given to

USGS to pay for a tilt meter, film processing and

seismograph supplies. The NPS meanwhile, continued 

to request for funding to support both paid positions

and project work.95

Throughout the 1970’s park staff requested funds from

the Hui to cover small, basic needs. The requests ranged 

from $165 for Xerox copies of reference materials for the 

park library, to $276 to purchase blankets for the Summit 

and Red Hill cabins, and $1,000 for the construction

and installation of a trail shelter to replace the existing

cabin at Halapē.96 The building, a three walled shelter

of lava rock with aluminum roof and fiberglass tank for 

water catchment, was later constructed by the Youth

Conservation Corps (YCC) in the summer of 1975.

Requests for the Hui to support minor infrastructure

and supplies continued through the 1970’s, including

requests for cabin supplies, a backcountry hiking and

camping information center, a backcountry map for

the backcountry management plan, and a weed eater to 

clear backcountry trails of vegetation.97

Much like the Hui, the 1970’s saw HNHA expanding its 

role—but in their case, it was a service wide expansion 

throughout the Pacific Island parks. The association

was doing well by 1975, with gross sales over $200,000. 

It was one of the ten largest associations of the 55

service-wide. 98 The nationwide growth and influence

of the natural history associations likely spurred an

opinion by the solicitor that the philanthropic groups

should create a distinct separation between their

operations and NPS operations. There was a concern

that as the associations grew bigger, and collected more 

money, that there might be some improper influences

either real or perceived.99 Recommendations ranged

from simple changes like developing distinct HNHA 

uniforms, and holding meetings more than once a year, 

to more organizational changes like restructuring the 

membership so that NPS staff did not play a pivotal 

role in decision making. 

Complying with the solicitor’s recommendations would 

prove a good move, because HNHA’s responsibilities 

and role in the Pacific Island parks expanded in 1978 

with the passage of the Federal Omnibus Bill. The 

bill authorized extra acreage for the City of Refuge 

(formally changed to Pu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau), the 

nclusion of Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical 

Park in the NPS System, the addition of Guam National 

Seashore and an area in Saipan, and finally the turnover 

of the Arizona Memorial to the NPS along with shore 

side facilities.100 It was decided the next year that 

separate associations should serve Guam, Saipan, and 

the Arizona Memorial. Kaloko began to be serviced by 

HNHA in 1987.101

The dependence on the association by the parks 

for covering basic personnel services continued. In 

1980, with the park service continuing to face difficult 

financial times, 46% of the park’s interpretive budget 

was covered by asssociation funds.102 The federal hiring 

freeze instituted in January 1981 put the NPS in an 

even more difficult staffing situation. The association 
 National Park Service 21

attempted to fill in and supplement the parks as best 

they could. However, the Federal Government’s 

directive outlining the hiring freeze also limited the 

ability of HNHA to provide support to the parks, 

because it specifically noted that “contracting with 

firms and institutions outside the Government will 

not be used to alleviate or circumvent the effect of 

this hiring freeze.”103 Association funds for hiring NPS 

personnel were now capped at 20%. 

In an effort to equally distribute funds, the HNHA 

Board voted to earmark 13% of the gross income 

obtained from each park back to that individual park. 

The board came up with a list of park project priorities, 

but agreed that the final decision would be left to the 

NPS.104 Thus, the percentages that each park received, 

was based on each park’s individual gross income. 

Therefore, the amounts were fair considering the larger 

parks brought in more income than the smaller ones 

did. In 1985, the anticipated gross income for HNHA 

was $735,000 with approximately $140,000 anticipated 

to be donated to the parks in 1986. By 1990, revenue for 

Hawai‘i Volcanoes alone, topped $700,000, accounting 

for nearly 70% of all income generated by HNHA.105

Photo Right: Chief Ranger Christ 

at traditional Hawaiian Hale 

in Kalapana circa 1930. Image 

courtesy of Hawai‘i Volcanoes 

National Park.

