Tickets available for Volcano Cultural Festival in the Rain Forest

by Mililani Hughes
(Volcano)

Dancers from Halau o Kahikilaulani wowed the audience with their beautiful dancing.

The Makahiki ma ka Ma'ukele 2009 is slated for October 24, 2009 in the beautiful Volcano village. Tickets for the lu'au and concert are now on sale. The traditional Hawaiian lu'au menu will be served at the Crater's Edge Cafe at the Kilauea Military Camp. There will be two sittings: 4:30 and 5:30. The menu includes kalua pig, lomi salmon, chicken long rice, macaroni salad, rice, and haupia. Cost for the meal is $20.

Before your meal or before the concert, saunter over to the 'Ohi'a Room to listen to the musical stylings of Rupert Tripp and friends, and Wade Camden and his friends. Check out the silent auction showcasing the best of Volcano and Hawai'i Island. Free

The Makahiki Kanikapila concert begins at 7:00 pm in the KMC theater. Headlining the event is Cyril Pahinui. Rounding out the concert will be Bolo, a guitarist from Kona, and the beautiful dancers of Halau Ke 'Olu Makani o Mauna Loa under the direction of Kumu Hula Meleana Ulrich Manuel. Cost for the concert $25

Package deals are available for the lu'au and concert for $40. Tickets may be purchased online at www.volcanocommunity.org or at the Volcano Community Association table at the Volcano Farmers' Market at Cooper Center on Sunday mornings.

Funds raised by this event will support cultural education in the community and a building fund for a cultural education building on the Cooper Center campus.

The event is sponsored by the Volcano Community Association with the assistance of community partners such as Hawaii County Research and Development Department. Big Island Resource Conservation Council, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Volcano Art Center, Cooper Center Council, Friends of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Rotary Club of Volcano and many more.