A Brief History

The Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is a not-for-profit membership organization which was originally founded as Nā Hoaloha `Āinahou (Friends of `Āinahou). `Āinahou is an historic ranch within the Park. The house and gardens were in serious disrepair.

As our mission and focus expanded beyond the ranch, in 2002 we began doing business as Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. To date, funds have been raised through memberships, grants, field seminars, and our annual silent auction. Our role is evolving to encompass fundraising for Park projects. Board restructuring and training is required to prepare the Friends to assume this new partnership with the Park.

Historic Overview:

In 1995, through the efforts of our founding members, the `Āinahou Ranch House and its grounds were listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the “Friends of `Āinahou” was formed. The articles of incorporation and bylaws were adopted in 1997.

A dedicated group of volunteers cleared approximately 10 acres of the ranch property, which had been developed in the 1940s by businessman and horticulturalist Herbert Shipman. Volunteers continue to play a major role in the upkeep of `Āinahou.

Today, `Āinahou provides a site for study and interpretation of the Hawaiian environment and culture, and is home to a small flock of endangered native nēnē geese.

In 1998 Nā Hoaloha `Āinahou entered into a cooperative agreement with Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park to develop, implement, administer and financially support a world-class, experientially based educational seminar program within the Park, which remains an active focus of our organization.

The Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park has received grants from the Parks as Classrooms program of the National Park Foundation, Hawai`i Tourism Authority (HTA), Hawai`i Council for the Humanities and the Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC). Grants have funded the field seminars program, publication of the “Oral Histories of `Āinahou Ranch” and out-planting of native plants in the park.

Members assisted the park with research on two projects, both completed in 2004: the Cultural Landscape Report and the Historic Structures Report for `Āinahou Ranch.

Grants in 2005 and 2006 from HTA have been targeted for use by the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and sister parks on the island to plan, promote and conduct a series of cultural festivals.

Two such grants have been submitted for Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park for 2007.

Moneys collected at the gate on “Fee Free Day” (National Public Lands Day) in 2005 were used to donate tents to be used at the Kahuku section of the Park. Our collections in 2006 were even better. We also had a service project that day pulling invasive weeds at Devastation Trail and had a booth at the Visitors Center.

Our major project in 2006 was funding the purchase of interpretive Wayside Exhibits for the Sulfur Banks trail that will withstand the unusual weather conditions in our Park. Our Paniolo Day fundraiser completed that effort. We are actively seeking more ways to offer volunteer opportunities to our members. In addition to work at `Āinahou, we have an Invasive Species removal group that works in different areas of the Park coordinating with Resources Management. We have people helping in the office and would like help with grant writing. Our website is also fully managed by volunteers.

Membership is growing rapidly, as noted by an increase from 40 members in 2002 to 150 members at the beginning of 2005. We reached the 300 mark in the fall of 2006. We continue to focus on furthering our partnership with the Park, most notably in the realm of support and sponsorship of fund raising efforts.