Media Newsroom

What's happening with Hawaiian volcanoes?

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

• Kīlauea updates—Current information about Kīlauea Volcano, which is currently erupting at the summit, within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. 
• Mauna Loa updates—Current status of Mauna Loa, which erupted most recently in 1984.
• Monthly volcano updates—Search for updates on Hawaii's other active volcanoes—Hualālai, Mauna Kea, and Haleakalā.
• News Releases—Information issued to the local news media when a significant change occurs that affects the active vent or seismic activity.
• HVO Website—Use this website to learn information about Hawaiian volcanoes, including histories, hazards, monitoring, current activity, and more.
• USGS Volcano Notification Service—Sign up to receive free email notices about volcanic activity in Hawaii and at other USGS monitored volcanoes.
• USGS Volcanoes Facebook—Updates about volcanic activity, special events, publications, and fun volcanic facts.
• USGS Volcanoes Twitter—Similar to USGS Volcanoes Facebook, with additional information shared from partners.
• USGS Newsroom—Recent and archived Hawaii and national news releases.

"Breaking News"—Media Interview and Information Requests

Requests for interviews or information about current volcanic or seismic events/activity in Hawaii can be directed to HVO's principal contact (see contacts at right). During heightened volcanic activity, USGS-HVO will strive to provide updated information, photos, and graphics to media as quickly as possible.

Media are encouraged to subscribe to the USGS Volcano Notification Service. When you subscribe, you can choose the types of notifications that you wish to receive via email. For Hawaii media, we suggest signing up for Volcano Activity Notices, Status Reports, Information Statements, and Daily, Weekly, and Monthly updates for all Hawaiian volcanoes. 

HVO photos and videos: Recent and archived photos and video clips of Kīlauea volcanic activity and other Hawaiian volcanoes are posted on the HVO website. New photos are posted following HVO field work, which can be daily, weekly, or bi-weekly, as needed.

HVO imagery is in the public domain and can be freely downloaded from the HVO website (click on an image to open a full resolution copy). Media are asked to please credit any imagery used to the "U.S. Geological Survey."

B-roll video footage of Hawaiian lava flows and other volcanic activity can be requested from the USGS Archivist, Don Becker, (303) 202-4770 or becker@usgs.gov.

HVO maps: Current and past maps showing the progress of Kīlauea Volcano's eruptions are posted on the HVO website. These maps are public domain and can be freely downloaded.

Information for Documentary Filmmakers

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Due to worldwide interest in active volcanoes and the scientists who monitor them, HVO receives a large number of media requests. In evaluating media requests, HVO prioritizes projects that meet the following criteria: (1) feature or focus on HVO staff scientists and their work, (2) support and/or promote HVO's mission, and (3) provide a unique presentation of HVO and its work.

Interviews with HVO scientists can be requested by submitting an email to askHVO@usgs.gov. A request for a single, brief interview should be submitted at least 10 days prior to the proposed interview. Requests for more complex projects involving multiple interviews, scientists, and/or locations should be submitted at least 4 weeks in advance.

B-roll video footage of Hawaiian lava flows and other volcanic activity can be requested from the USGS Archivist, Don Becker, (303) 202-4770 or becker@usgs.gov. Recent and archived photos and video clips of Hawaiian volcanic activity are also posted in our various "Multimedia" sections, e.g. Kīlauea's recent image chronology.

Media Resources

• Eruptions of Hawaiian Volcanoes—Past, Present, and Future [2nd revised edition]—USGS General Information booklet about Hawaiian volcanoes, how they work, and how they are monitored.
• The Story of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory—A Remarkable First 100 Years of Tracking Eruptions and Earthquakes—USGS General Information booklet about HVO's founding in 1912, monitoring tools and techniques, significant discoveries, and notable eruptions and earthquakes during the past century.
• The Ongoing Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Eruption of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i—30 Years of Eruptive Activity—USGS Fact Sheet about the first 30 years of Kīlauea's 1983–2018 East Rift Zone eruption.
• The first five years of Kīlauea's summit eruption in Halema‘uma‘u Crater, 2008-2013—USGS Fact Sheet about the first 5 years of Kīlauea's 2008–2018 summit eruption.
• Mauna Loa—History, hazards, and risk of living with the world's largest volcano—USGS Fact Sheet about Mauna Loa, one of the two most active volcanoes in Hawaii.
• Kīlauea—An Explosive Volcano in Hawai‘i—USGS Fact Sheet about Kīlauea Volcano's explosive history.
• Earthquakes in Hawai‘i—An Underappreciated but Serious Hazard—USGS Fact Sheet about the long history of earthquakes in Hawaii.
• Volcano Alert Levels—Information about the USGS system for issuing alerts relating to volcanic activity.
• Volcano hazard assessments—List with links to the available hazards assessments for U.S. volcanoes.