Volcano Art Center Gallery

Volcano, United States

3.8

Open now

12 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 808-967-7565
Website:
www.volcanoartcenter.org
Address:
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Volcano, HI, 96785
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Private Lot
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
Dogs Allowed
No
By Appointment Only
No

Today

Today 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Open now
Local time (Volcano) 12:24 PM Thursday, June 12, 2025

Business hours

Monday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Volcano Art Center Gallery, located in the historic 1877 Volcano House Hotel, is still welcoming guests to Kilauea, the world’s most active and visitor-​friendly volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. When you visit Kilauea, we invite you to tour our gallery located just a short walk from the Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Here you will see art and fine crafts by over 300 artists. Much of the work is one-​of-​a-​kind and can be found nowhere else in Hawaii. You will find an impressive array of wood items, photography, art glass, Hawaiiana, paintings, prints, ceramics, jewelry and sculpture. We also offer a wide selection of Hawaiian inspired gifts, wearables, books, and music. Each gallery purchase benefits the artist or artisan who created it, and helps to support all of Volcano Art Center’s endeavors, from classes and workshops and performances to gallery exhibits. VAC membership offers you a 10% discount on all gallery purchases (except books and music).

History

Established in 1974.

Volcano Art Center (VAC) is a nonprofit, 501©(3) educational organization founded in 1974 by a band of eclectic and energetic artists driven by our mission to develop, promote and perpetuate the artistic, cultural and environmental heritage of Hawaii’s people through the arts and education. Today, VAC continues to operate a successful fine arts gallery showcasing handcrafted art works by over 300 local artists, as well as developing and offering programs for residents and visitors alike, including the award winning Na Mea Hawaii Hula Kahiko performance series at the pa hula in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Meet the Manager

Emily C.

Manager

Emily Catey Weiss, Gallery Manager

Emily has years of experience coordinating public art programs and exhibits. She earned a B.F.A. from Ohio State University in 2000, which paved the way for Emily Catey Photography, LLC, which she ran successfully in Hale’iwa on Oahu’s North Shore before moving to the Big Island in 2009. From 2004 to 2009 she was involved in various civic, business and state organization in the revitalization of Honolulu’s Arts District. She also served as President of the Hale’iwa Arts Festival. She joined VAC as Program Director in 2009. Since then, she has held various positions within the organization. Her philosophy is grounded in the belief that cultivating, sustaining and celebrating the arts is essential to a vibrant community.

Vicinity

Near this location:
580
ft
Volcano House
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park 1 Crater Rim Dr
630
ft
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
99-165 Crater Rim Dr
710
ft
The Rim at the Volcano House
1 Crater Rim Dr
740
ft
Volcano House Dining Room
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park 1 Crater Rim Dr
1
mi
US Post Office
1 Kilauea Military Cp
1
mi
Crater Rim Cafe

