HVO moving again

HILO — The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will again relocate.

The HVO relocated to the University of Hawaii at Hilo earlier this summer after vacating its office at the Kilauea volcano summit due to ongoing earthquake damage to the building.

HVO geologist Janet Babb on Monday said the timing was then “fortuitous” because the spring semester at the university had just ended and classrooms and offices were available for use. But with the fall semester ready to start, the space is needed for UH-Hilo faculty and classes.

The USGS has leased part of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection building, located near Hilo Harbor, as an interim HVO location for at least the next six months while other longer-term solutions are identified, Babb said.

“It appears that it will be a while, if ever, before HVO can return to our former location at the summit of Kilauea.”

According to Babb, 30 people currently work at HVO, not counting other USGS scientists who are temporarily assisting with the eruption response.

Some HVO staff will continue to work on the UH-Hilo campus in other space made available to the HVO, while the rest will utilize space at the customs building, she said.

“Even though we had to vacate our offices in HVO’s building, HVO staff have continued to monitor and assess hazards associated with Kilauea volcano’s ongoing lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapse and earthquakes — around the clock — and will continue to do so as we relocate,” Babb said.