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Volcano House Project proposes non-profit model

Video by Dave Corrigan / BigIslandVideoNews.com

David Howard Donald, of Volcano House Project, talks with members of the Volcano community about the non-profit’s project to turn Volcano House hotel and restaurant into a culinary learning center.

From the the Volcano House Project website:

Volcano House Project (VHP) is a community outreach program of the Big Island Learning & Arts Center (BILAC), a federally incorporated 501c3 non profit organization based just two miles from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in Volcano village.

VHP plans to transform the venue into a world-class hotel and culinary institute, with the primary goal of fostering economic independence and self sufficiency for the island’s youth. This job creation initiative will be open to local communities and surrounding Hawaiian Islands, and perhaps, beyond.

After more than 25 years, the current Volcano House concessionaire’s lease has expired, opening the door for VHP to place a bid as the new concessionaire for the historic hotel and restaurant on the rim of Kilauea caldera.

The bidding process begins in April and VHP will have 90 days to submit its proposal. The National Park Service will take up to six months to make its selection.

Volcano House is a highly profitable establishment as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park enjoys more than 2 million visitors a year.  With 42 rooms, 10 cabins and six campsites, it is the only hotel in the immediate area and, due to various building restrictions, it will remain so.

Volcano House Hotel typically is booked to capacity, and, together with the restaurant and boutiques, generates revenues of approximately $8 million a year.

The hotel and restaurant will remain open to the public, staffed by current employees, students, and their professors, training them in various positions of the hospitality industry.

As a non-profit, VHP can direct revenues back to the institute for the benefit of students, employees, park visitors and community at large.

For more information, or to sign a petition of support, visit the Web site for the project at www.volcanohouseproject.org.

One Response to “Volcano House Project proposes non-profit model”

  1. Catherine Tarleton says:

    Bravo, VHP! As the tourist industry in Hawaii changes, it only makes sense to take a creative approach like this, to transform traditional hospitality products into more self-sustaining properties with community values, targeted towards keeping Hawaii, especially the Big Island, at the top of the market. There is a reason Volcano House is the longest-running hotel operation in Hawaii. Keep up the good work!

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