Volcano Watch

Jim Kauahikaua has been named the new Scientist-in-Charge (SIC) of the Hawaiʻian Volcano Observatory, starting October 3. Jim is currently a...

Mauna Loa's recent indigestion has attracted a lot of attention, stealing the limelight from Kīlauea, which has been in nearly continuous eruption for...

The sight of stately Mauna Loa rising over 3,960 m (13,000 feet) above sea level is a familiar and welcome view to Hawai`i Island residents and...

We have a number of ways to monitor a volcano, each tuned to different sets of measurements or observations and telling us different things that we...

People sometimes ask if there's any obsidian in Hawaiʻi. The short answer is yes, but if you want to see an obsidian flow, you'll have to go to the...

As we work to increase monitoring capabilities on our restless neighbor Mauna Loa Volcano, our colleagues at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) are...

As you make the drive from Waimea to Kona, you may notice a peculiar grassy knoll and an associated hummocky ridge on the northern slope of Hualālai...

If you walk along the coast to where the Banana flow has been entering the sea, you will see a steam plume rising from the surface of the water. The...

Pu`u `O`o is a tough place to get to. This is true not only for the general public but also for HVO scientists. Day-long hikes are needed if you don't...

Aircraft and volcanic ash and gases do not mix well.

Jet aircraft are designed to fly through clean air, but volcanic eruptions can dirty clean air...

In 1790, possibly November, explosions from Kīlauea killed between about 80 and about 800 people belonging to Keoua's party traveling to battle...

Visitors and residents of the Big Island's "gold" or Kona coast enjoy beautiful beaches, great snorkeling and lovely sunsets. Early risers may also...

Kīlauea's ongoing east rift zone eruption continues, and lava enthusiasts are being treated with renewed opportunity to view the flows, subject to the...

History is sometimes altered by events so insignificant that they pass without notice when they occur. Let's follow the chain of events that placed an...

Many readers have visited the overlook in front of the Jaggar Museum, next door to HVO, and those of you who haven't should do so some time. A grand...

Lava flowing from Kīlauea's ongoing eruption finally made its way to the ocean once again a couple of weeks ago. And for the first time in nearly a...

In the next 10 days, HVO loses two of its most dynamic research scientists. Peter Cervelli transfers to the Alaska Volcano Observatory in Anchorage...

Hawaiians had several stories about how their islands were formed. One version has Papa and Wakea mating and giving birth to the islands. The Big...

Every day at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, we scan incoming data from field instruments that will warn of new volcanic activity on the island...

Colossal natural disasters have been fodder for Hollywood movies long enough that we can recognize the basic recipe. A pinch of fact, a fistful of...