Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

United States Geological Survey
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

HVO observation tower, abandoned in 2018 after structural damage
Agency overview
Formed	1912
Headquarters	Hilo, Hawaii, U.S.
Agency executive	Dr. Ken Hon, Scientist-in-Charge (USGS)
Website	https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo
Footnotes
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The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) is an agency of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and one of five volcano observatories operating under the USGS Volcano Hazards Program. Based in Hilo, Hawaii on the Island of Hawaiʻi, the observatory monitors six Hawaiian volcanoes: Kīlauea, Mauna Loa, Kamaʻehuakanaloa (formerly Lōʻihi), Hualālai, Mauna Kea, and Haleakalā, of which, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa are the most active. The observatory has a worldwide reputation as a leader in the study of active volcanism.

Due to the relatively non-explosive nature of Kīlauea's volcanic eruptions for many years, scientists were able to study ongoing eruptions safely until 2018 from the observatory's nearby offices and facilities located at Uwekahuna Bluff, the highest point on the rim of Kīlauea Caldera. The summit collapse events during the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea damaged those buildings, necessitating their removal in 2024, so the observatory has since 2018 operated from various temporary offices located in Hilo. New facilities planned feature a field office near Kīlauea to be completed in 2026, and a HVO headquarters building in Hilo projected to open in 2027.