“Dropping Like Flies”—The End of 

Hui O Pele

The rapid growth and expansion of HNHA was a 

blessing to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, 

because the 1980’s brought an end to its then oldest 

philanthropic organization—Hui O Pele. The final 

request for funding from the Hui documented in the 

HAVO archives is a request in 1980 for whatever funds 

the Hui could afford to cover the cost of sampling and 

treating backcountry water supplies in the six cabins 

and shelters within the park.106 The park was required 
22 Gathering On The Rim

by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to 

perform the tests, but the funding available for the 

project was only going to last through June 1980. In 

a handwritten note back to Superintendent Ames, 

the last known Hui O Pele President, Arthur Herbst, 

noted that “age is creeping up on the Hui O Pele Board 

of Directors and they are dropping like flies.” Herbst 

authorized the funds without consulting the board 

because he did not want to hold up the park.107

Hui O Pele survived for 58 years and contributed 

over $38,000 in monetary support to the park based 

on one dollar donations. The funds were used to 

build much needed infrastructure at a time when the 

federal government was unable or unwilling to support 

certain park projects. After years of dedication and 

tireless service to the park, the organization came to 

an end. In 1980, the western regional director was 

expressing concern over the financial and legal aspects 

of the organization. With support from the Board of 

Directors waning, the decision to transfer the funds 

from Hui O Pele to HNHA was made. Documentation 

confirming the transfer of funds from Hui O Pele to 

HNHA was not found in the park files, but it appears 

to have been seamless. There was some discussion of 

HNHA continuing to give out membership certificates 

as a token for “donations” made to the association. 

However, it does not appear that HNHA continued to 

support the Hui certificates. 

The absorption of Hui O Pele into HNHA was a 

natural transition for the two groups. For decades, 

they had worked side by side for the benefit of the 

park; many of the programs and projects supported by 

the Hui in its final decades overlapped with those of 

HNHA. While not the first philanthropic organization 

within Hawaii National Park, the demise of Hui O 

Pele makes the Hawai‘i Natural History Association 

(HNHA) currently the longest running philanthropic 

organization within the park. 

Throughout its 75 years of existence, HNHA has 

contributed tens of thousands of dollars to the park 

service in the form of direct monetary funding, support 

staff, purchase of library books, the development of 

publications, brochures and postcards, donations 

for exhibits, art, signs, videos and displays, museum, 

research, vehicle and library support, and numerous 

others. HNHA is one of the largest and most profitable 

natural history associations nationally, and remains 

a strong and important contributor to the park. The 

association was the sole philanthropic group for 

several decades until they were joined more recently by 

a friends organization—a nationally based group that 

focused primarily on activities other than retail sales. 

Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes 

National Park

The youngest philanthropic organization to join 

the park ranks grew out of Na Hoaloha (friends of) 

‘Āinahou, a not-for-profit volunteer organization. 

Established in 1997, Na Hoaloha was devoted to 

improving the historic ‘Āinahou ranch house and the 

surrounding gardens found within the park. As its 

focus and mission expanded, the organization began 

doing business as the Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes 

National Park (FHVNP) in 2002. 

Friends is a not-for-profit, membership organization 

working as a partner with the park to augment 

park resources by offering educational programs, 

administering grants, and raising funds for agreed-upon 

park projects. FHVNP provides a volunteer workforce 

for ongoing invasive species removal and native forest 

restoration while also continuing maintenance of 

‘Āinahou Ranch and its grounds. Today, largely due to 

the hard work of dedicated volunteers, this treasured 

ranch retains its character as “a manicured showcase 

of exotics within a native mesic forest.”108

Over the years, members of this evolving organization 

have contributed thousands of volunteer hours to these 

works, broadening their scope to include projects that 

benefitted the entire park, as well as ‘Āinahou. With 

the expansion of the friends’ role, a formal partnership 

agreement and specific project guidelines have been 

jointly drafted to clarify and guide collaborations 

between the park and friends. 
 National Park Service 23

Increasingly, FHVNP has raised funds through 

memberships, grants, field seminars, an annual silent 

auction, and other special events. The organization has 

received grants from the National Park Foundation, 

the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the Hawai‘i Council 

for the Humanities, the 50th Anniversary Statehood 

Commission, and the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, 

among others. Grants have supported such projects as 

the Parks as Classrooms program, the park’s annual 

cultural festival, the publication of oral histories of the 

‘Āinahou Ranch and the junior rangers’ guidebook. 

