Images

At the Hualālai repeater station, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field engineers installed a voice repeater that will enable radio communications between disparate locations. USGS photo by M. Warren.

The Hualālai repeater site is located on the southeast side of Hualālai volcano, which erupted most recently in 1800-1801. At an elevation of 2,160 meters (7,090 feet) above sea level, the repeater site is often enshrouded in fog. A suite of solar panels is used to generate power for the site, stored locally in lithium batteries. USGS photo by M. Warren.

Remote volcano monitoring stations on the Island of Hawai‘i are powered via solar panels that charge a suite of batteries. The power system at the Hualālai repeater station, which relays data from nearby stations back to the observatory, was upgraded in 2023 to use lithium batteries (white boxes in the photo). USGS photo by M. Warren.

Map of Island of Hawaiʻi, highlighting the four active or potentially active volcanoes of the Island, the number of people living on each volcano based on 2020 census data, major roads (transportation corridors) and minor roads (proxy for population density), when each volcano last erupted, and each volcano’s national threat assessment designation.

To conduct the Hualālai campaign survey, HVO staff requested permission from land managers before navigating to benchmarks cemented into the ground surface. Data collected at each location will together provide a picture of how the ground surface of Hualālai volcano has changed since the previous survey in 2015.

At each location of the Hualālai campaign survey, a GPS unit is placed on a levelled tripod centered over a benchmark on the ground surface (pictured here at station KIPA on Kipahe'e crater). The precise location of the GPS is recorded by the receiver, housed in the yellow box.

HVO chief field engineer sets up a campaign GPS GNSS unit at station KEHU on Ka'upulehu crater as part of the ongoing Hualālai survey.

The HVO geodetic network manager sets up a campaign GPS unit at station KIPA on Kipahe'e crater (elevation 2331 m or 7647 ft) of Hualālai. USGS photo by A. Flinders.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory technicians work on installing a new electronics box on the Hualālai repeater station as part of a station upgrade in April 2023. USGS image by M. Warren.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory technicians install new lithium batteries at the Hualālai repeater station. The station is located at an elevation of 2,160 meters (7,090 feet), on the southeast side of Hualālai. USGS image by M. Warren.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory technician team did maintenance on the Hualālai repeater station during the week of April 10, 2023. This photo shows the team walking towards the site, which is an important telemetry hub for Hawaiian Volcano Observatory volcano monitoring data. Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are visible in the background. USGS image by M. Warren.

The lead electronics technician at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory checks that the new HLcam is transmitting. The HLcam is located on the southeast side of Hualālai and provides views of the northwest flank of Mauna Loa.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory technicians upgraded the Hualālai repeater station to lithium batteries, despite the chilly temperatures on Hualālai. USGS image by M. Warren.

A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory technician removes the electronics board on the Hualālai repeater station. The electronics board for the station was replaced with a 48-volt system electronics board as part of a station upgrade. USGS image by C. Parcheta.

A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist drills holes to install a new electronics box for the Hualālai repeater station upgrade. USGS image by M. Warren.

During station maintenance at the Hualālai repeater, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory technicians installed a new webcam, the HLcam. This camera is located on Hualālai and provides view of Mauna Loa's northwest flank.

During the week of April 10, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory technicians upgraded the Hualālai repeater site, which is an important telemetry hub for volcano monitoring data. The site is located on the southeast side of Hualālai, at an elevation of 2,160 meters (7,090 feet) above sea level.

A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory technician replaces batteries on the Hualālai repeater station. The station, which relays monitoring signals from nearby stations back the observatory, is powered by batteries that store energy generated by solar panels. USGS image by M. Warren.

This map shows the location of the Wahapele vent (star) and lava flow (red) on Hualālai volcano. The approximate boundary between Hualālai and Mauna Loa is indicted by a dashed line. The lava flow extends 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) farther into the ocean.

Two weeks of earthquake activity preceding the September 29, 2021, eruption at Kīlauea summit. The regions of interest indicated on the map include: KS (Kīlauea summit); ML (Mauna Loa summit); P (Pāhala).

This panoramic view of the 1935 Humu‘ula flow (black lava) on both sides of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, which runs east to west in the saddle between Mauna Loa (snow-capped shield volcano at far left) and Mauna Kea (distant right), was taken from the top of Pu‘uhuluhulu. View is to the northwest. The top of Hualālai is visible in far distance (center).