Press Release - Kilauea Volcano Wilderness Runs - 12/1/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                   No Kilauea Volcano Runs in 2009
				 
Volcano, HI - December, 2008 --- According to Volcano Art Center executive 
director Phyllis Segawa, the issue of exploring alternate routes to replace 
the annual Kilauea Volcano Runs in 2009 has been completed and the decision 
has been made to not pursue an alternate site at this time.

The Volcano Art Center and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park announced 
earlier this year that 2008 marked the final running of the annual Kilauea 
Volcano Runs within the park.

The necessity and appropriateness of the three races—a 26.2 mile marathon, 
10 mile rim run, and 5 mile caldera run and walk—being held within the 
national park had been under discussion between the two agencies for the 
past several years. Volcano Art Center was aware that 2008 would be the 
final year of the race in the park.

The event, conducted under a federal special use permit, required strict 
compliance to ensure protection of the park's natural and cultural 
resources and adherence to national park policy and law, and wilderness 
regulations.

The summit eruption of Halema'uma'u Crater that began in March nearly 
forced the cancellation of the race this year, but park officials and race 
organizers worked together to reroute the marathon and 10-mile course to 
avoid the volcanic fumes and fallout. Sulfur dioxide gas and ash from the 
ongoing eruption continues to inundate several miles of the former race 
routes.

Segawa stated, "The park and art center have received many letters and 
phone calls about the status of the race. The uniqueness of the runs being 
held in the park was its biggest draw, but we fully understand the Hawai'i 
Volcanoes National Park's concern and desire to protect the environment and 
cultural resources of the park. The cooperation and help we enjoyed over 
the past 26 years from the park has been outstanding, but at this time it 
is just not feasible for us to find an alternate site and the amount of 
manpower needed for such an event."

The Volcano Art Center is a nonprofit educational organization founded in 
1974 to promote, develop, and perpetuate the artistic and cultural heritage 
of Hawai'i's people and environment through activities in the visual, 
literary, and performing arts.

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