Friends’ fundraising paid for interpretive wayside 

exhibits at the newly refurbished Sulfur Banks Trail. 

Special fundraising events have included collecting 

donations at the park entrance gate on National Public 

Lands Day and hosting a “Paniolo Day” celebrating 

the Hawaiian cowboy history of the recently acquired 

former ranchlands, the 116,000 acre Kahuku unit. A 

second fundraiser featured writer and co-producer, 

Dayton Duncan, of Ken Burns’ National Parks 

documentary series at an evening venue. 

In every instance, the friends’ board and members 

made great effort to raise money for the park, while 

developing their capacity to become an increasingly 

effective park partner. At the same time, the park has 

committed considerable time and effort to help the 

Friends succeed.

In 2009 the friends secured several grants and received 

numerous in-kind donations to launch an expanded 

educational initiative, the Hawai‘i Volcanoes Institute. 

In redefining their rapidly-growing field seminar series 

as a park institute, the friends entered a larger arena 

where not-for-profit partners support well-established 

educational institutes in Yellowstone, Glacier, North 

Cascades and many other national parks. 

A consequence of this expansion and growing visibility 

of the friends is the need for increased planning. In 

2009, grants supported a joint park/friends retreat 

and a subsequent strategic planning session to further 

define and develop the organization.

Photo Right: ‘Äinahou House. 

Image courtesy of Hawai‘i Volcanoes 

National Park.
24 Gathering On The Rim

In all of these ways, the Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes 

National Park is an organization which is constantly 

growing and renewing itself. Again and again, volunteers 

step forward to realize an evolving vision and dynamic 

partnership with the park. The resilience and energy of 

the organization are among its greatest assets. 

The friends succeed in their mission to “connect 

people with the park” in many ways: through a rapidly 

growing membership (from 40 members in 2002 to 

more than 300 in 2010), by raising funds for park needs, 

through a diversity of educational experiences which 

began as the friends field seminar series and is now 

a thriving Hawai‘i Volcanoes Institute, through the 

care and public tours of ‘Āinahou, and by mounting 

volunteer teams to remove invasive species and restore 

native forests. 

As of 2010, the friends manage all of this with two 

half-time employees, an administrative assistant 

and an institute programs coordinator. With the 

guidance of a working board, volunteer contributions 

and rewarding partnerships are the core of the 

organization’s achievements. This growing network 

engages Hawai‘i’s residents and visitors and expands 

the park’s constituency. Increasingly, the friends are 

becoming a stronger and more effective partner in 

support of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Conclusion

In 2016, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park will celebrate 

its centennial anniversary. For nearly 100 years, Hawai‘i 

Volcanoes has stood out as one of the gems of the 

National Park Service—crafted and shined by the 

hard work, selfless dedication, and personal efforts of 

ordinary citizens. These individuals and groups have 

banded together to dedicate and promote the legacy of 

the natural and cultural heritage of the lands of Kīlauea 

and Mauna Loa. 

Photo Top: Youth Conservation Corps 

(YCC) working in the Kalapana Extension. 

Image courtesy of Hawai‘i Volcanoes 

National Park.

Endnotes

1

 William Ellis, “A Narrative of an 1823 Tour Throughout 

Hawaii. With remarks on the history, traditions, manners, 

customs, and language of the inhabitants of the Sandwich 

Islands,” (1826), H. Fisher, Son, and P. Jackson, London.

2

 Moniz Nakamura, J., "Fire On The Rim. The Creation of 

Hawaii National Park," Hawaii Volcanoes National Park 

Occasional Papers. Volume 1, No. 1. 2009. 

3

 Moniz Nakamura, Fire On The Rim

4

 Thurston, Lorrin A., The Proposed Hawaiian National 

Park, In The Mid-Pacific Magazine, 1911, 1(3):320.

5

 Darcy Bevens, On the Rim of Kilauea. Excerpts from the 

Volcano House Register, 1865-1955, (Hawaii Natural History 

Association, Hawaii National Park, Hawaii, 1992). 

