The porch of the Volcano Art Center in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is the kind of comfortable, homey place that would be great for a gathering with friends and family to relax and "talk story."

So it was recently, when a couple celebrating their golden wedding anniversary learned how to make a pua­­ken­ikeni lei during VAC’s Aloha Friday on the Porch program. As they strung the fragrant flowers, they reminisced about how their romance had blossomed when they were young, culminating with the gentleman offering a lei and a moonlight proposal to his sweetheart on Wai­kiki Beach.

Fifty years later, surrounded by a group of teary-eyed new friends, he kissed his wife and gently draped the pua­keni­keni lei they had made together around her neck — a symbol of their enduring love.

Special moments like that are common at Aloha Fridays on the Porch, which coordinator Desi­ree Cruz describes as "a warm invitation to witness the skill, passion and aloha that local practitioners have for Hawaii’s culture. It’s about sharing, making lasting memories and spending quality time with interesting people."

The free weekly event launched three years ago as part of a larger program, Hula Arts at Kilauea, which dates back to the founding of VAC 40 years ago (see sidebar). Rather than being spectators, attendees are hands-on with activities — stringing lei, playing the ukulele, weaving baskets from coconut leaves and more.

"Every year, more than 1.5 million visitors from all over the world come to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park; it’s the top attraction in the state," Cruz said. "Our Aloha Fridays connect them with Hawaiian cultural practitioners and artists who are inspired by this spectacular place. We started the program in response to visitors who wanted an opportunity to interact directly with kama­aina who are knowledgeable about Hawaiian traditions. As a world traveler myself, I know that such encounters greatly increase your understanding about and appreciation for a place."

Cruz is responsible for selecting and scheduling the practitioners. She encourages them to keep their topics fresh (for example, rotating the different lei-making styles) because Aloha Fridays draw many repeat participants.

The fun, casual format makes it easy for people to join in at any time during the two-hour window. Kama­aina and mali­hini (newcomers) sit shoulder to shoulder, chatting and laughing like old friends. Teachers engage and spend one-on-one time with everyone; even the shyest members of the group are working intently on their take-home creation before long.

Local folks like to bring their out-of-town guests to Aloha Fridays on the Porch for a taste of the "real Hawaii." The staff at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park knows it’s a culturally appropriate event they can suggest, especially on rainy days that aren’t conducive for hiking. Hotel concierges throughout Hawaii island recommend it as a "must" experience.

According to Cruz, it’s about being alo i ke alo (face to face) with a willingness to share and a willingness to learn.

"Nowhere else can you sit on the porch of a historic building at the summit of an active volcano with the incredible beauty of nature all around you," she said. "That sets the stage for something magical to happen. Hearts are open, differences fade away, a common thread of humanity emerges and you are immersed in true aloha."

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Star-Advertiser have won several Society of American Travel Writers awards.

About Volcano Art Center

Volcano Art Center is a nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by a group of artists living in the area. It offers art classes, cultural programs and a gallery showcasing handcrafted creations by more than 300 local artists.

VAC is housed in what was the third of five incarnations of Volcano House, an inn perched on the 4,000-foot summit of Kilauea Volcano. The building was constructed in 1877, restored in the 1970s and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. King Kala­kaua, Louis Pasteur and Robert Louis Stevenson were among its guests in the late 1800s.

Love the Arts, VAC’s annual fundraiser, will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 7 at its Niau­lani Campus, 19-4074 Old Volcano Road in Volcano village. Themed “Abracadabra: The Magic of Art,” this year’s event features entertainment, gourmet pupu, live and silent auctions, and fine wine and champagne.

Pre-sale tickets, $55 for VAC members and $60 for nonmembers, are available on VAC’s website, at its gallery and Niau­lani Campus, as well as at Ban­yan Gallery and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. Tickets will be $65 at the door. Call 987-8222.

Upcoming Porch programs

Friday, Feb. 27, March 27: Lei making
Jan. 30: Coconut leaf weaving
Feb. 6, March 6: Ukulele
Feb. 13, March 13: Lei making
Feb. 20, March 20: Hula arts

OTHER EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

» Enjoy free hula kahiko (ancient hula) performances one Saturday each month at 10:30 a.m. at the kahua hula (platform) near VAC’s gallery. In addition, learn a hula, make a lei and try playing various hula implements.

» The free Niaulani Nature Walk takes place every Monday, rain or shine, including holidays, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet at VAC’s Niau­lani Campus.

» Bring your favorite instrument and join the free jam session at the Niau­lani Campus every Monday from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

» “Over & Under: More of His Nature,” an exhibit of paintings of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park by wildlife artist John D. Dawson, runs through Feb. 15 at VAC’s gallery. On Feb. 7, Dawson and Interpretive Park Ranger Jay Robinson will be there from 1 to 3 p.m. to discuss the exhibit.

» Workshops at the Niau­lani Campus include Empowered by the Pen on Jan. 31, Taking a Pamphlet Stitch on a Romp on Feb. 14 and Paint Your Own Silk Scarf on Feb. 28. Call 967-8222 for details.