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U.S. Secretary of the Interior attends blessing at site of new Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

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If Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes, can shape the land and break down barriers, “so can we,” No‘el Ka‘iako Tagab-Cruz said Wednesday in Hilo as she welcomed a large crowd that included U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.

From left, U.S. Geological Survey Director David Applegate, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawai‘i and University of Hawai‘i President David Lassner pose for a photo with participants of the kīpaepae, or traditional Hawaiian welcoming ceremony, Wednesday morning at the site of the new U.S. Geological Survey research facility that will house the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center in Hilo. (Photo by Nathan Christophel/Big Island Now)

“Let’s be innovative. Let’s be transformative just like her,” added Tagab-Cruz, associate professor of Hawaiian studies at the I Ola Hāloa Center for Hawai‘i Life Styles at Hawai‘i Community College.

While the crowd watched in silence during the kīpaepae, or traditional Hawaiian welcoming ceremony, the ‘āina (land) embraced them. A bright blue sky, lush greenery, singing birds and an occasional dragonfly zooming by provided the stage for chants, music and hula led by Tagab-Cruz.

Haaland was visibly moved by the ceremony, wiping tears from her cheeks as she spoke with participants that included students and staff of the U.S. Geological Survey and University of Hawai‘i.

The ceremony was part of a ground blessing event meant to prepare the land for a new U.S. Geological research facility on the Big Island that will house the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center.

The facility will sit on 6.8 acres of state-owned land off Nowelo Street in Hilo, near the intersection with Komohana Street and on the campus of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo.

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Among the attendees were staff from the observatory and research center; county, state and other federal officials, including U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawai‘i; University of Hawai‘i officials, including President David Lassner; their staffs; students; and community members.

Following the kīpaepae, the ceremony moved just up the road to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland exchanges ha (breath) with a participant of the kīpaepae, or traditional Hawaiian welcoming ceremony, Wednesday at the site of the new U.S. Geological Survey research facility on the UH-Hilo campus in Hilo. (Photo by Nathan Christophel/Big Island Now)

The joint research facility will be the new permanent location for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, which monitors and assesses hazards from active volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai‘i.

The observatory was forced to move from the place it had called home since the 1940s, near the rim of Kīlauea volcano in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, because of structural damage to the facility caused by the partial collapse of the volcano’s summit during the 2018 Lower East Rift Zone eruption. Observatory staff has since worked out of multiple temporary locations.

The Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center conducts research to support management and conservation of biological resources in Hawai‘i and other locations around the Pacific Ocean, including studies of imperiled species such as Hawaiian forest birds, invasive species and plant diseases such as rapid ‘ōhi‘a death. It has worked out of a location in the national park since the 1970s.

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There was excitement in the air Wednesday as the ground blessing marks the beginning of the construction process for the new facility. It also will facilitate partnerships and collaboration with multiple agencies and institutions — including the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo — that might not have been possible before.

“Together, it will be amazing what we will be able to achieve,” said Susan Cordell, director of the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, in her opening remarks. “I want to be the first to welcome the [U.S. Geological Survey] to the hood.”

An artist’s rendition of the new Hawaiian Volcano Observatory facility designed by Architects Hawai‘i Ltd. from the draft environmental assessment for the research campus. The new U.S. Geological Survey facility in Hilo where the observatory will be housed will also include the Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center. (Screenshot from environmental assessment)

UH-Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin is proud and grateful to host the new facility on campus, saying that the collaboration will carry knowledge forward — knowledge and wisdom that are intertwined in the relationships the agencies have with each other.

“UH-Hilo has a long and rewarding relationship with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, and I am excited for the additional opportunities their presence on campus will have for research partnerships and student internships,” Irwin said. “Working side-by-side with professionals in the field is an invaluable complement to the education students receive at our university.”

The U.S. Geological Survey selected the site for the new facility because of its unique qualities and partnership opportunities, said David Applegate, the agency’s director.