6

 Nash Castro, “The Land of Pele. A Historical Sketch of 

Hawaii National Park,” Hawaii Nature Notes, 1953, 5(2):14.

7

 Castro, The Land of Pele, pg. 14.

8

 Castro, The Land of Pele, pg. 57; Myra Tomonari-Tuggle 

and K. Slocumb, “Integrated Resources Management Plan 

for Kilauea Military Camp, Hawaii Volcanoes National 

Park, Island of Hawaii,” International Archaeological 

Research Institute Inc., 2000:III-28-29.

9

 Castro, The Land of Pele, pg. 57.

10 Tomonari-Tuggle, Integrated Resources Management 

Association, Hawaii National Park, Hawaii, 1992).

11 Castro, The Land of Pele, pg. 55.

12 Castro, The Land of Pele, pg. 55.

13 Castro, The Land of Pele, pg. 55.

14 Thurston, Lorrin A., “The Story of a Volcano,” The MidPacific Magazine (1921), 21(1):20-21.

15 Thurston, The Proposed Hawaiian National Park, pg. 24.
 National Park Service 25

16 Thurston, The Story of a Volcano, pg. 20-21.

17 Thurston, The Story of a Volcano, pg. 20-21.

18 Thurston, The Story of a Volcano, pg. 20.

19 Thurston, The Story of a Volcano, pg. 22.

20 Thurston, The Story of a Volcano, pg. 23.

21 Castro, The Land of Pele, pg. 46; Moniz Nakamura 

unpub ms. 

22 Castro, The Land of Pele, pg. 46.

23 Castro, The Land of Pele.

24 Superintendents Reports 1922, 1923, 1924.

25 Superintendents Annual Report, 1922, pg. 2

26 Superintendents Annual Report, 1921 and 1924.

27 Superintendents Report, March 1924, pg. 4.

28 George Mellen, “Hui O Pele” In Hawaiian Annual for 

1925. The Reference Book of Information and Statistics 

Relating to the Territory of Hawaii. Thos. G. Thrum, 

compiler and publisher. Fifty-first Issue. Honolulu, Hawaii 

(1924), pg. 88.

29 Mellen, pg. 88.

30 Mellen, pg. 88.

31 Mellen, Pg. 91.

32 Mellen, pg. 91.

33 Hawaii Tribune November 7, 1927 “Hawaii National Park 

Report.”

34 Hawaii Tribune November 7, 1927 “Hawaii National Park 

Report.”

35 Superintendents Report, October 6, 1927.

36 Letter from R.T. Evans, Superintendent to Mr. Bredhoff, 

Secretary-Treasurer of Hui O Pele, May 7, 1928. 

37 Letter from de Vis-Norton to Superintendent Thomas J. 

Allen, January 26, 1929.

38 Letter January 26, 1929.

39 Letter January 26, 1929.

40 Letter from T.J. Allen Jr. to de Vis-Norton dated February 

7, 1929, HAVO Archives.

41 Letter from de Vis-Norton to T.J. Allen Jr. dated February 

11, 1929, HAVO Archives.

42 Letter dated February 11, 1929.

43 Letter from de Vis-Norton to T.J. Allen dated June 

9, 1930; Letter from de Vis-Norton to T.J. Allen dated 

September 9, 1930. 

44 Letter from T.J. Allen to de Vis-Norton dated September 

5, 1930.

45 Letter from Henry Bredhoff, Treasurer Hui O Pele to T.J. 

Allen dated December 15, 1930.

46 Letter from Leavitt to de Vis-Norton, dated February 26, 

1931.

47 Letter from T.J. Allen to Director of the National Park 

Service, dated April 2, 1930; Letter from Letter from Horace 

M. Albright to T.J. Allen dated April 29, 1930; Letter from 

T.J. Allen to L.W. de Vis Norton dated August 8, 1930.

48 Letter from de Vis-Norton to Leavitt, dated February 19, 

1931.

49 Suggested By-Laws for Hui O Pele Committee of The 

Outdoor Circle, adopted November 1934.

50 Letter from E. Wingate to Director of the National Park 

Service, dated January 19, 1935.

51 Letter from E. Wingate to de Vis Norton, dated February 

15, 1935.

