UH Hilo Opens its Doors to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is providing about two dozen HVNP staffers that include personnel the U.S. Geological Survey that were sent to Hawaiʻi to respond to the eruption with a temporary home after it had to evacuate its facilities at the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park (HVNP) due to the eruption.

The Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park had to evacuate because of the eruption and was relocated to UH Hilo because of the longstanding relationship between to the two entities.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the source of information for county and state emergency officials when it comes to volcanic and earthquake hazards.

• UH Hilo is also providing another vital resource to USGS—highly qualified employees. Three recent graduates of UH Hilo are among the approximately two dozen USGS personnel working around the clock to gather and analyze up-to-the-minute information on the eruption and lava flows. UH Hilo has a longstanding relationship with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, which has been providing students with internships and other opportunities to engage in the monitoring of an active volcano for years.Much of the geology and related programs at UH Hilo have been developed to complement and support the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.