12 reviews of Volcano Art Center Gallery

No registration required
Place rating: 1
Waipahu, HI
The Volcano Art Center hosts a half marathon, 10 k and 5 k around August to help raise funds. Just called today 02÷13÷14 at around 0900 to ask for information as me and my GF wanted to participate. Being that we are from Oahu, have to both request leave for it during the peak summer month and had very specific lodging we wanted, we were called to ask for information.
Thank you to the most stuck up and unhelpful person we have encountered in a long time. Yes… we realized its not till August but real people have jobs… they have to plan this stuff out if they want to participate and support your cause. But… I guess you were too busy to speak civilly.
Sorry to have bothered you Sir. We won’t make that mistake again. We won’t support your art center either by buying as we have in the past. Or participating in anything associated with you in the future.
Place rating: 3
Austin, TX
This was a pretty cool center that had some extremely interesting art pieces. Of course, everything in here was way too overpriced, but that was expected. Check out the picture by the main entrance that shows the house in 1877 — really neat to see what it looked like 135 years ago.
Place rating: 5
Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful local made art, from pictures to holiday ornaments to jewelry and home décor. Loved this little gallery!
Place rating: 5
Honolulu, HI
If you’re visiting the Big Island and want a unique keepsake to remember your trip by, this is a great bet. This rustic gallery is a short walk from the main visitor’s center in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and is comprised of a series of cozy rooms featuring a wide assortment of treasures created by local artists and artisans, including: paintings, sketches, block prints, ceramics, photography, mixed media, glass, woodwork, jewelry, and more. The staff were very friendly and attentive. I noticed them helping a couple make arrangements for a glass piece to be shipped to their home on the mainland. Items can also be purchased through the gallery’s website, which will likely become one of my go-​to sources for local gifts.
Place rating: 5
Portland, OR
This place is within the national park and is so wonderful to visit. I wished I had more money to spent and that I won the lottery! The building is wonderful from an architectural point, historical, and from the I want a chair a cup of tea and a book to just hang out in the place.
Great local artists selections, lovely grounds and really nice and helpful staff. Oh — there was art paper outside to draw on, the had presentations about local art (I think daily) as well as a basic Hawaiian dance class. I was sorry I missed it!
I’ll just have to go back…
Place rating: 4
Volcano, HI
My visiting parents loved it, and to my amazement, since they had shown no interest in shopping anywhere else, busted out their wallets for some relatively inexpensive signed prints by local artists. Staff was friendly and unobtrusive. Fun place to browse. Pretty good prices considering it’s original art and fine craft by local artists, with enough lower price points available to balance off the superexpensive. Prices were clearly marked. Sometimes they are doing cultural demonstrations like you can make your own kukui nut lei or make your own nose flute (insert witty joke here). The only thing they seemed to lack was jewelry. A great place to hit on a rainy day in Volcano (almost every day).
Place rating: 4
Waipahu, HI
Has a variety of rooms with different themes. Art lovers of all types will enjoy their staging. Collectibles, originals and prints are available in all different price range and features many local artists, which I respect a lot. Their price range is also very fair and modest compared to many other Hilo/​Kona retail stores that have same items from the same artists.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Well done gallery with featured local artists: there are things in all price ranges here, my abstract painting of the volcano is a great addition to my art hallway. Very friendly staff easily helped me mail the art back home, now I have a hot steaming pile of lava pictured in my office at work as well to remind me of the hot times in the park.
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
Cool art gallery adjacent to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Visitors Center. Much of the art was locally created by artists in the nearby town of Volcano. Media includes jewelry, woodwork, paintings, textiles, and glass.
Their feature piece is an Audobon style book on endangered and endemic birds. If I had $ 3,000, I would buy an unbound copy. It’s so beautiful. Otherwise, stop by and a volunteer will go through the first edition with you.
If you are going to HAVO, it’s worth a visit.
Place rating: 4
San Francisco, CA
Local artists supply all the fodder.
These same said artists are the people the Kilauea Wilderness Marathon 10, and 5 mile races turn to for awards.
Nice to see local art utilizes this way.
Loved the paper covered table outside, plenty of crayons to go around (except that I wanted all of them, I’m not sharing!)
Place rating: 3
Los Angeles, CA
Located across from Volcanoes National Park’s visitor center, the gallery used to be a hotel, which explains why it’s made up of small rooms. A lot of the art pertains to volcanoes, but plenty of it doesn’t, and most of it was pretty mediocre. Disappointingly so, I mean, I looked at many of the pieces and thought of similar ones I’d seen elsewhere that were so much better. Many mediums there: photo, paint, pastel, glass, wood, metal, fabric, ceramic, etc. The wooden pieces were probably my favorite, and ranged from bowls to lamps to benches. There were some great photos of volcanic eruptions as well, but at no point did I feel I needed to have anything in there.
Place rating: 4
Menlo Park, CA
This is a cute little gallery. They have some very interesting pieces, although very expensive!
Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s still nice to walk through. There are many different types of art, (at a variety of prices.) They’re all done by local artists, and very unique.
The building is also interesting in it’s own right. It was originally a hotel in the 1870’s.