Photo Top: Red Hill Cabin, built with 

funds from Hui O Pele as seen in 1935. 

Image courtesy of Hawai‘i Volcanoes 

National Park.
26 Gathering On The Rim

52 Letter from Leavitt to de Vis-Norton, dated July 1, 1931.

53 Hui O Pele, Hawaii Constitution and By-laws, Article II. 

54 Letter from Superintendent Oberhansley to George 

Armitage, dated February 14, 1951.

55 Letter from Superintendent Oberhansley to George 

Armitage, dated May 11, 1950.

56 Letter from E.P. Leavitt, Superintendent to L.W. de VisNorton, dated July 11, 1933.

57 Memorandum to the Superintendent from John Doerr, 

President HNHA, dated June 15, 1934.

58 Minutes of Meeting of Hawaii National Park Natural 

History Association, February 7, 1936.

59 Minutes of Meeting of Hawaii Natural History 

Association, January 11, 1946.

60 Minutes of Meeting of Hawaii Natural History 

Association, November 15, 1949.

61 Minutes of the Annual Meeting, dated March 9, 1951.

62 Minutes of Board of Directors, June 22, 1951.

63 Memorandum from the Superintendent, Hawaii National 

Park, January 23, 1950.

64 Memorandum from Regional Director, Region 

Four, Lawrence Merriam to Hawaii National Park 

Superintendent, dated April 9, 1952.

65 Letter from Frank Oberhansley to Charlie Frazier, dated 

July 11, 1952.

66 Letter from Frank Oberhansley to Charlie Frazier, dated 

July 28, 1952.

67 Letter from Frank Oberhansley to Charlie Frazier, dated 

December 1, 1952.

68 Letter from V.R. Bender Jr., Business Manager HNHA to 

W. Coswell, Hui O Pele Secretary.

69 1953 Notes for Hui O Pele Meeting; Report of 1953 

Accomplishments, dated March 23, 1954.

70 1953 Notes for Hui O Pele Meeting.

71 Letter from V.R. Bender Jr., to W. Cosgwel, dated April 15, 

1953.

72 Letter from Charles Frazer to Glenn Mitchell, dated April 

28, 1954.

73 Letter from Frank Oberhansley, Superintendent to Arthur 

Evers, dated March 29, 1951.

74 Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors, Hawaii 

Natural History Association, February 15, 1955.

75 Letter from John Wosky, Superintendent to W. Cogswell, 

dated April 27, 1955.

76 Memorandum from Ranger Robert Jacobsen to 

Chairman of the Sign Committee, dated July 6, 1956.

77 Letter from J. Wosky to W. Cogswell, dated August 23, 

1956.

78 1958 Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors, HNHA, 

Minutes of, dated January 28, 1959.

79 Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors of HNHA, 

January 27, 1960; Special Meeting of the Board of Directors, 

August 25, 1960.

80 Letter from J. Wosky to W. Cogswell, dated April 1, 1958.

81 Letter from J. Wosky to W. Cogswell, dated February 20, 

1959.

82 Letter from Fred Johnston, Superintendent to W. 

Cogswell, dated April 9, 1959.

83 Letter from W. Cogswell to Fred Johnson, dated February 

20, 1961.

84 Memo to the Files from Fred Johnson, dated March 22, 

1961.
 National Park Service 27

85 Minutes of June 2, 1961 meeting.

86 Letter from Fred Johnson to Wayne Richardson, dated 

October 31, 1961; Memo from Chief Park Naturalist to 

Superintendent dated October 31, 1961.

87 Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting, dated February 

26, 1962.

88 Minutes of the Annual Meeting, dated February 20, 1964.

89 Minutes of the Executive Meeting dated January 19, 1965.

90 Minutes of the Board of Directors meeting dated 

October 26, 1965.

91 “Group Gives $1,200 For Volcano Radio,” Hawaii Tribune 

Herald, October 27, 1965.

92 Annual Meeting, Board of Directors, HNHA, January 18, 

1961.

93 Annual Meeting, Board of Directors and General 

Membership, February 20, 1962.

94 Annual Meeting, Board of Directors, Hawaii Natural 

History Association, February 24, 1964.

