Interview with Cindy Orlando
Superintendent, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Located on the island of Hawai'i, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park contains two of the most active volcanoes in the world – Mauna Loa and Kilauea. A unique and beautiful landscape cradled by the Pacific Ocean, the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (HVNP) was designated a National Park in 1916, and a World Heritage Site in 1987. These designations help preserve the area’s striking natural, cultural and archeological features.
On August 17, Friends of World Heritage spoke with Cindy Orlando, superintendent of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Read on to get an inside look at this breath-taking site and the challenges it faces.
FoWH: What makes HVNP a special place?
Orlando: There’s so much that makes the park special. Two of the five volcanoes on the island are within the park, making the volcanoes an important component of the park visit. The ability to approach an active volcano gives visitors an opportunity to discover first-hand how the Earth was born. And learning about the Hawaiian people who still inhabit these lands gives visitors a glimpse into the stories and journeys of the host culture of this area. Lastly, it contains outstanding natural values – such as craters, summit trails, desert and rainforest.
FoWH: What is the most unique aspect of the Volcanoes National Park that a visitor would see there – and not anywhere else?
Orlando: The whole park is a sacred cultural landscape. It is a sacred site to native Hawaiians and continues to be used today for ceremonies. According to Hawaiian tradition, Kilauea is the home of Pele, the goddess of the volcano. The summit and the red lava represent Pele’s home and birth, respectively. The park represents a place of birth of many spirits and forces.
FoWH: How can visitors be respectful of the park's sacred lands?
Orlando: Our challenge is how to consider the way culture is presented so that our visitors are more respectful. How we interpret and tell the native stories provides better interaction with, and understanding of, the traditional Hawaiian culture. When we can affect the visitor in that way, it promotes appreciation and they, in turn, become better stewards.
FoWH: For tourists that are interested in being responsible travelers, what tips do you provide about visiting HVNP?
Orlando: Responsible travelers should come with respect for the life of the land. For example, sometimes we have visitors who stack rock piles or leave what they think are respectful offerings to Pele at the crater’s edge, but really that is viewed as disrespectful by native Hawaiians. The main way visitors can contribute to sustaining the park environment is through their actions and attitudes. And, we want to continue providing safe access to lava viewing, so visitors should adhere to signage and the messages.
FoWH: What are the greatest threats to the integrity of the park?
Orlando: The biggest challenges are to control or eliminate invasive species and preserve native plants and animals. Loss of our plants and animals also likely occurs due to both climate change and human actions. The birds don’t stop at the park boundary, so we have to work together with all of our partners on the island to preserve the island's biological diversity and natural habitat. There’s also the challenge of how we build an experience that will respect the traditional culture.
FoWH: If you were going to give one final message to people reading this interview, what would you say to them?
Orlando: We want them to come educated to the uniqueness of the site. We want them to be sensitive to the resources. And we want them to contribute to help us sustain the park environment, the host culture, and the heritage. Our goal is for visitors to have positive interactions and effects on all of these aspects and leave no trace.
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To discover more about Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, please visit :
• http://www.nps.gov/havo
• http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/409