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“One quality in particular that is critical to our future success is access to a very precious resource: students who can become our next-generation workforce, helping bring science to bear on some of the most challenging issues facing our nation and the planet,” he said.

  • U.S. Geological Survey staff and University of Hawai’i students and staff perform a kīpaepae, or traditional Hawaiian welcoming ceremony, Wednesday at the site of the new U.S. Geological Survey research facility on the UH-Hilo campus in Hilo. (Photo by Nathan Christophel/Big Island Now)
  • People watch as U.S. Geological Survey staff and University of Hawai’i students and staff perform a kīpaepae, or traditional Hawaiian welcoming ceremony, Wednesday at the site of the new U.S. Geological Survey research facility that will house the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center. The new facility will be located on the UH-Hilo campus in Hilo on the Big Island. (Photo by Nathan Christophel/Big Island Now)
  • U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, far left, speaks with participants of the kīpaepae, or traditional Hawaiian welcoming ceremony, following the ceremony at the site of the new U.S. Geological Survey research facility that will house the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center in Hilo. (Photo by Nathan Christophel/Big Island Now)
  • University of Hawai’i Chancellor Bonnie Irwin gives remarks Wednesday during the ground blessing ceremony for the new U.S. Geological Survey research facility in Hilo that will house the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center in Hilo. (Photo by Nathan Christophel/Big Island Now)
  • U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawai’i gives remarks Wednesday during the ground blessing ceremony for the new U.S. Geological Survey research facility in Hilo that will house the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center in Hilo. (Photo by Nathan Christophel/Big Island Now)
  • U.S. Geological Survey Director David Applegate gives remarks Wednesday as U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawai’i listen during the ground blessing ceremony for the new U.S. Geological Survey research facility in Hilo that will house the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center in Hilo. (Photo by Nathan Christophel/Big Island Now)
  • U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland gives remarks Wednesday during the ground blessing ceremony for the new U.S. Geological Survey research facility in Hilo that will house the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center in Hilo. (Photo by Nathan Christophel/Big Island Now)
  • Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Scientist-In-Charge Ken Hon speaks with a member of the community Wednesday following the ground blessing ceremony for the new U.S. Geological Survey research facility that will house the observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center on the University of Hawai’i in Hilo campus in Hilo on the Big Island. (Photo by Nathan Christophel/Big Island Now)

Applegate added that the new 60,000-square-foot building will include lab space and other facilities for about 100 staff members and, more importantly, be a place that can focus on the science of a changing world.

Schatz said Wednesday marked a milestone in providing the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center with a facility that equals their contributions to the Big Island, Hawai‘i and nation.

Haaland said partnerships and collaboration are at the heart of everything the Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey do.

“As we celebrate this facility today, we celebrate the enduring relationship it represents for the Department of the Interior and the community at large, as well as the benefits this partnership will bring long after our time doing this important work is done,” Haaland said.

The new facility will also provide continued community support to the Big Island and Hawai‘i as well as necessary emergency response capability. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2025.

“We have celebrated the ʻāina and now she can begin her transformation,” Tagab-Cruz said.

  • An artist’s rendition of the new U.S. Geological Survey research facility that will house the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center. (Illustration courtesy of the University of Hawai‘i)
  • An artist’s rendition of the new U.S. Geological Survey research facility that will house the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center. (Illustration courtesy of the University of Hawai‘i)
  • An artist’s rendition of the new U.S. Geological Survey research facility that will house the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center. (Illustration courtesy of the University of Hawai‘i)
  • An artist’s rendition of the new U.S. Geological Survey research facility that will house the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center. (Illustration courtesy of the University of Hawai‘i)
Nathan Christophel
Nathan Christophel is a full-time reporter with Pacific Media Group. He has more than 25 years of experience in journalism as a reporter, copy editor and page designer. He previously worked at the Hawaii Tribune-Herald in Hilo. Nathan can be reached at nathan@bigislandnow.com
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