After Dark in the Park
Special Speaker Presentations

Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium

Park entrance fees apply
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September 15, 2009 – “Kilauea’s Volcanic Gases and Vog”
As magma rises from the Earth’s mantle to the surface, volcanic gases expand, driving the spectacular fountains and flows of Hawai’i’s celebrated volcanoes. While Kilauea’s current eruption produces enough lava to fill a football stadium every week, it also releases huge amounts of volcanic gases, which affect our island environment. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geochemists Jeff Sutton and Tamar Elias offer an update about volcanic gases, especially related to the 2008-2009 activity at Halema’uma’u Crater. Learn about volcanic pollution (Vog) – how it forms and ways to deal with this unpleasant aspect of Kilauea’s current eruptions. BYON (Bring Your Own Nose) to the ever-popular “gas tasting” party where you can learn to identify volcanic gases by smell.

September 22, 2009 – “The Secret Story: The Battle of Kuamo’o”
At Lekeleke in South Kona, hundreds of warriors are interred beneath stone terraces, killed in the fierce Battle of Kuamo'o. The noble Kekuaokalani and his wife Manono, buried nearby, led a civil war in 1819 to defend Kamehameha's vision for keeping Hawaiian culture intact as the kingdom joined the International community. The common history of the period after Kamehameha’s death describes King Liholiho sitting to eat with his mother and other noble women, thus ending the traditional kapu system. In truth, much blood was lost on the ‘a’a fields of Kuamo’o during this tumultuous time. Join Peter Charlot, playwright and park Living History Interpreter, to review this little-known chapter in Hawaiian history.

September 29, 2009 – “Ocean Stewardship in Pacific Islands National Parks”

THIS PRESENTATION HAS BEEN CANCELLED

October 6, 2009 – “Not Just a Warrior: Kamehameha the Great”
Kamehameha the Great is known as a mighty warrior, wise leader and first King of Hawai’i. Follow the life of this influential figure, from infancy through his childhood years to his increasingly powerful roles, defeating rivals and fulfilling prophecies. In his later years as a peacemaker and policy-maker, Kamehameha united and guided the Hawaiian Islands into the modern era. David Kawika Eyre’s 12-book series covers the life of this complex and renowned figure. Eyre has authored numerous books and taught Hawaiian language for 20 years at Kamehameha Schools. Based on Hawaiian sources and years of research, his stories of historical fiction shed new light on people, places and events that influenced Kamehameha’s development as a powerful leader.

October 13, 2009 – “Going to Gombe National Park in Tanzania”
Established in 1968, Gombe National Park in Tanzania is famous as the site of Jane Goodall’s pioneering work on the Kasakela chimpanzees. As conservation of the surrounding region is critical, the park and the Jane Goodall Institute are reaching out to the community to promote conservation of the Greater Gombe Ecosystem. To assess the potential for eco-tourism, NPS Landscape Architect Lisa Duwall recently toured this fascinating region with the US Department of the Interior International Technical Assistance Program. Her program reveals local wonders including Lake Tanganika, coffee farms, waterfalls, hiking trails to remote villages, and, of course, the chimpanzees.

October 20, 2009 – “Earthshaking Events at Kilauea’s Summit”
The summit of Kilauea volcano is “wired” with a variety of instruments monitored by scientists at USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Although we cannot always feel the ground movements under our feet, they occur continuously, and a dense array of instruments records every twitch and shudder. HVO Seismologist Dave Wilson is studying reams of new data recorded during the ongoing drama of explosions, collapses, glowing pits and gas emissions produced by the 2008-2009 eruptive activity at Halema’uma’u Crater. Join Wilson to learn how the Earth has moved during Kilauea’s most recent summit events.

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