95 Annual Meeting, Board of Directors, Hawaii Natural 

History Association, February 9, 1972.

96 Letter from Chris Cameron, Acting Superintendent to 

Arthur Herbst, dated September 24, 1974.

97 Letter from David Ames, Superintendent to Arthur 

Herbst, dated June 15, 1979.

98 Memorandum to the Members of the Board, HNHA, 

dated October 30, 1975; Annual Meeting notes, dated 

November 19, 1975.

99 Memorandum to Members of the Board, HNHA, dated 

December 1, 1976.

100 HNHA Board Meeting Minutes, dated May 19, 1978.

101 Minutes Meeting of the Board of Directors, dated 

September 21, 1987.

102 HNHA Board Meeting Minutes, dated June 18, 1980.

103 Bulletin No. 81-6, dated January 24, 1981.

104 Minutes of Meeting of the Board of Directors, dated 

September 24, 1982.

105 Minutes Meeting of the Board of Directors, dated July 

19, 1990.

106 Letter from David Ames to Arthur Herbst dated June 20, 

1980.

107 Letter from Arthur Herbst to David Ames, dated July 22, 

1980.

108 National Park Service Cultural Landscape Inventory, 

Ainahou Ranch House and Gardens, dated 2004.
28 Gathering On The Rim

Photo Top: Fern Forest. Image courtesy of 

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Photo Bottom: Pahoehoe flow in Hawai‘i 

Volcanoes National Park. Image courtesy 

of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
 National Park Service 29

Projects and Funds Contributed by Hui O Pele (list not complete)

Project Date Cost Equivalent buying power in 2009

1. Thurston Lava Tube Shelter 1927 $272.18 $3,345.25

2. E. Pauahi Crater Shelter 1927 $83.83 $1,030.32

3. Halemaumau Trail Shelter 1928 $130.81 $1,635.94

4. Chain of Craters Road Opening Day Ribbons 1928 $24.65 $308.28

5. Shelter at Hilina Pali 1930 $824.06 $10,552.71

6. Uwekahuna Lecture Hall 1930 $3,736.98 $47,854.83

7. Chairs at Uwekahuna Lecture Hall 1932 $700 $10,926.95

8. Summit Rest House on Mauna Loa 1934 $2,500 $39,898.51

9. Eruption Film Purchase 1947 $100 $959

10. Framed Certificates 1949 $150 $1,347.83

11. Selectoslide 1949 $387.38 $3,480.82

12. Park Museum Units 1950 $9,500 $84,300.08

13. Park Museum Units 1952 $500 $4,035.02

14. Park Museum Units 1952 $2,000 $16,140.08

15. Park Museum Units 1953 $1,828.33 $14,644.17

16. Wooden Interpretive Signs 1955 $1,500 $11,969.55

17. Wooden Interpretive Signs 1956 $1,000 $7,862.35

18. Kalapana Survey 1958 $3,000 $22,199.58

19. Dedication of Chain of Craters Road 1964 $1,000 $6,898.58

20. Cabin Supplies 1964 $50 $344.93

21. Hitchcock Painting Restoration and Framing 1964 $600 $4,139.15

22. Two-way radios for HVO 1964 $1,200 $8,278.30

23. Double-case Museum Display Case 1968

24. Museum Rehab 1970 $4,000 $22,047.01

25. Xeroxing of Thrum’s Hawaiian Annual 1972 $162 $828.82

26. Summit and Red Hill Cabin Blankets 1973 $276 $1,329.38

27. Cabin at Halape 1974 $1,000 $4,337.85

28. Cabin Supplies 1974 $100 $433.78

29. Hiking and Camping Information at KVC 1977 $500 $1,764.49

30. Backcountry Cabin Supplies 1978 $400 $1,312

31. Backcountry Cabin Supplies and Weedwacker 1979 $500 $1,472.84

32. Sampling and Treatment of Backcountry Cabin Water 1980
National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

PO Box 52

Hawaii National Park, HI 96718-0052

808 985-6000

www.nps.gov/havo

HAWAI‘I VOLCANOEs

NATIONAL PARK

and biosphere reserve

A World Heritage site