Hawaiian Volcano Observatory facts for kids
 HVO observation tower, abandoned in 2018 after structural damage |
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 1912 |
| Headquarters | Hilo, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Agency executive |
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| Website | https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo |
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) is a special science center. It is part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). HVO is one of five volcano observatories in the U.S. that watch volcanoes.
Based in Hilo, Hawaii, HVO keeps an eye on six Hawaiian volcanoes. These are Kīlauea, Mauna Loa, Kamaʻehuakanaloa, Hualālai, Mauna Kea, and Haleakalā. Kīlauea and Mauna Loa are the most active. HVO is known worldwide for its work studying active volcanoes. For many years, Kīlauea's eruptions were not very explosive. This allowed scientists to study them up close safely.
Before May 2018, HVO's main offices were at Uwekahuna Bluff. This was the highest spot on the edge of Kīlauea Caldera. But the summit collapse events during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption damaged the buildings. Since then, HVO has been working from temporary offices. These are located in Hilo on the Island of Hawaiʻi.
Contents
How the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Started
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Whitney Seismograph Vault No. 29
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 Location in Hawaii
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| Nearest city | Volcano, Hawaii |
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| Area | 18 feet (5.5 m) by 17.5 feet (5.3 m) |
| Built | 1912 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000292 |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1974 |
Ancient Hawaiians had oral stories about volcanoes. Early explorers also wrote about what they saw. For example, Rev. William Ellis wrote a journal in 1823. Titus Coan recorded eruptions until 1881.
Scientists often wondered if these old descriptions were accurate. In 1909, a geologist named Thomas Jaggar gave a talk in Honolulu. A businessman named Lorrin A. Thurston met him. Thurston suggested building a full-time science center at Kīlauea. Local business people then formed the Hawaiian Volcano Research Association. They wanted to help support the observatory. George Lycurgus, who owned the Volcano House hotel, offered a spot near his hotel.
In 1911 and 1912, small cabins were built. They were on the floor of the caldera, near the active vent of Halemaʻumaʻu. But these cabins were hard to keep up.
In 1912, MIT helped with $25,000 from the Whitney family. This money was used to build a stronger facility. The first tools were put in a basement next to the Volcano House. It was called the Whitney Laboratory of Seismology. Workers dug through 5.5 feet of volcanic ash to build it. Strong concrete walls supported a small building on top. Professor Fusakichi Omori from Japan designed the first seismometers. This special building is now a historic site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
From 1912 to 1919, Jaggar ran the observatory himself. Many important events were recorded. But the team faced challenges as pioneers. For example, in 1913, an earthquake cracked a wall, and water leaked in. Windows meant for light made the building too hot. In 1916, a national park opened nearby. This brought more visitors, but also park rangers. The rangers started giving public talks.
In 1919, Jaggar convinced the National Weather Service to take over HVO. In 1924, the United States Geological Survey took charge. The USGS has run HVO ever since. There was a short time during the Great Depression when the National Park Service ran it.
When the Volcano House hotel burned down in 1940, the old HVO building was removed. But the tools in the basement were used until 1961.
George Lycurgus wanted a new, bigger hotel. He convinced friends in Washington D.C. to build a larger HVO building farther from the cliff. By 1942, the "Volcano Observatory and Naturalist Building" was ready. But during World War II, it was used as a military office. HVO used the building from 1942 to 1948. Then it became the park headquarters.
About two miles west, in an area called Uwekahuna, a museum was built in 1927. The name means "the priest wept" in Hawaiian. This suggests it was a sacred place. HVO moved there in 1948 after the building was changed. This spot was even closer to Kīlauea's main vent. In 1985, a larger building was built for HVO next to the old museum. The old building became a museum and public viewing area again. In the 1980s, HVO started a project to update the map of Hawai'i island. They published the Geologic Map of the Island of Hawai'i in 1996.
Who Leads HVO?
The Scientist-in-Charge has three main jobs. They manage money and equipment to keep things running smoothly. They tell staff how to watch and respond to volcanic events. They also share information with the public.
- HVO Directors
- 1912 to 1940, Thomas A. Jaggar
- 1940 to 1951, Ruy Finch
- 1951 to 1955, Gordon A. Macdonald
- 1956 to 1958, Jerry P. Eaton
- HVO Scientists-in-Charge
- 1958 to 1960, Kiguma Jack Murata
- 1960 to 1961, Jerry P. Eaton
- 1961 to 1962, Donald H. Richter
- 1962 to 1963, James G. Moore
- 1964 to 1970, Howard A. Powers
- 1970 to 1975, Donald W. Peterson
- 1975 to 1976, Robert I. Tilling
- 1976 to 1978, Gordon P. Eaton
- 1978 to 1979, Donald W. Peterson
- 1979 to 1984, Robert W. Decker
- 1984 to 1991, Thomas L. Wright
- 1991 to 1996, David A. Clague
- 1996 to 1997, Margaret T. Mangan
- 1997 to 2004, Donald A. Swanson
- 2004 to 2015, James P. Kauahikaua
- 2015 to 2020, Tina Neal
- 2021 to present, Ken Hon
How HVO Works Today
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory uses a large network of sensors. Over 100 remote stations send data 24 hours a day. This information is shared right away on the Internet. Live views of eruptions are also available from webcams.
Another important job for HVO is watching sulfur gas. This gas creates volcanic pollution called vog. HVO tells the park service when to close areas because of vog or other dangers.
The main HVO building was not open to the public. But the nearby Thomas A. Jaggar Museum was. It had exhibits about volcanoes and lava. It also showed the science tools and clothing used by volcanologists. Some museum windows offered a safe view of Halemaʻumaʻu and the Kīlauea Caldera. A public viewing deck at the museum was open all day and night.
On May 10, 2018, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park closed parts of the Kīlauea volcano area. This included the visitor center and park headquarters. It was due to explosions, earthquakes, and ash clouds from Halemaʻumaʻu. Much of the park reopened on September 22, 2018. But the old HVO building and Jaggar Museum are still closed. They were badly damaged.
In 2019, HVO received nearly 70 million dollars in federal aid. The Observatory is now looking for a new permanent home. In April 2019, it was thought HVO might move to Oʻahu. But in August 2019, reports said HVO was looking for a new permanent site in Hilo. This would replace the temporary offices used since 2018.
Images for kids
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HVO observation tower, abandoned in 2018 after structural damage
See also
In Spanish: Observatorio Vulcanológico de Hawái para niños
